Pingshan County

Pingshan County
Name	Pingshan County
Native name	平山县
Settlement type	County
Coordinates	38, 15, N, 114...
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	China
Subdivision type1	Province
Subdivision name1	Hebei
Subdivision type2	Prefecture-level city
Subdivision name2	Shijiazhuang
Seat type	County seat
Seat	Pingshan Town
Area total km2	2648
Population total	470000
Population as of	2010
Population density km2	auto
Timezone	China Standard Time
Utc offset	+8
Postal code type	Postal code
Postal code	050400
Area code	0311

Pingshan County is a county under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province in North China. It is situated in the western foothills of the Taihang Mountains, with its terrain characterized by significant elevation variation from mountainous regions in the west to flatter areas in the east. The county is historically renowned as the wartime seat of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the headquarters of the People's Liberation Army during the late stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War.

Geography

Pingshan County is located in the western part of Hebei, bordering Shanxi province to the west, with the Taihang Mountains dominating its topography. Major waterways include the Hutuo River, a tributary of the Hai River system, which flows through the county, and the large Gangnan Reservoir situated in its northern section. The county experiences a temperate continental monsoon climate, with distinct seasons and precipitation concentrated in the summer months, supporting a variety of agricultural and forestry activities across its diverse landscapes.

History

The area of present-day Pingshan County has a long history, with human activity dating back to the Neolithic period, and it was part of the ancient Zhongshan (state) during the Warring States period. Its most significant modern historical role began in 1948, when the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, led by figures like Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, moved to Xibaipo, a village within the county, which served as the final rural command center before the founding of the People's Republic of China. During this period, critical meetings like the September Meeting of 1948 and the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party were held here, shaping the strategy for the final stages of the Chinese Civil War against the Kuomintang.

Administrative divisions

Pingshan County administers 12 towns, including Pingshan Town (the county seat), Nanzhuang, Guyang, and Wenying, along with 11 townships. These subdivisions are further organized into numerous administrative villages, managing the county's population and resources across its varied terrain. The county's governance structure is typical of Chinese county-level divisions, operating under the leadership of the Shijiazhuang municipal government and the broader Hebei provincial administration.

Economy

The local economy is diversified, with traditional agriculture focusing on crops like wheat, corn, and chestnuts, the latter being a notable local specialty. Industrial activities include mining, leveraging mineral resources found in the Taihang Mountains, and manufacturing. A significant and growing sector is tourism, heavily centered on the revolutionary heritage site of Xibaipo, which is a key national Red tourism destination, alongside natural attractions like the scenic areas around the Gangnan Reservoir and the Hengshan region.

Culture

Cultural life in Pingshan is deeply influenced by its revolutionary history, with Xibaipo serving as a major site for patriotic education and commemorating the history of the Chinese Communist Party. Local performing arts include various forms of Hebei opera and folk songs. The county's culinary traditions feature mountain delicacies and dishes centered on local agricultural products, such as chestnut-based foods. Annual festivals and events often celebrate both its historical legacy and agricultural harvests.

Transportation

Transportation infrastructure has been developed to connect the mountainous county with major regional hubs. Key road links include the G5 Beijing–Kunming Expressway and National Highway 207 (China), which provide vital connections to Shijiazhuang and beyond. While the county itself is not served by major passenger rail lines, the nearby Shijiazhuang railway station, a major hub on the Beijing–Guangzhou railway, provides access to the national rail network. Public bus services connect the county seat and major towns within the region.

Category:County-level divisions of Hebei Category:Shijiazhuang