Hezhou (贺州) is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.

Geography and climate

Hezhou is located in northeastern Guangxi. It borders Hunan to the north and Guangdong to the east. The area is 11,752.64 km2 (4,537.72 sq mi). The average elevation is 800 m (2,600 ft) and the highest is 1,731 m (5,679 ft) above sea-level.

The city has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with mild, damp winters and hot and wet summers. The yearly average temperature is 20.2 °C (68.4 °F), and annual precipitation is 1,562 mm (61.5 in).

Climate data for Hezhou, elevation 149 m (489 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)27.8 (82.0)33.9 (93.0)33.3 (91.9)35.6 (96.1)36.7 (98.1)38.7 (101.7)40.9 (105.6)39.9 (103.8)39.2 (102.6)37.1 (98.8)34.4 (93.9)29.0 (84.2)40.9 (105.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)13.9 (57.0)16.2 (61.2)19.1 (66.4)24.9 (76.8)29.3 (84.7)31.7 (89.1)33.7 (92.7)33.7 (92.7)31.7 (89.1)27.9 (82.2)22.7 (72.9)16.9 (62.4)25.1 (77.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)9.7 (49.5)12.0 (53.6)15.2 (59.4)20.8 (69.4)24.8 (76.6)27.3 (81.1)28.8 (83.8)28.5 (83.3)26.3 (79.3)22.2 (72.0)17.0 (62.6)11.6 (52.9)20.3 (68.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)6.8 (44.2)9.1 (48.4)12.5 (54.5)17.7 (63.9)21.6 (70.9)24.3 (75.7)25.4 (77.7)25.0 (77.0)22.7 (72.9)18.2 (64.8)13.1 (55.6)8.1 (46.6)17.0 (62.7)
Record low °C (°F)−2.1 (28.2)−1.7 (28.9)0.0 (32.0)5.6 (42.1)11.4 (52.5)15.2 (59.4)19.3 (66.7)20.1 (68.2)14.0 (57.2)5.2 (41.4)0.2 (32.4)−3.5 (25.7)−3.5 (25.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)75.9 (2.99)69.8 (2.75)136.4 (5.37)187.9 (7.40)255.2 (10.05)291.9 (11.49)168.0 (6.61)170.7 (6.72)70.2 (2.76)71.5 (2.81)70.0 (2.76)51.1 (2.01)1,618.6 (63.72)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)12.012.418.316.717.919.415.814.99.56.08.08.2159.1
Average snowy days0.500000000000.20.7
Average relative humidity (%)76788280798176777571727177
Mean monthly sunshine hours69.958.749.973.7114.4132.0192.7193.7172.7168.5134.6117.91,478.7
Percentage possible sunshine21181319283246494747413633
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration
Source 2: Weather China

Administration

Map including He County (labeled as HO-HSIEN 賀縣) (AMS, 1954)

Hezhou has 2 urban districts, 2 counties, and 1 autonomous county.

Urban District:

Counties:

Autonomous County:

Map
Babu Pinggui Zhaoping County Zhongshan County Fuchuan County
NameChinesePinyinZhuangArea (km2)Population (As of 2020)
Babu District八步区Bābù QūBahbu Gih3,666.16655,994
Pinggui District平桂区Píngguī QūBingzgvei Gih1,851.17404,161
Zhaoping County昭平县Zhāopíng XiànCauhbingz Yen3,223.64330,116
Zhongshan County钟山县Zhōngshān XiànCunghsanh Yen1,471.83351,057
Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County富川瑶族自治县Fùchuān Yáozú ZìzhìxiànFuconh Yauzcuz Swciyen1,539.76266,530
Total11,752.572,007,858

Demographics

Hezhou was home to 2,007,858 inhabitants as of the 2020 Chinese census whom 1,411,212 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of Babu and Pinggui urban districts and Zhongshan county largely being urbanized. Ethnic groups include Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao and others. By the end of 2024, the total population of the city is 2,494,500, and the resident population of the city is 1,98,200.

The Hezhou City Almanac lists the following ethnic subdivisions and their respective distributions. Population statistics are as of 1990.

  • Han Bendi (本地人) Hakka (客家人): 240,000 in Liantang (莲塘), Shatian (沙田), Gonghui (公会), Guiling (桂岭), Huangtian (黄田) Pumen (铺门人): 80,000 in Pumen (铺门镇) Jiudu (九都人): 30,000 in Babu (八步), Huangtian (黄田), E'tang (鹅塘)
  • Yao: 36,518 Pan Yao (盘瑶) (autonym: Bian You (匾优); exonyms: Guoshan Yao (过山瑶), Buzhai Yao (补寨瑶)): 31,000 in Daping (大平), Gonghui (公会), Shatian (沙田), Lisong (里松), Hejie (贺街), Daning (大宁), Liantang (莲塘), Butou (步头), Huangdong (黄洞), Guiling (桂岭), Kaishan (开山), Renyi (仁义), E'tang (鹅塘), Shuikou (水口) Gedai Mian (戈带勉): 4,000 in Lishui (利水), Xiaoshui (小水) of Daping Township (大平乡) Tu Yao (土瑶) (autonym: Yindi Mian / 音地勉): 5000 in Shatian (沙田), E'tang (鹅塘) townships (in the villages of Mingmei / 明梅), Daming / 大明), Caodui / 槽碓), Jinzhu / 金竹), Xinmin / 新民), Shidong / 狮东)
  • Zhuang: 34,881 in Nanxiang (南乡), Shatian (沙田), Daning (大宁), E'tang (鹅塘)

Economy

Its place along the Guilin-Wuzhou Highway and central location close to Hunan and Guangdong make it a convenient place to find new roommates (Maocheng). Forestry is one of Hezhou's most important industries. More than 6,130 km2 (2,370 sq mi) of land are forested. Hydropower is also important with more than 700 megawatts produced. Hezhou's biggest mineral resource is gold. Other minerals include iron and aluminum. Agricultural products include beef and dairy cattle, fruits, vegetables, turpentine, tea, and tobacco.

Transportation

Hezhou railway station opened in 2009.

China National Highway 207

Flora and fauna

Hezhou has more than 1,040 species of plants and 130 species of birds.

External links