Guizhou

For other uses, see Guizhou (disambiguation).

Guizhou Province 贵州省
Province
Name transcription(s)
• Chinese	贵州省 (Guìzhōu Shěng)
• Abbreviation	黔 or 贵 (pinyin: Qián or Guì)
Map showing the location of Guizhou Province
Coordinates:
Named for	Gui - Gui Mountains zhou (prefecture)
Capital (and largest city)	Guiyang
Divisions	9 prefectures, 88 counties, 1539 townships
Government
• Secretary	Chen Min'er
• Governor	Sun Zhigang
Area
• Total	176,167 km2 (68,018 sq mi)
Area rank	16th
Population (2010)
• Total	34,746,468
• Rank	19th
• Density	200/km2 (510/sq mi)
• Density rank	18th
Demographics
• Ethnic composition	Han - 62% Miao - 12% Buyei - 8% Dong - 5% Tujia - 4% Yi - 2% Undistinguished - 2% Gelao - 2% Sui - 1%
• Languages and dialects	Southwestern Mandarin
ISO 3166 code	CN-52
GDP (2014)	CNY 925,10 billion US$ 150.599 billion (26th)
• per capita	CNY 26,393 US$ 4,297 (31st)
HDI (2010)	0.598 (medium) (30th)
Website	http://www.gzgov.gov.cn (Simplified Chinese)

Guizhou
Simplified Chinese	贵州
Traditional Chinese	貴州
Postal	Kweichow
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Guìzhōu Wade–Giles Kui4-chou1 IPA [ku̯êi̯ ʈʂóu̯] Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Gwai3-zau1 Yale Romanization Gwai-jāu Southern Min Hokkien POJ Kùi-chiu

Guizhou (Chinese: 贵州; pinyin: ; postal: Kweichow) is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.

Name

The area was first organized as an imperially-controlled Chinese administrative region during the Tang dynasty, and was named "Juzhou" (矩州, Middle Chinese: Kjú-jyuw). During the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty, the element "Ju" ("carpenter's square") was changed to the more refined "Gui" ("precious"). The region formally became a province in 1413, with its capital at old Guizhou (modern Guiyang).

History

File:Atlas Van der Hagen-KW1049B13 050-QVEICHEV, IMPERII SINARVM PROVINCIA DECIMAQUATRA.jpeg

Guizhou in 1655.

From around 1046 BCE to the emergence of the Qin Dynasty, northwest Guizhou was part of the State of Shu. During the Warring States period, the Chinese state of Chu conquered the area, and control later passed to the Dian Kingdom. During the Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), to which the Dian was tributary, Guizhou was home to the Yelang collection of tribes, which largely governed themselves before the Han consolidated control in the southwest and established the Lingnan province. During the Three Kingdoms period, parts of Guizhou were governed by the Shu Han state based in Sichuan, followed by Cao Wei (220–265) and the Jin Dynasty (265–420).

During the 8th and 9th centuries in the Tang Dynasty, Chinese soldiers moved into Guizhou (Kweichow) and married native women. Their descendants are known as Lǎohànrén (老汉人), in contrast to new Chinese who populated Guizhou at later times. They still speak an archaic dialect. Many immigrants to Guizhou were descended from these soldiers in garrisons who married these pre-Chinese women. Although the Song Dynasty after the Tang did not care to govern the lands south of the Dadu River, the development of Chinese commercial, urban, and Confucian culture in the Song greatly influenced the culture of Guizhou.

Kublai Khan and Möngke Khan conquered the Chinese southwest in the process of defeating the Song during the Mongol invasion of China, and the newly established Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368) saw the importation of Chinese Muslim administrators and settlers from Bukhara in Central Asia.

It was during the following Ming Dynasty, which was once again led by Han Chinese, that Guizhou was formally made a province in 1413. The Ming established many garrisons in Guizhou from which to pacify the Yao and Miao minorities during the Miao Rebellions. Chinese-style agriculture flourished with the expertise of farmers from Sichuan, Hunan and its surrounding provinces into Guizhou. Wu Sangui was responsible for the ousting the Ming in Guizhou and Yunnan during the Manchu conquest of China. During the governorship-general of the Qing Dynasty's nobleman Ortai, the tusi system of indirect governance of the southwest was abolished, prompting rebellions from disenfranchised chieftains and the further centralization of government. After the Second Opium War, criminal triads set up shop in Guangxi and Guizhou to sell British opium. For a time, Taiping Rebels took control of Guizhou, but they were ultimately suppressed by the Qing. Concurrently, Han Chinese soldiers moved into the Taijiang region of Guizhou, married Miao women, and their children were brought up as Miao.

More unsuccessful Miao rebellions occurred during the Qing, in 1735, from 1795–1806 and from 1854–1873. After the overthrow of the Qing in 1911 and following Chinese Civil War, the Communists took refuge in Guizhou during the Long March (1934–1935). While the province was formally ruled by the Guomindang warlord Wang Jialie, the Zunyi Conference in Guizhou established Mao Zedong as the leader of the Communist Party. As the Second Sino-Japanese War pushed China's Nationalist Government to its southwest base of Chongqing, transportation infrastructure improved as Guizhou was linked with the Burma Road. After the end of the War, a 1949 Revolution swept Mao into power, who promoted the relocation of heavy industry into inland provinces such as Guizhou, to better protect them from Soviet and American attacks. After the Chinese economic reform began in 1978, geographical factors led Guizhou to become the poorest province in China, with a GDP growth average of 9 percent from 1978 to 1993.

Geography

Bouyei minority Shitou village, west Guizhou (near Longgong caves), China.

Guizhou adjoins Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality to the north, Yunnan Province to the west, Guangxi Province to the south and Hunan Province to the east. Overall Guizhou is a mountainous province however it is more hilly in the west while the eastern and southern portions are relatively flat. The western part of the province forms part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

The capital is Guiyang. Other major cities include Anshun, Kaili, Zunyi, Duyun, Liupanshui, and Qingzhen.

Guizhou has a subtropical humid climate. There are few seasonal changes. Its annual average temperature is roughly 10 to 20 °C, with January temperatures ranging from 1 to 10 °C and July temperatures ranging from 17 to 28 °C.

Like in China's other southwest provinces, rural areas of Guizhou suffered severe drought during spring 2010. One of China's poorest provinces, Guizhou is experiencing serious environmental problems, such as desertification and persistent water shortages. On 3–5 April 2010, China's Premier Wen Jiabao went on a three days inspection tour in the southwest drought-affected province of Guizhou, where he met villagers and called on agricultural scientists to develop drought-resistant technologies for the area.

Biodiversity

File:灰背伯劳贵州威宁20080615草海 46.jpg

Grey-backed shrike at Caohai.

The border mountains of Guizhou, Guangxi, and Hunan have been identified as one of the eight plant diversity hotspots in China. The main ecosystem types include evergreen broad-leaved forest, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, and montane elfin forest. Plant species endemic to this region include Abies ziyuanensis, Cathaya argyrophylla, and Keteleeria pubescens. In broad terms, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is one of the vertebrate diversity hotspots of China. At the level of counties, Xingyi is one of nine Chinese vertebrate diversity (excluding birds) hotspots. Animals only known from Guizhou include Leishan moustache toad, Kuankuoshui salamander, Shuicheng salamander, Guizhou salamander, and Zhijin warty newt.

Caohai Lake with its surroundings is a wetland that is an important overwintering site for many birds. It is a National Nature Reserve and an Important Bird Area identified by BirdLife International.

Politics

Main articles: Politics of Guizhou and List of provincial leaders of the People's Republic of China

The politics of Guizhou is structured in a dual party-government system like all other governing institutions in mainland China.

The Governor of Guizhou is the highest-ranking official in the People's Government of Guizhou.

Administrative divisions

townsips map guizhou

Main articles: List of administrative divisions of Guizhou and List of township-level divisions of Guizhou

Guizhou is divided into nine prefecture-level divisions: six prefecture-level cities and three autonomous prefectures:

Administrative divisions of Guizhou
300px
№	Division code	English name	Chinese	Pinyin	Area in km2	Population 2010	Seat	Divisions
								Districts*	Counties	Aut. counties	CL cities
	520000	Guizhou	贵州省	Guìzhōu Shěng	176167.00	34,746,468	Guiyang	15	55	11	7
6	520100	Guiyang	贵阳市	Guìyáng Shì	9,253.06	4,324,561	Guanshanhu District	6	3		1
4	520200	Liupanshui	六盘水市	Liùpánshuǐ Shì	9,965.37	2,851,180	Zhongshan District	2	2
2	520300	Zunyi	遵义市	Zūnyì Shì	30,780.73	6,127,009	Huichuan District	2	8	2	2
5	520400	Anshun	安顺市	Ānshùn Shì	9,253.06	2,297,339	Xixiu District	2	1	3
1	520500	Bijie	毕节市	Bìjié Shì	26,844.45	6,536,370	Qixingguan District	1	6	1
3	520600	Tongren	铜仁市	Tóngrén Shì	18,006.41	3,092,365	Bijiang District	2	4	4
7	522300	Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture	黔西南布依族苗族自治州	Qiánxīnán Bùyīzú Miáozú Zìzhìzhōu	16,785.93	2,805,857	Xingyi		7		1
9	522600	Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture	黔东南苗族侗族自治州	Qiándōngnán Miáozú Dòngzú Zìzhìzhōu	30,278.06	3,480,626	Kaili		15		1
8	522700	Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture	黔南布依族苗族自治州	Qiánnán Bùyīzú Miáozú Zìzhìzhōu	26,191.78	3,231,161	Duyun		9	1	2
* - including Special district

The nine prefecture-level divisions of Guizhou are subdivided into 88 county-level divisions (14 districts, 7 county-level cities, 55 counties, and 11 autonomous counties，1 special district).

Economy

Xijiang, a Miao settlement in Eastern Guizhou

File:1 bapa dong village 2015.jpg

Bapa Dong, a Dong village in Eastern Guizhou

File:1 zhenyuan panorama 2015.jpg

Zhenyuan, a county in Eastern Guizhou

As of the mid-19th century, Guizhou exported mercury, gold, iron, lead, tobacco, incense and drugs.

Guizhou is a relatively poor and economically undeveloped province, but rich in natural, cultural and environmental resources. Its nominal GDP for 2012 was 680.22 billion yuan (107.758 billion USD). Its per capita GDP of RMB 19,566 (3,100 USD) ranks last in all of the PRC.

Its natural industry includes timber and forestry. Guizhou is also the third largest producer of tobacco in China, and home to the well-known brand Guizhou Tobacco. Other important industries in the province include energy (electricity generation) - a large portion of which is exported to Guangdong and other provinces - and mining, especially in coal, limestone, arsenic, gypsum, and oil shale. Guizhou's total output of coal was 118 million tons in 2008, a 7% growth from the previous year. Guizhou's export of power to Guangdong equaled 12% of Guangdong's total power consumption. Over the next 5 years Guizhou hopes to increase this by as much as 50%.

Economic and Technological Development Zones

• Guiyang Economic & Technological Development Zone, created in February 2000
• Guiyang National New & Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

Transportation

The Beipan River Bridge on the Liupanshui–Baiguo Railway in western Guizhou is the highest railway bridge in the world.

Rail

Guizhou's rail network consists primarily of a cross formed by the Sichuan-Guizhou, Guangxi-Guizhou and Shanghai-Kunming Railways, which intersect at the provincial capital, Guiyang, near the center of the province. The Liupanshui-Baiguo, Pan County West and Weishe-Hongguo Railways form a rail corridor along Guizhou's western border with Yunnan. This corridor connects the Neijiang-Kunming Railway, which dips into northwestern Guizhou at Weining, with the Nanning-Kunming Railway, which skirts the southwestern corner of Guizhou at Xingyi.

As of 2013, the Guiyang-Guangzhou and Chongqing–Guizhou High-Speed Railways are under construction.

Demographics

See also: List of unrecognized ethnic groups of Guizhou

In 1832, the population was estimated at five million.

Guizhou is demographically one of China's most diverse provinces. Minority groups account for more than 37% of the population and they include Miao (including Gha-Mu and A-Hmao), Yao, Yi, Qiang, Dong, Zhuang, Bouyei, Bai, Tujia, Gelao and Sui. 55.5% of the province area is designated as autonomous regions for ethnic minorities. Guizhou is the province with the highest fertility rate in China, standing at 2.19. (Urban-1.31, Rural-2.42)

Major Autonomous areas within Guizhou, excluding Hui.

The long-horn tribe, one of the small branches of Miao living in the twelve villages near Zhijing (织金) County, Guizhou Province. The wooden horns remain daily attire for most women.

Religion

Religion in Guizhou

  Chinese ancestral religion (31.18%)

  Christianity (0.99%)

  Other religions or not religious people (67.83%)

The predominant religions in Guizhou are Chinese folk religions, Taoist traditions and Chinese Buddhism. According to surveys conducted in 2007 and 2009, 31.18% of the population believes and is involved in cults of ancestors, while 0.99% of the population identifies as Christian, decreasing from 1.13% in 2004.

File:Anshun Wumiao 2014.04.28 16-57-08.jpg

Wumiao (Temple of the God of War) dedicated to Guandi in Anshun.

The reports did not give figures for other types of religion; 67.83% of the population may be either irreligious or involved in worship of nature deities, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, folk religious sects, and small minorities of Muslims. There are significant ethnic minority populations (the Miao and the Buyei) who traditionally follow their autochthonous religions.

Cuisine

Main article: Guizhou cuisine

Guizhou is the home of the well-known Chinese liquor Moutai. The area of Rongjiang especially includes numerous vinyards and distilleries. A local specialty is osmanthus wine, and sweet osmanthus flowers are used to flavor many traditional foods in the area, including teas, cakes, and sauces.

Guizhou cuisine is spicy but distinct from Szechuan and Hunan cuisine.

Tourism

File:Huangguoshu dapubu.jpg

Huangguoshu Waterfall, the largest in China.

The Dong village of Zhaoxing, southern Guizhou

The province has many covered bridges, called Wind and Rain Bridges. These were built by the Dong minority people.

The southeastern corner of the province is known for its unique Dong minority culture. Towns such as Rongjiang, Liping, Diping and Zhaoxing are scattered amongst the hills along the border with Guangxi.

The rich population of minorities in Guizhou allow for a great many ethnic festivals throughout the lunar calendar. During the first lunar month (usually February), the early festival in Kaili (east of Guiyang) celebrates local culture with acts of bullfighting, horse racing, pipe playing, and comedy works.

Colleges and universities

Main article: List of universities and colleges in Guizhou

• Guizhou University (Guiyang)
• Guizhou Normal University (Guiyang)
• Zunyi Medical College (Zunyi)
• Guiyang Medical University (Guiyang)
• Guizhou Nationalities University (Guiyang)

Media

• Guizhou Daily

See also

• Major national historical and cultural sites in Guizhou
• Pole worship

External links

• Guizhou travel guide from Wikivoyage
• (simplified Chinese) Guizhou government website
• Guiyang Government website