Xuzhou

Xuzhou (zh-cp|c=徐州|p=Xúzhōu; Postal Map Spelling: Hsuchow), known as Pengcheng (zh-cp|c=彭城|p=PéngChéng) in ancient times, is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. It is known for its convenient location as a transportation hub in northern Jiangsu, as it has expressways and railway links connecting directly to the provinces of Henan and Shandong, the neighbouring city of Lianyungang, as well as the economic hub Shanghai.

Administration

The prefecture-level city of Xuzhou administers eleven county-level divisions, including five districts, two county-level cities and four counties.

* Yunlong District (云龙区)
* Gulou District (鼓楼区)
* Jiuli District (九里区)
* Jiawang District (贾汪区)
* Quanshan District (泉山区)
* Pizhou City (邳州市)
* Xinyi City (新沂市)
* Tongshan County (铜山县)
* Suining County (睢宁县)
* Pei County (沛县)
* Feng County (丰县)

These are further divided into 157 township-level divisions.

Geography and climate

Xuzhou is located in the southeast of North China Plain. The area of Xuzhou usually experiences short springs and autumns, and the summers are very long and sun scorching hot, with relatively cold winters, and there is a lower than average level of precipitation.

Education

Universities and colleges

*China University of Mining & Technology (中国矿业大学)
*Xuzhou Medical College (徐州医学院)
*Xuzhou Normal University (徐州师范大学)

chools

*Xuzhou No.1 Middle School (徐州市第一中学)
*Xuzhou No.3 Middle School (徐州市第三中学)
*Xuzhou No.5 Middle School (徐州市第五中学)

History

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Xuzhou was a collection of small farming/fishing villages and towns, part of the border region between the Chu (state), Wu (state) and Qi (state). By the Warring States Period, it was firmly in cultural and administrative sphere of Chu. Liu Bang was born in one of Xuzhou's counties, Pei County. The Xuzhou region was called Huaiyang during the Zhou Dynasty since the Huai River crosses the area. The state of Chu moved to this area after the Qin army captured the old capital, Ying, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei.

After the Yellow River started to change course in the Song Dynasty, when heavy silting at the Yellow River mouth forced the river to channel its flow to the lower Huai River tributary, the region has since become barren due to persistent flooding, nutrient depletion and salination of the once fertile soil.The area was the site of the final critical battle in the Chinese Civil War, the Huaihai Campaign in 1948-49.

Sister Cities

*flagicon|France Saint-Etienne, France (March 27, 1984)
*flagicon|Japan Handa, Japan (May 27, 1993)
*flagicon|USA Newark, New Jersey U.S. (April 21, 1993)
*flagicon|Austria Leoban, Austria (August 29, 1994)
*flagicon|Germany Bochum, Germany (September 16, 1994)
*flagicon|Australia Greater Dandenong, Australia (September 12, 1996)
*flagicon|Brazil Osasco, Brazil
*flagicon|USA Trumbull, Connecticut USA
*flagicon|Ukraine Kirovograd, Ukraine (August 31, 1996)
*flagicon|Russia Ryazan, Russia (May 3, 1998)
*flagicon|Germany Erfurt, Germany (November 26, 2005)
*flagicon|Italy Lanciano, Italy (August 27, 2006)

ee also

*Battle of Xuzhou
*List of cities in the People's Republic of China by population

References

External links

* [http://www.xz.gov.cn Government website of Xuzhou] (in Simplified Chinese)
* [http://xuzhou.jiangsu.net Xuzhou city guide with open directory] (Jiangsu.NET)