Guzhang County (simplified Chinese: 古丈县; traditional Chinese: 古丈縣; pinyin: Gǔzhàng Xiàn) is a county of Hunan Province, China. The county is the 2nd least populous administrative unit of the counties or county-level cities (after Shaoshan City) in the province. It is under the administration of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture.

Located in the northwest of Hunan and in the east of Xiangxi Prefecture, the county is bordered to the north by Yongshun County, to the east by Yuanling County, to the south by Luxi County and Jishou City, and to the west by Baojing County. Guzhang County covers an area of 1,286.47 km2 (496.71 sq mi), and as of 2015, it had a registered population of 143,182 and a resident population of 131,900. The county has 7 towns under its jurisdiction, and the county seat is Guyang (古阳镇).

Ethnic groups

Guzhang County includes the following ethnic groups (Wu 2007, 2010).

  • Xiang (乡)
  • Miao (苗; Hmong pronunciation: [bɤ˧kɑu˦˩]) Shen Miao (深苗; Hmong pronunciation: [sɔŋ˥miau˥]): in Shanzhao (山枣) and Yezhu (野竹). Also called "Gelao" (仡佬). Their language is also called Zhang ((章话, 章语). Qian Miao (浅苗; Hmong pronunciation: [tshai˦˩miau˥]): in Morong (默戎) and Pingba (坪坝).

Geology

The Guzhangian Age of the Cambrian Period is named after Guzhang County. In particular, the Louyixi Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point is named after the Louyixi Town in Guzhang County.

Climate

Climate data for Guzhang, elevation 302 m (991 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)23.6 (74.5)29.8 (85.6)33.3 (91.9)35.6 (96.1)35.5 (95.9)36.5 (97.7)39.7 (103.5)39.6 (103.3)38.3 (100.9)34.7 (94.5)29.8 (85.6)23.7 (74.7)39.7 (103.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)9.0 (48.2)11.5 (52.7)16.2 (61.2)22.3 (72.1)26.2 (79.2)29.2 (84.6)32.3 (90.1)32.5 (90.5)28.5 (83.3)22.4 (72.3)17.3 (63.1)11.6 (52.9)21.6 (70.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)5.0 (41.0)7.1 (44.8)11.0 (51.8)16.5 (61.7)20.7 (69.3)24.2 (75.6)26.9 (80.4)26.5 (79.7)22.6 (72.7)17.1 (62.8)12.0 (53.6)7.0 (44.6)16.4 (61.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)2.5 (36.5)4.3 (39.7)7.8 (46.0)12.9 (55.2)17.1 (62.8)21.0 (69.8)23.3 (73.9)22.9 (73.2)19.2 (66.6)14.1 (57.4)9.0 (48.2)4.2 (39.6)13.2 (55.7)
Record low °C (°F)−4.8 (23.4)−4.7 (23.5)−1.9 (28.6)1.6 (34.9)8.1 (46.6)11.8 (53.2)16.7 (62.1)14.6 (58.3)11.8 (53.2)3.4 (38.1)−2.0 (28.4)−4.4 (24.1)−4.8 (23.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)51.9 (2.04)55.5 (2.19)92.2 (3.63)130.2 (5.13)206.7 (8.14)215.4 (8.48)212.9 (8.38)140.4 (5.53)98.7 (3.89)103.9 (4.09)69.7 (2.74)35.5 (1.40)1,413 (55.64)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)12.713.316.216.417.616.313.812.110.114.511.910.6165.5
Average snowy days5.13.10.900000000.21.911.2
Average relative humidity (%)81818182838582818184848082
Mean monthly sunshine hours55.154.175.199.6116.1114.8191.8194.7134.795.187.170.81,289
Percentage possible sunshine17172026282745483727272228
Source: China Meteorological Administration
  • Wu, Yunji (伍云姬) (2007). Xiāngxī wǎ xiāng huà fēngsú míngwù cǎi tú diǎn 湘西瓦乡话风俗名物彩图典 [Xiangxi Waxianghua multicolor dictionary of customs and artifacts] (in Simplified Chinese). Hunan Normal University Press. ISBN 978-7-81081-814-8.
  • Wu, Yunji (伍云姬); Shen, Ruiqing (沈瑞清) (2010). 湘西古丈瓦乡话调查报告 [An Investigative Report of Waxianghua of Guzhang County, Xiangxi Prefecture] (in Simplified Chinese). Shanghai Educational Press (上海教育出版社). ISBN 978-7-54442-859-0.