Zhoucheng Subdistrict

Zhoucheng Subdistrict from Dongping County, Tai'an Prefecture, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China, is situated in the central part of Dongping County. It is adjacent to the towns of Shahezhan and Xinhuzhen to the south, Dongping Subdistrict and Laohuzhen to the north, Pengji Subdistrict to the east, and Dongping Lake to the west. Zhoucheng Subdistrict administers 71 administrative villages, covering an area of 72 square kilometers, with a registered population of 61,559 people. It was established in 2010, replacing the former Zhoucheng Town.

In the third year of the Northern Song Dynasty's Xianping era (1000 AD), the original capital of Yun Prefecture, Xuchang City, was submerged, and the prefecture of Yun was moved to this location, which was then named Zhoucheng. Until 1982 when the county seat was moved from Zhoucheng to Houtun in Dongping Subdistrict, Zhoucheng served as the political, economic, and cultural center of Dongping County. It was home to various historical sites and relics, making it one of the key tourist destinations in Shandong Province. Additionally, Zhoucheng Subdistrict is the birthplace of Wan Li, one of the prominent leaders in the history of the People's Republic of China.

From Pre-Qin to the Qing Dynasty
According to descriptions in ancient texts, during the Xia and Shang periods, the area that is now Zhoucheng Town belonged to Xuzhou, one of the Nine Provinces, and was known as "Qià Xiāngchéng" (恰乡城) during the Shang Dynasty. In the Spring and Autumn period, it was part of the State of Lu. During the Qin Dynasty, the region around Zhoucheng Town fell under the jurisdiction of Xue Commandery. From the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, it was successively part of Jidong State, Dahe Commandery, Dongping State, Dongping Commandery, and Yunzhou. In the early Northern Song Dynasty, the area around Zhoucheng belonged to Yunzhou. At that time, the administrative center of Yunzhou was in Xuchang City, situated in the present territory of Laohuzhen in Dongping County. However, in the third year of the Xianping era (1000 AD), due to a breach in the Wanglingsao of the Yellow River, Xuchang City, being at a lower elevation, suffered severe flooding. The Prefect of Yunzhou, Yao Xuan, subsequently built a new city in a higher-lying area in Wenyang Town, still referred to as Xucheng. This city became the modern-day Zhoucheng, and from then on, Zhoucheng became the new political center of Dongping. Following the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhoucheng briefly served as one of the capital cities of Liu Qi. During the Jin Dynasty, the Shandong Western Route was established, with its administrative center in Dongping Prefecture, where the prefectural government was located in what is now Zhoucheng. During the Yuan Dynasty, Zhoucheng served as the administrative center of the Dongping Route of the Ministry of Personnel. With the opening of the Grand Canal, Dongping became an important hub for waterborne transportation, and it was referred to as a "magnificent and grand metropolis" by Marco Polo in his travel accounts.

During the Ming and Qing periods, Zhoucheng served as the administrative center of Dongping Prefecture. In the late Ming Dynasty, local residents in Dongping Prefecture gathered and set fire to the prefectural office. In the 14th year of the Chongzhen era (1641), a peasant army led by Li Qingshan captured the prefecture, but later, they were defeated by Ming Dynasty forces. During the Qing Dynasty, the Baojia system was implemented. In the current jurisdiction of Zhoucheng Subdistrict, it was divided into different Bao districts, including Xinzibao (Southeast Xinzibao, Northwest Xinzibao), Ruiren Bao in the east, Furen Bao in the west, Aili Bao in the south, and Yifang Bao in the north. In the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, Dongping County faced security issues, and peasant armies and armed bandits attacked the county town multiple times. In the first year of the Tongzhi era (1861), Zhang Lexing's Nian army crossed the Grand Canal and besieged Zhoucheng twice but failed to capture it.

Republic of China
In 1913, Dongping Prefecture was renamed Dongping County, with the prefectural city continuing to serve as the county seat, and the Bao system was retained. In 1918, bandit Zhang Zhanyuan broke into Dongping County and, along with the mutinous garrison led by He Duoyu, looted the county. In 1926, the Hongqiang Party, composed of peasants, gathered to attack the prefectural city. In 1931, the Bao system was abolished, and district offices and townships were established. In the current jurisdiction of Zhoucheng Subdistrict, the northwestern and central areas belonged to Dongping District 1, which at the time had four towns and four townships. Some villages in the southeastern part belonged to the fourth, sixth, and seventh townships of Dongping District 5.

In October 1937, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) established the Dongping County Work Committee. On December 25 of the same year, Japanese warplanes launched an air raid on Zhoucheng, causing more than 30 casualties. Following the air raid, Sun Yonghan, who was then the county head of Dongping, escaped to Zhoucheng. On August 17 the following year, Japanese troops and local militias from southwestern Shandong launched an attack on Zhoucheng. The temporary Dongping County government organized over a hundred people to resist the attack. After the resistance failed, they retreated, and subsequently, Japanese forces occupied Zhoucheng. In 1939, the Japanese set up a garrison in Zhoucheng. In August 1940, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, the Dongping County Anti-Japanese Democratic Government incorporated the present jurisdiction of Zhoucheng Subdistrict into Dongping District 1 and established an Anti-Japanese District Office in 1943. On the night of October 18, 1943, Communist forces launched a surprise attack on Dongping County, killing and injuring more than a hundred Japanese and troops before retreating. By 1944, most of the Dongping County territory had become a Communist guerrilla zone or base. However, the area around Zhoucheng Street, where the county seat was located, remained under Japanese control. At that time, the Japanese and their forces had military positions in Zhoucheng, Gezhenyuan, Nanguan, and Menglou within Zhoucheng Subdistrict. On May 17, 1945, the Eighth Route Army launched the Dongping Campaign to liberate Dongping. On the 18th, the troops at the Menglou position, which had been besieged by the local Communist forces of Dongping District 5 for a day, surrendered. On the same day, the Eighth Route Army captured Zhoucheng and completely defeated the Japanese forces within the city by the 19th. After the Communist Party took control of Zhoucheng, they removed parts of the city walls.

In 1947, during the Second Chinese Civil War, both the Nationalist (Kuomintang) and Communist forces contended for control of Zhoucheng. In March 1947, the Nationalist army took control of Zhoucheng but fled on April 21. They reclaimed Zhoucheng on August 4 but were later annihilated by the Liberation Army in November. In December, the Dong'e County Homecoming Regiment captured Zhoucheng. In the same month, the Liberation Army launched an eastward campaign, recapturing Zhoucheng early the following year.

People's Republic of China
After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Zhoucheng remained under the jurisdiction of Dongping District 1. In December 1949, Chengguan District was separated from District 1. In April 1951, Chengguan District was once again merged into District 1, and towns were established within the district. At this time, District 1 included the following towns: "Lianhuawan, Xiliangcun, Houheyayi, Zhifang, Chenfang, Taoyuan, Nanzhen, Beizhen, Dongzhen, Xizhen, Yaowo, Liulin, Liulou Town"In 1955, the four towns of Xizhen, Dongzhen, Nanzhen, and Beizhen in the vicinity of the District 1 county seat were merged into Chengguan Township. At this time, District 1 comprised nine townships. In the latter half of the year, District 1 was renamed Chengguan District. At the end of 1956, some townships were once again merged, and Chengguan District was abolished. Chengguan Town directly belonged to the county. Chenfang and Liangcun townships were transferred to Pengji District. However, these two towns were soon returned.

In October 1958, following the start of the People's Commune Movement, towns were dissolved. The original Chengguan Town was reorganized into Chengguan People's Commune. The eastern part of the original Chengguan District and the western part of Pengji District became Liangcun People's Commune. On December 19, 1958, Liangcun Commune was dissolved, and its territory was divided between Chengguan Commune and Pengji Commune. In October 1959, Dongping County was abolished, and Chengguan Commune was transferred to Wenshang County. In 1960, Chengguan Commune was transferred to Liangshan County, and in 1961, it was once again transferred to Wenshang County. In 1962, Dongping County was reestablished, and Chengguan Commune returned to Dongping, remaining the county seat.

In January 1980, Chengguan Commune was renamed Zhoucheng Town. In November 1982, the county seat of Dongping County was relocated from Zhoucheng to Hutun Village in Sicheng Commune. Zhoucheng continued to serve as the resident location of Zhoucheng Town. In April 1984, Zhoucheng Town was upgraded to Zhoucheng District, which included Zhoucheng Town, Sunzhifang Township, and Xiliangcun Town. In October 1985, Zhoucheng District was dissolved, and the townships of Sunzhifang and Xiliangcun were merged into Zhoucheng Town. In June 2010, Zhoucheng Town was dissolved and reorganized as Zhoucheng Street.

Environment
The Zhoucheng Subdistrict is located in the central part of Dongping County in Shandong Province, China. It is adjacent to Pengji Subdistrct in the east, borders Dongping Lake in the west, is adjacent to Xinhuzhen and Shahezhan in the south, and is separated by Daqing River from Laohuzhen and Dongping Street in the north. Its north–south distance is approximately 10.6 kilometers, and its east–west distance is around 12.8 kilometers, covering a total area of 72 square kilometers. The administrative center of Zhoucheng Street is situated in the western part of Zhoucheng and is 25 kilometers away from Dongping County's urban center.

Zhoucheng Subdistrict is located in the alluvial plain of the Dawen River, with a generally east-high, west-low, south-high, and north-low topography. The terrain is flat with minimal undulations. In the eastern part of the area, there are a few areas with elevations exceeding 40 meters, with the highest point being 42.3 meters. In most other areas, elevations are below 40 meters, with the lowest point at 39 meters and an average elevation of 38 meters. The primary topographical feature is a plain, and there are also some marshy areas in the western part of Zhoucheng Subdistrict. The soil in Zhoucheng Street consists mainly of alluvial soil, with some brown soil. Alluvial soil is mainly found in the western part, while brown soil is predominantly present in certain villages in the eastern part.

Zhoucheng Subdistrict is located to the west of Shandong's second-largest freshwater lake, Dongping Lake. Within its boundaries, there are several rivers, including Daqing River, Zhifang River, Weizi River, Xiaoqing River, and Paisen River. The largest river within its territory is the Daqing River, which enters from the Ma Zhuang area, flows from east to west along the northern edge of Zhoucheng Subdistrict, serving as the boundary between Zhoucheng Subdistrict, Dongping Street, and Laohu Town. Xiaoqing River, also known as Nansha River, flows along the southern edge of Zhoucheng, following the ancient channel of the Wen River. Zhoucheng Subdistrict and Shahezhan Town are approximately divided by this river. Xiaoqing River is 30 kilometers long and about 100 meters wide, although the riverbed is no longer in use. Weizi River, also known as the drainage ditch, enters Zhoucheng Subdistrict from Pengji Subdistrict and flows through the southeastern part of Zhoucheng Subdistrict. Additionally, there is an artificially excavated Paisen River, which was dug in 1960. It is 30 kilometers long and about 10 meters wide, primarily to address waterlogging issues in the eastern part of Zhoucheng Subdistrict. Zhoucheng Subdistrict has relatively abundant water resources, but most of its surface water is saline-alkaline and not suitable for drinking. However, the groundwater quality is better, with an estimated usable groundwater resource of about 8.84 million cubic meters. Many residents rely on well water for drinking.

Zhoucheng Subdistrict has three types of vegetation, which include crop vegetation, forest vegetation, and aquatic vegetation. The crop vegetation primarily consists of agricultural crops, covering more than half of the total area of the street. Aquatic vegetation includes reeds, bulrushes, and others, primarily found along the rivers, lakes, and marshy areas within the boundaries of Zhoucheng. Forest vegetation mainly consists of poplar trees, willow trees, and pagoda trees. In terms of mineral resources, the area possesses river sand, saltpeter, and mineral water. River sand is mainly extracted from the Daqing River, and there are also deposits of brick and tile clay in the eastern part of Zhoucheng Subdistrict. The presence of the Pengji Iron Ore Prediction Zone, which runs through the northeast part of Zhoucheng Subdistrict, suggests the potential distribution of iron ore in that area.

Regarding climate, Zhoucheng Subdistrict experiences a warm temperate continental monsoon climate. The average annual precipitation is 667 millimeters, with the highest average rainfall in July at 208 millimeters and the lowest in January with only 2 millimeters. The average temperature is 14 degrees Celsius, with July having the highest average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius and January being the coldest at -2 degrees Celsius. The main natural disasters in Zhoucheng Subdistrict include hailstorms, droughts, floods, windstorms, frosts, and lightning strikes. Hailstorms typically occur in May and June, on average once every three years.

Administrative division
Zhoucheng Subdistrict administers 71 administrative villages and 80 natural villages. The administrative villages under Zhoucheng Subdistrict are as follows:"Hehua Lou Village, Sungang Village, Renhezui Village, Zhifang Village, Wuzhuang Village, Lumaofen Village, Chenfang Village, Sunmiao Village, Jielou Village, Xizhengzhuang Village, Wang Taoyuan Village, Li Taoyuan Village, Shi Taoyuan Village, Chen Di Village, Shiliulin Village, Chen Liulin Village, Yu Hai Village, Zhang Liulin Village, Shuanglou Village, Liutaoyuan Village, Danlou Village, Hou Heya Village, Tianzhuang Village, Dongzhengzhuang Village, Wuman Village, Menglou Village, Gaozhuang Village, Jiahe Village, Qizhuang Village, Mazhuang Village, Houlianhuawan Village, Qianlianhuawan Village, Daliangzhuang Village, Wanglouxi Village, Jiehekou Village, Makou Village, Zhanglou Village, Mengzhuang Village, Wanglou Village, Liangchang Village, Wangzhuang Village, Haizi Village, Zhan Yuan Village, Fenglou Village, Duyao Wa Village, Wang Yao Wa Village, Gezhen Yuan Village, Tingpo Village, Liangcun Village, Yangzhuang Village, Fuzhuang Village, Liulou Village, Ronghua Shu Village, Zhang Quan Village, Lou Cha Village, Zhangzhuang Village, Xuzhuang Village, Paifang Village, Nanmen Village, Guanmiao Village, Guijingsi Village, Nanguan Village, Nanzhuang Village, Xiguan Village, Daximen Village, Beimen Village, Ximen Village, Dadiangmen Village, Wenmiao Village, Dasizhuang Village, Xiaodongmen Village."

Economy
In 2018, the local fiscal revenue of Zhoucheng Subdistrict was 19.06 million yuan. In agriculture, in 2015, Zhoucheng Subdistrict had approximately 57,000 mu (around 3,800 hectares) of arable land. In 2012, the agricultural output value was 240 million yuan, livestock output value was 210 million yuan, and forestry output value was 12.6 million yuan. The grain production was 58,000 tons, and the total production of meat and poultry eggs was 5,400 tons and 3,700 tons, respectively. The per capita net income of farmers was 9,146 yuan. By 2016, the per capita cash income of farmers in Zhoucheng Subdistrict had reached 14,362 yuan. In the commercial sector, in 2011, Zhoucheng Subdistrict had 1,600 commercial outlets and four large-scale markets. The total social commodity sales amounted to 800 million yuan that year.

Regarding industry, before 1958, handicrafts were the primary industrial activity in the urban area. In 1958, Chengguan Commune was established and subsequently established communal enterprises such as machinery factories, brick and tile factories, and welfare factories. Later, the machinery factory was handed over to the production brigade, and the brick and tile factory and weaving factory were transferred to the Dongping County Civil Affairs Bureau or the Dongping Handicraft Industry Cooperative. Only Chengguan Farm Machinery Factory remained as a communal enterprise, and in 1976, five more communal enterprises were established. After the people's commune was dissolved, communal enterprises were transformed into town-run enterprises. In 1992, Zhoucheng Subdistrict had eight key town-run enterprises with an industrial output value of 12.76 million yuan. After 1998, town-run enterprises gradually transformed into private enterprises. By 2016, the main business income of Zhoucheng Subdistrict's industrial enterprises was 13.94 billion yuan, and the major industries included textiles, papermaking, toys, clothing, machinery, wood processing, and mineral water production.

Demography
In 2018, the registered population of Zhoucheng Subdistrict was 61,559 people. The majority of Zhoucheng Subdistrict 's population is Han Chinese, with smaller populations of other ethnic groups such as Hui, Manchu, and Zhuang. Zhoucheng is one of the main residential areas for the Hui ethnic group in Dongping County, and Beimen Village in Zhoucheng Subdistrict is a Hui ethnic village. In 2011, out of the 61,000 people in Zhoucheng Street, 60,201 were Han Chinese, constituting 98.9% of the total population, and 785 were Hui, making up 1.1% of the total population. In that year, the birth rate was 13.9‰, the death rate was 7.65‰, resulting in a natural growth rate of 5.44‰.

During the 20102010 Chinese Sixth National Population Census oucheng Subdistrict had a total population of 53,699 people, residing in 15,041 households, with an average of 3.43 people per household. Children under the age of 14 numbered 7,865, accounting for 14.64% of the total population, those aged 15–64 were 39,800, making up 74.11% of the total population, and those aged 65 and above were 6,034, representing 11.23% of the total population. There were 26,330 males, constituting 49.03% of the total population, and 27,369 females, making up 50.96% of the total population. Among the locally residing population, 52,205 people held local household registration, accounting for 97.21%.

During the 2000 Chinese Fifth National Population Census, Zhoucheng Subdistrict had 15,857 households and a total population of 56,799 people. Over the course of a decade, the population of Zhoucheng Subdistrict decreased by 3,100 people, with a decline in the proportion of children under the age of 14 and an increase in the proportion of the working-age population aged 15 to 64.

Infrastructure
In 2018, Zhoucheng Subdistrict had a total of 39 medical and health institutions with 588 hospital beds and 167 practicing physicians. In 2012, there were two county-owned hospitals in Zhoucheng Subdistrict, namely the Dongping County First People's Hospital and the Dongping County Mental Hospital. There was also a health center, the Zhoucheng Subdistrict Community Health Service Center, and more than 30 village-level health rooms or clinics.

Zhoucheng Subdistrict has one high school, Dongping No. 1 High School. In 2003, the school had 46 teaching classes with a total of 3,163 students. At the end of 2011, there were two junior high schools in Zhoucheng Subdistrict with 2,265 students, as well as 13 kindergartens. In 2018, Zhoucheng Subdistrict had five elementary schools with a total of 104 full-time elementary school teachers. Various cultural facilities like cultural stations, cultural centers, libraries, farmer night schools, and mutual aid institutions exist in Zhoucheng Subdistrict. Additionally, Zhoucheng Subdistrict has a broadcasting television station.

Within Zhoucheng Subdistrict's jurisdiction, there are three provincial-level roads: 255 Provincial Road, 250 Provincial Road, and 331 Provincial Road. Among them, Provincial Road 331 runs through Zhoucheng Subdistrict from east to west. The Jinan-Guangzhou Expressway and Jinyulu Railway also pass through the administrative area of Zhoucheng Subdistrict. Zhoucheng Subdistrict has achieved electricity access for every village, with an average electricity consumption of 205 kWh per person in 1993.

Culture
Within the boundaries of Zhoucheng Subdistrict in Dongping County, there are county-level intangible cultural heritages, including local folk legends such as the legend of Zhoucheng and the legend of Guijingsi, as well as traditional arts like Du (杜) family clay sculptures, handmade paper cutting in the South Gate of Zhoucheng, and Shandong Kuaishu (a type of traditional narrative storytelling). Zhoucheng pancake, Dongping fermented fish, and Dongping porridge are famous local snacks in Zhoucheng. The techniques for making Zhoucheng pancakes and Dongping fermented fish have been listed as county-level intangible cultural heritages in Dongping County. "Shuai Er Gui" (摔二鬼) is a famous local folk art in Zhoucheng. Two fake figurines are placed on a wooden frame, and performers carry these figurines on their backs to demonstrate wrestling. This skill has been passed down for about two centuries and was included in the first batch of Tai'an city-level intangible cultural heritages in 2006.

In Zhoucheng Subdistrict, there are some people who follow Christian and Islamic faiths. Within the city of Zhoucheng, there is an Islamic place of worship, namely the Zhoucheng Mosque. Protestant Christianity also has activity places in Guijingsi Village and Fenglou Village.

Historic heritage and tourism
Within the boundaries of Zhoucheng Subdistrict, there are several cultural relics and historic sites. The Zhoucheng Mosque is a city-level cultural relic protection unit in Tai'an. There are also three county-level cultural relic protection units: Yongji Bridge, Zhoucheng stone carvings, and the birthplace of the Communist Party's Work Committee. In addition, there are 20 immovable cultural relics, such as Gangchalou and Nanmen Bridge, that have not yet been included in the list of protected cultural relics.

During the Song Dynasty, Zhoucheng was initially built with earth fortifications, featuring six city gates. However, these fortifications were damaged at the end of the Yuan Dynasty due to warfare. They were reconstructed during the Hongxi period of the Ming Dynasty and again during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, with the city wall rebuilt using bricks. In May 1945, after the Chinese Communist Party took control of Zhoucheng, they dismantled the city walls to prevent other forces from using them as strongholds. Today, there are no remnants of the original city walls or gates. The current Gongji Gate and Zhoucheng Subdistrict walls were reconstructed in modern times for tourism development. Historically, Zhoucheng had a significant number of buildings and cultural relics, including 72 archways, with notable examples being the Father-Son Top Scholars Arch and the Dragon Gate Leap Arch. The Father-Son Top Scholars Arch was built in honor of the rare father-son top scholars Liang Hao and Liang Gu during the Song Dynasty. Originally made of wood, it was rebuilt with stone during the Qing Dynasty. The Dragon Gate Leap Arch was built in honor of the Ming Dynasty scholar Wu Zhi. Both archways were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and have been reconstructed in modern times. There were originally over 20 ancient buildings within the city of Zhoucheng, including Guan Di Temple, Fire God Temple, Confucius Temple, and Magong Temple. However, most of these buildings were destroyed during warfare or the Cultural Revolution. Only a few, like the Zhoucheng Mosque and Guijingsi, have been preserved to this day. Outside the South Gate of Zhoucheng, there are two ancient bridges: Yongji Bridge, built during the Ming Dynasty, and Nanmen Bridge, built during the Yuan Dynasty. Both of these bridges are still in use today.

In 2011, the Dongping County Work Committee Memorial Hall was established at the former residence of Wan Li, where the precursor of the CCP's Dongping County Committee, the East Ping Work Committee, was founded in 1937.

For the development of tourism, Zhoucheng Subdistrict reconstructed parts of the city wall and city gates. They also constructed a 5-kilometer-long antique-style "Ten-Li Song Subdistrict", with over 30 cultural industry merchants along the street. Within the city, there are also antique trading markets and a Folk Stone Carving Museum. The Folk Stone Carving Museum houses over 100 stone tablets and carvings, while the Dongping Museum has collected more than 6,000 cultural relics within Zhoucheng Subdistrict. In 2008, Zhoucheng Subdistrict was recognized as an environmentally beautiful town in Shandong Province. In 2012, it was designated as a strong tourist town by the Shandong Provincial Tourism Bureau.