Yingjiang County

Yingjiang County (Jingpho: Yinkyang Ginwang; เมืองหล้า) is a county in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan province, China, bordering Burma's Kachin State to the west.

Geography
Yingjiang county has a border of 214.6 km with Kachin State, Myanmar in the west. The Danzha River and Binglang River  meet near Jiucheng  and become the Daying River (Dàyíngjiāng). The Daying then flows through Yingjiang County into Myanmar and into the Irrawaddy River, with the confluence near Bhamo. The Daying is known as the Taping (大平江; Dàpíng Jiāng) in Myanmar.

Yingjiang county is mountainous with several alluvial plains. The county has various climate types, with ranges from the tropical, the subtropical, to the temperate zones. Intact forests can be seen in the mountains above 2000 m. The elevations vary from 210 to 3404.6 m.

Yingjiang is abundant in hydroelectric, forest, and geothermal resources. There are 21 hot springs, six of which are above 90 °C. Most of the hot springs are distributed within the Daying River system.

The county is within a very active seismic zone, and have been struck in 2008, 2009 and 2011 by violent earthquakes.

History
Yingjiang county became part of Chinese territory for the first time in the Western Han dynasty. It was under control of Yizhou Prefecture (益州郡) (Yìzhōu jùn) in the Western Han dynasty. During the Eastern Han, the Shu Han, the Western Jin, and the Eastern Jin, it was governed by Ailao county (哀牢縣) (Āiláo xiàn), Yongchang Prefecture (永昌郡) (Yǒngchāng jùn), and then by Xicheng county (西城縣) (Xīchéng xiàn) from the Southern Qi dynasty in 479.

Actually, from 320s on, the Cuan (爨) (Cuàn) family began to control Yunnan. China was very unstable during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the central governments had no force to control Yunnan. The Cuan family took the strategy by which they recognized the nominal sovereignty of the central governments while remaining themselves as the real local rulers. In this way, the Cuan family had controlled Yunnan for more than 400 years until it was conquered by Nanzhao in 769.

Yingjiang was ruled by Nanzhao and later by Dali from the 8th to the 13th century and hence was not governed by China during the Tang dynasty and the Song dynasty. It was conquered by the Mongols and again became part of the Chinese territory. During the Ming dynasty and the Qing dynasty, Yingjiang was governed by local chiefs under the "Tusi system" (土司制度) (Tǔsī Zhìdù), i.e. the Native Chieftain system, in which the central government had the nominal sovereignty.

Saophas
1) Hso Kyaung Hpa 1403-1410 2) Hso Nguen Hpa 1410-1433 son 3) Pha Pik Hpa 1433-1435 son 4) Pha Lue Hpa 1435-1460 son 5) Pha Hom Hpa 1460-1471 son 6) Pha Hkaing Hpa 1471-1488 son 7) Pha Lao Hpa 1488-1530 son 8) Pha Woun Hpa 1530-1542 son 9) Pha Kyoen Hpa 1542-1574 son 10) Pha Vi Hpa 1574-1582 son 11) Pha Phiang Hpa 1582-1611 son 12) Pha Dang Hpa 1611-1619 son 13) Pha Kyo Hpa 1619-1647 son 14) Pha Chuen Hpa 1647-1685 2nd son of Pha Kyo Hpa 15) Pha Pawng Hpa 1685-1723 son 16) Pha Chai Hpa 1723-1744 son 17) Pha Hueng Hpa 1744-1760 son 18) Pha Toum Hpa 1760-1792 son 19) Pha Chaw Hpa 1788-1838 son (He ruled with Pha Toum Hpa and Pha Chi Hpa) 20) Pha Chi Hpa 1796-1814 son 21) Pha Len Hpa 1814-1839 son 22) Pha Hing Hpa 1839-1859 bro 23) Pha Xiang Hpa 1859-1878 son 24) Pha Ving Hpa 1878-1888 bro Vacant 1888-1892 25) Pha In Hpa 1892-1909 26) Pha Klip Hpa 1909-1930 son 27) Pha Wip Hpa (Thao Chang Nyue) 1930-1949 son

Administrative divisions
Yingjiang County has 8 towns, 6 townships and 1 ethnic township.
 * 8 towns
 * 6 townships
 * 1 ethnic township
 * Sudian Lisu Ethnic Township (苏典傈僳族乡)

Sights

 * Yunyan Pagoda (允燕塔)(Yǔnyàn Tǎ).


 * A great flood occurred in Yingjiang in 1946. For Buddha's blessing, a pagoda was proposed. The construction of Yuyan Pagoda began in 1947 and was completed in 1952. The Yuyan Pagoda was built on Ertaipo (二台坡)(Èrtáipō), Yuyan Mountain (允燕山)(Yǔnyàn Shān), 2 km east of the Pingyuan Township (平原鎮)(Píngyuán Zhèn), where the county seat resides.


 * Hutiaoshi (虎跳石)(Hǔtiàoshí)


 * Once several hundred meters wide, the Daying River is narrowed to only 7 to 8 m wide when passing through Hutiaoshi. With the waterfall and the steep cliffs, Hutiaoshi is a famous attraction.


 * Tongbiguan Natural Protection Area (銅壁關自然保護區)(Tóngbìguān Zìrán Bǎohùqū) The Protection Area has some seasonal tropical forest.


 * The Tongbiguan Natural Protection Area was established in 1986. With an area of 341.6 km2, it covers part of Yingjiang and Longchuan counties as well as Ruili city. The vegetation in the area displays an obvious vertical distribution. The Tongbiguan Natural Protection Area offers a shelter to many rare or endangered species.