Yanling County, Henan

Yanling County is a county in the central part of Henan province, China. It is the easternmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Xuchang.

History
Human habitation of the area began around 6000 BC.

In the early Zhou dynasty, the area became the state of Yan (鄢國).

In the Eastern Zhou dynasty, the area became known as Yan Yi (鄢邑) after the destruction of the state of Yan under Duke Wu of Zheng (鄭武公) in the early part of the reign of King Ping of Zhou (after 770 BC).

In the fifth month of 722 BC, Duke Zhuang of Zheng defeated his younger brother Gongshu Duan (共叔段) north of present-day Yanling County.

The famous Battle of Yanling (575 BC) took place in Yanling County.

Yanling County was established during the Western Han dynasty in the year 201 BC.

In 2014, six men in Yanling County were fined 2,000 yuan each for their roles in catching 1,689 wild geckos in Zhangqiao.

Administrative divisions
The county is made up of twelve towns:

Towns:
 * Anling, Malan (Ma-lan-chen; ), Bailiang , Chenhuadian , Wangtian , Zhangqiao (Chang-ch'iao; , formerly ), Nanwu (, formerly ), Taocheng (T'ao-ch'eng; , formerly ), Zhile (, formerly ), Dama (, formerly ), Pengdian (P'eng-tien; , formerly ), Mafang (, formerly )

Economy
The county's primary agricultural products include wheat, beans, sweet potatoes, cotton and tobacco among others. The county is known for growing flowers which began during the Tang dynasty and flourished during the Song dynasty. The county is therefore known as 'Flower County' (花县, or also 花都 and 花乡). Industries in the county include machinery manufacturing, fertilizer, concrete and wine making among others.

In 2017, the value of the county's output in the flower and plant industry reached 7.1 billion yuan (1.03 billion U.S. dollars).

Demographics
The population of the county decreased between the 2000 census and 2010 census.

Transportation

 * China National Highway 311

People from Yanling County

 * Lü Debin (1953–2005), executed politician