- Wade-Giles romanization:
- Chāang-chih
- Formerly (until 1912):
- Luāan
Changzhi
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Where is Changzhi located in China?
Changzhi is a city located in the southeastern part of Shanxi sheng (province), China, in the Luāan plain. The plain is a basin surrounded by the western highlands of the Taihang Mountains and is watered by the upper streams of the Zhuozhang River. Changzhi is a communication center with routes and railways leading northeast to Handan, northwest to the Fen River valley, and south to the Huang He plain. After 1949, Changzhi developed into a secondary industrial center due to nearby coal mines and rich iron deposits.
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What type of city is Changzhiāurban or rural?
Changzhi is a city in southeastern Shanxi province in China and has been developed into a secondary industrial center since 1949. The historical city had strong walls that went on for 7.5 miles, but it declined in importance after the 19th century. After 1949, Changzhi's population nearly doubled between 1953 and 1958 because of the utilization of nearby coal mines and rich iron deposits.
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Which province is Changzhi a part of?
Changzhi is a city located in the southeastern part of Shanxi province, China. During the Ming dynasty (1368ā1644), the area became part of Shanxi. In 1528, the county was named Changzhi.
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What is Changzhi known for economically or historically?
Changzhi is known both for its historical significance and its economic activities.
Historically, the area was important during the Shang and Zhou dynasties and was the site of Shangdang, an important city in the state of Han. It later became a strategic center during the Tang dynasty and the seat of a rebellion in the 840s.
Economically, Changzhi is a communication center and regional market for agricultural products and metalworking. After 1949, it developed into a secondary industrial center, utilizing nearby coal mines and iron deposits to produce pig iron and steel. The area also mines asbestos and other minerals and is known for dangshen and lujiu.
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What are some famous cultural or natural sites in Changzhi?
Changzhi, situated in southeastern Shanxi province, China, boasts a rich history and strategic importance. The Taihang Mountains, which form a boundary between Shanxi and Hebei provinces, are located on the western side of the range facing inward toward the Shanxi plateau, also has rich coal deposits, which are mined at Changzhi in the south.
Historically, Changzhi was a major area during the Shang dynasty and a strategic center during the Tang dynasty. The city was known as Luzhou during the Tang dynasty and was fought over for many years. Today, Changzhi is known for its local dangshen, or asiabell, and the locally produced fermented beverage called lujiu.
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How has Changzhi developed or changed in recent years?
After 1949, Changzhi was developed into a secondary industrial center. Benefiting from nearby coal mines and iron deposits, its population nearly doubled between 1953 and 1958. The city produces pig iron and steel, and there are a number of engineering and machine-building plants. The area also mines asbestos and other minerals. Shanxiās industrial sector is based on its abundant coal resources and is focused on heavy industries. Other mining and iron and steel centers include Changzhi.
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Changzhi, city in southeastern Shanxi sheng (province), China. It is situated in the Luāan plaināa basin surrounded by the western highlands of the Taihang Mountains, watered by the upper streams of the Zhuozhang River. It is a communication centre; to the northeast a route and a railway via Licheng, in Shanxi, cross the Taihang range to Handan, Hebei, on the North China Plain. To the northwest a route and a railway lead to the Fen River valley, south of Taiyuan, Shanxi. To the south a route leads over comparatively low mountains to Gaoping, Shanxi, and to the plain of the Huang He (Yellow River). A railway following this route has been built to the coalfields of Jiaozuo in Henan with further connections to Zhengzhou.
This area was of major importance during the Shang dynasty (c. 1600ā1046 bce) and also during the state of Li within the Zhou dynasty (1046ā256 bce); it later became the site of an important city named Shangdang in the state of Han. In Qin (221ā207 bce) and Han (206 bceā220 ce) times it became the commandery (district under the control of a commander) of Shangdang. In the late 6th century it was called Luzhouāa name retained through the Tang dynasty (618ā907), when it was a strategic centre in the conflict between the central government and the provincial warlords of Hebei. In the 840s it was itself the seat of a major rebellion. During the last years of the Tang dynasty and during the Five Dynasties period (907ā960), the area was continually fought over and constantly changed hands. Under the Song (960ā1279) it was called Longde, a name it maintained under the Yuan (Mongols; 1279ā1368). During Ming times (1368ā1644) it was named Luāan and became a part of Shanxi. In 1528 the county was given the name Changzhi, and the superior prefecture of which it was the seat was named Luāan. In 1912 the superior prefecture was abolished.
The historical city was relatively extensive, with strong walls 7.5 miles (12 km) in circumference, but after the 19th century it declined in importance. It was a regional market centre for the agricultural products (grain, hemp, wool, and felt) of the locality and also for products of the local metalworking industry. The area was a centre of both iron- and bronze-working from the earliest times. In the 1950s excavations at Fenshuiling, north of the city, revealed large numbers of bronze artifacts and molds used for casting iron tools.
After 1949 Changzhi was developed into a secondary industrial centre. Because of the utilization of the nearby coal mines and rich iron deposits, its population nearly doubled between 1953 and 1958. The city produces pig iron and steel, and there are a number of engineering and machine-building plants. The area also mines asbestos and other minerals. Traditionally, it is famous for the local dangshen, or asiabell (root of Codonopsis pilosula), and for the locally produced fermented beverage called lujiu. Pop. (2002 est.) 484,235.