Zhaotong

Zhaotong () is a prefecture-level city located in the northeast corner of Yunnan province, China, bordering the provinces of Guizhou to the south and southeast and Sichuan to the northeast, north, and west. By the end of 2024, the resident population of the city was 4.804 million.

History Zhaotong has historic and cultural links to the Shu (Sichuan Basin) region. Yi people consider Zhaotong to be their homeland (called Zizipuwu). Zhaotong was part of Zhuti County (朱提縣) from the Han to Tang dynasties. Zhaotong belonged to the Nanzhao then Dali Kingdom until the Mongols destroyed the latter in the 13th century. During the Yuan Dynasty, it became the Wumeng Commandery (乌蒙路), during which time many Hui Muslims settled in the area. During the Qing dynasty, local tusi chieftains were removed, and the region was renamed Zhaotong Prefecture.

Climate

Influenced by the low latitude and moderate elevation, Zhaotong has a temperate subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb), with cool, dry winters, and warm, humid summers. Temperatures frequently drop below freezing at night in winter, though the days warm up to around . Conversely, in summer, average highs rise to . A great majority of the year's rainfall occurs from May to September.

Population

Demography The prefecture, almost exclusively agricultural, is one of the poorest in China, which led the authorities to encourage young people to migrate to eastern and southern parts of China to find work. For the year 2003, the number of emigrants was 650,000.

The government wanted the number to increase by 50,000 in 2004.

Religion It is the seat of the Latin Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of Zhaotong.

Language The local Zhaotong dialect is a variety of Southwestern Mandarin that has been influenced to some extent by the local Yi and Miao languages. It has its own unique features while also showing characteristics of northern Chinese dialects. The dialect has four tone categories: Tone 1, Tone 2, Tone 3, and Tone 4.

Food Potato rice (洋芋饭): Potatoes (potatoes) and rice are cooked together. It is soft, sticky and fragrant. It is a common home-cooked staple food for locals.

Chicken stewed with Gastrodia elata (天麻炖鸡): A specialty of Zhaotong, chicken stewed with Gastrodia elata has a clear and delicious soup with nourishing effects.

Zhaotong Liangfen (昭通凉粉): Dried peas are ground into peas, skinned, soaked in water, ground into a paste, filtered, boiled into a thick paste, and then cooled and solidified.

Fried Rice Cake (油糕饵块): From the meticulous selection of high-mountain potatoes and premium rice to the exquisite techniques of frying and baking; from its crispy and soft texture to its rich, sweet and savory flavor.

Fried Potato Cake with Bean Powder (油糕稀豆粉): This dish is made by combining two core elements: golden and crispy fried potato cake and fragrant and delicate pea powder.

Zhaotong Mini Meat Skewers (昭通小肉串): Zhaotong mini meat skewers are a highly representative specialty barbecue dish from Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, and are hailed as "a unique Yunnan barbecue delicacy."

Economy The main industries in the prefecture are mining, tobacco and cement manufacturing

Zhaotong has some of the largest lignite sources in China. The 18,000-capacity Yuanbaoshan Stadium is also located in the city. It hosts many events, for example athletic events such as soccer matches.

Transport Zhaotong Airport (ZAT), flight destination to Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Beijing, Guiyang Train service to Kunming, Chengdu, Guangzhou Zhaotong is connected to the Chongqing-Kunming National Highway network. China National Highway 213 G85 Yinchuan–Kunming Expressway

Zhaotong has several bridges over the Jinsha River, an upstream section of the Yangtze.

Administrative divisions

Map Name Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Population (2010) Area (km2) Density (/km2)Zhaoyang DistrictZhāoyáng Qū787,8452,240352Shuifu cityShuǐfù Shì102,143319320Ludian CountyLǔdiàn Xiàn390,6541,519257Qiaojia CountyQiǎojiā Xiàn516,3493,245159Yanjin CountyYánjīn Xiàn369,8812,096176Daguan CountyDàguān Xiàn263,2251,802146Yongshan CountyYǒngshàn Xiàn394,2672,833139Suijiang CountySuíjiāng Xiàn153,091882174Zhenxiong CountyZhènxióng Xiàn1,328,3753,785351Yiliang CountyYíliáng Xiàn521,8382,884181Weixin CountyWēixìn Xiàn385,8651,416273

Ethnicity Among the resident population, the Han population is 4,683,478, accounting for 89.83% of the total population; the ethnic minorities population is 530,055, accounting for 10.17% of the total population.

+ Zhaotong Ethnic Composition (November 2010) Han Hui Miao Yi Bai Zhuang Buyi Sui Hani Dai Others Population 4683470 180962 172620 161527 6467 2943 2354 461 447 412 1858 Proportion of total population (%)89.83 3.47 3.31 3.10 0.12 0.06 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.01 Proportion of minority population (%) --- 34.14 32.57 30.47 1.22 0.56 0.44 0.09 0.08 0.08 0.35

Zhaotong

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