Ankang

The settlement of Ankang dates to the Stone Age, and its recorded history dates back more than 3000 years. The settlement was originally known as Xicheng. Ankang County was established in 1st Taikang year of the Western Jin Dynasty (AD 280). It later formed part of the Eastern Liang Prefecture, which was reorganized into the Jin Prefecture in the 3rd Feidi year of the Western Wei (AD 554). Under the Sui, this was renamed Xicheng Commandery (西城郡; Xīchéngjùn) and, under the Tang, Ankang Commandery (安康郡; Ānkāngjùn).[2]

After the founding of the People's Republic of China (1949), the Ankang Office of the Shaanxi Province People's Government was set up in 1950, growing to become the Ankang Area Civic Administration in 1979. In 2001, Ankang Area became Ankang City with a city-level administration.

Map including Ankang (labeled as 安康 AN-K'ANG (HINGAN)) (AMS, 1954)

Due to its location south of the Qinling, Ankang is geographically considered to be part of southern China, yet, on administrative terms, as Shaanxi is officially part of Northwestern China, it is considered to be part of the Northwest. Ankang is located in the southeastern part of Shaanxi, north of the Daba Mountains and south of the Qinling. Measuring 200 km (120 mi) from east to west and 240 km (150 mi) from north to south, the prefecture-level city of covers an area of 23,500 km² (9,100 sq mi). The Han River (Hanshui) crosses it from west to east, forming a natural landform of "a plain between two mountains".

Ankang includes Hanbin District and nine counties: Hanyin, Shiquan, Ningshan, Ziyang, Langao, Pingli, Zhenping, Xunyang and Baihe, totaling 109 towns, 88 townships and 3 sub-district offices.

Map
Hanbin Hanyin County Shiquan County Ningshan County Ziyang County Langao County Pingli County Zhenping County Xunyang County Baihe County
Name	Hanzi	Hanyu Pinyin	Population (2004 est.)	Area (km²)	Density (/km²)
Hanbin District	汉滨区	Hànbīn Qū	950,000	3,652	260
Hanyin County	汉阴县	Hànyīn Xiàn	290,000	1,347	215
Shiquan County	石泉县	Shíquán Xiàn	180,000	1,525	118
Ningshan County	宁陕县	Níngshǎn Xiàn	70,000	3,678	19
Ziyang County	紫阳县	Zǐyáng Xiàn	340,000	2,204	154
Langao County	岚皋县	Lángāo Xiàn	170,000	1,851	92
Pingli County	平利县	Pínglì Xiàn	230,000	2,627	88
Zhenping County	镇坪县	Zhènpíng Xiàn	60,000	1,503	40
Xunyang County	旬阳县	Xúnyáng Xiàn	450,000	3,554	127
Baihe County	白河县	Báihé Xiàn	210,000	1,450	145

Ankang's history and culture is nearly the same as Chinese culture, but with distinctive characteristics and geographical features marked by its diversity, which integrates east and west, north and south. It is influenced by Shaanxi culture, Chinese culture and Diqiang culture, with elements Bashu and Jinchu culture to form the present-day Han River culture after thousands of years of assimilation and fusion. The operas of Ankang have a long history, with nearly ten varieties, of which Han Opera is the best and most mature. According to incomplete statistics (?), the operas of Ankang consist of more than a thousand traditional plays. It is said that the tone of Beijing Opera originates from Han Opera. Ankang is well known as "the land for folk songs" and was named as "the land for folk songs in China" by the Ministry of Culture in 2003. Ziyang folk songs have become a cultural brand of Ankang. Ziyang folk songs and the Han tune "Erhuang" have been listed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the State Council.

Located at a rare zone abundant in subtropical resources in the northwest of China, Ankang is an intermediate zone between north and south China and a transition zone of different climates whose geographical features make it an area of high value for development. This includes the tourism potential of Qinba, Han River scenery and tourism for holidays and leisure. A vivid description of Ankang's scenery is captured in this quote - "Ankang contains the beautiful scenery in the south of China, as well as the magnificent view of Qinling and Ta-pa Mountains." Ankang encompasses 32 scenic areas and 78 scenic spots, among which 29 places have potential for development, including some historic and scenic sites at the provincial level, such as Nangong Mountain National Forest Park, Ying Lake and Xiangxi Hole, as well as many historic and scenic sites or tourism projects such as Qianjia Ping, the origin of the Shen River, Pinghe Liang, rafting on the Lan River, etc. Ankang also has four national forest parks and seven forest parks at the provincial level.

The Ankang Airport, which opened in 1938. has flights to and from Xi'an. The highways G316 and G210 pass through the town. Ankang is served by the Xi'an–Ankang, Yangpingguan–Ankang and Xiangyang–Chongqing Railways.

The plant base of green industry covers an area of more than four million mu. The output of cocoon makes up 80% of the total output of cocoon in Shaanxi. Turmeric, Gynostemma pentaphylla and the tea enriched in selenium have obtained the formulation right of the national standard. The industrial systems of Qinba medicine, green food, Ankang silk, Han River hydropower, Jinzhou minerals and so on have been formed basically. Taking "Using Ecotourism to Promote Ankang" as the subject, highlight three traveling brands of "Han River's Culture, Qinba Scenery, Customs in Ankang", the tourism industry is full of vigor and vitality. Ankang carry out three projects of afforestation, ecological protection and environmental control to maintain and develop a good ecological environment with blue sky and white clouds, green mountains and blue waters in Ankang.

• Ankang city's official homepage