Zhoucheng Subdistrict of Dongping County, Tai'an Prefecture, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China, is situated in the central part of Dongping County.October 31, 2022. National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. It is bordered to the south by the towns of Shahezhan and Xinhuzhen, to the north by Dongping Subdistrict and Laohuzhen, to the east by Pengji Subdistrict, and the west by Dongping Lake. Zhoucheng Subdistrict administers 71 administrative villages, covers an area of 72 square kilometers, and has 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.Comprehensive Encyclopedia of the Administrative Divions of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国政区大典). 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 a significant tourist destination in Shandong Province.Touristic town (旅游强乡镇) Additionally, Zhoucheng Subdistrict is the birthplace of Wan Li, a prominent leader in the history of the People's Republic of China.Wan Li (万里)
History
From Pre-Qin to the Qing dynasty According to 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.Encyclopedia of Administrative Divisions of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国政区大典) 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.Dongping Name of Places Committee Office, "Dongping County Atlas", p. 26 - 32. 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,Yao Xuan, "Farewell Letter Upon Relocation to Yunzhou" (in Chinese).History of the Song Dynasty, Biography, vol. 200: "In the third year of the Xianping era, the Yellow River breached at Wanglingsao in Yunzhou, flowing southeast into Juye and entering the Huai and Si rivers. The city was submerged, houses were ruined, and Yao Xuan was appointed as the Prefect of Yunzhou. He relocated the prefecture to the high plateau in Wenyang Town, entrusting him with the responsibility to manage the resettlement and permitting him to facilitate expedient actions." still referred to as Xucheng. This city became the modern-day Zhoucheng,Annual report of 2012.Yu Qingming et al., "Chronicle of Five Thousand Years of Tai'an" (in Chinese). Retrieved January 29, 2020. Archived from the original on 2018-07-07. 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."Witnessing a thousand years of rise and fall" (阅尽千年兴衰事). 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.Atlas, p. 33-36 In the late Ming dynasty, residents in Dongping Prefecture gathered and set fire to the prefectural office.东原厎平话沧桑 (in Chinese) 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.Wang Yufen et al., "Grand Canal: Scenery (Dongping Volume)", p. 131-132. 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.Atlas 37. General history of a County, 35. In the late Qing dynasty and early Republic of China, Dongping County faced security issues, with peasant armies and armed bandits attacking 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.Wang Yufen et al., "Grand Canal: Scenery (Dongping Volume" p. 132-133 (in Chinese).
Republic of China
In 1913, Dongping Prefecture was renamed Dongping County,General history of a County, Zhoucheng. 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.Jiang Guanzhi et al., "Adorable Dongping", p. 90. In 1926, the Hongqiang Party, composed of peasants, gathered to attack the prefectural city.History of 1993 Annals. In 1931, the Bao system was abolished, and district offices and townships were established.General history of a county. District office. At that time, the northwestern and central areas of what is now Zhoucheng Subdistrict belonged to Dongping District 1, which included four towns and four townships.Zhang Zhixi, Liu Lingyu et al. "Annals of Dongping County (Year 25 of the Republic of China)", p. 33-34. Some southeastern villages were part of the fourth, sixth, and seventh townships of Dongping District 5.Dongping Name of Places Committee Office, "Dongping County Atlas", p. 40.Pengji Town Annals, p. 39.Zhang Zhixi, Liu Jingyu, et al., 'Annals of Dongping County (Year 25 of the Republic of China),' p. 42-43
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.Party History Office of the CPC Dongping County Committee, et al., 'Disasters and Struggles' (1937). Retrieved February 05, 2020. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Following the air raid, Sun Yonghan, who was then the county head of Dongping, escaped to Zhoucheng.Old County Government in County Annals. On August 17, 1938, Japanese troops and local militias from southwestern Shandong attacked Zhoucheng. The temporary Dongping County government organized over a hundred people to resist, but the defense failed, and Japanese forces subsequently occupied Zhoucheng.Party History Office of the CPC Dongping County Committee, et al., 'Disasters and Struggles' (1938). Retrieved on June 12, 2018. Archived from the original on February 05, 2020. In 1939, the Japanese set up a garrison in Zhoucheng.Party History Office of the CPC Dongping County Committee, et al., 'Disasters and Struggles' (1939). Retrieved on February 05, 2020. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. In August 1940, the Dongping County Anti-Japanese Democratic Government, under CCP leadership, incorporated Zhoucheng into Dongping District 1 and established an Anti-Japanese District Office in 1943. On the night of October 18, 1943, CCP forces launched a surprise attack on Dongping County, resulting in over a hundred Japanese and Allied troops killed or injured before retreating. By 1944, most of Dongping County had become a CCP revolutionary base area. However, the area around Zhoucheng Street, where the county seat was located, remained under Japanese control. Japanese forces had positions in Zhoucheng, Gezhenyuan, Nanguan, and Menglou within the Zhoucheng Subdistrict."Civil Administration of Dongping County", p. 91. On May 17, 1945, the Eighth Route Army launched the Dongping Campaign to liberate Dongping. By May 18, the Eighth Route Army had captured Zhoucheng and defeated the Japanese forces by the 19th.Party History Office of the CPC Dongping County Committee, et al., 'Disasters and Struggles'. Dongping military campaign. Retrieved on February 11, 2020. Archived from the original on May 05, 2021.Wang Yufen et al., "Grand Canal: Scenery (Dongping Volume" p. 135-136 (in Chinese)."Dongping military campaign", p. 159. After the CCP took control of Zhoucheng, they removed parts of the city walls.Dongping military campaign, p. 158.Dongping County war.
In 1947, during the Second Chinese Civil War, both the Nationalist (Kuomintang) and CCP forces contended for control of Zhoucheng. In March 1947, the Nationalist army took Zhoucheng but fled on April 21. They briefly reclaimed Zhoucheng on August 4 but were later defeated 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.Wang Yufen et al., "Grand Canal: Scenery (Dongping Volume" p. 137-139 (in Chinese).
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 merged back into District 1, which then included several towns: Lianhuawan, Xiliangcun, Houheyayi, Zhifang, Chenfang, Taoyuan, Nanzhen, Beizhen, Dongzhen, Xizhen, Yaowo, Liulin, and Liulou.General history of an administrative subdivision.
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. Later that year, District 1 was renamed Chengguan District. By the end of 1956, some townships were again merged, leading to the abolition of Chengguan District. Chengguan Town directly fell under county jurisdiction, while Chenfang and Liangcun townships were initially transferred to Pengji District but were soon returned.Pengji Town Annals , p. 39 - 42. Retrieved on May 12, 2021.