:Zhengding County

File:Du Halde - Description de la Chine - tchin ting fou - long men hien.jpg", towns of "Pe-tche-li", from Du Halde's 1735 Description of China, drawn from accounts by Jesuit missionaries.]]

File:The southern gate of Zhengding 01.JPG

Archeological finds indicate that the area of Zhengding County has been settled since the early Neolithic Period. During the Spring and Autumn period, the capital of the Xianyu Kingdom was located in the area. Under the Han dynasty, the county was the site of Dongyuan, where the emperor Liu Bang led a siege during Chen Xi's rebellion in the early 190s{{nbsp}}BC.{{harvp|Hung|2011|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ws7jZr7AriIC&pg=PA202 202]}}. In the year 256 (Western Jin dynasty), the Changshan Prefecture was established in the county. In 923, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the prefecture was renamed Zhengding Prefecture, which was later rearranged into the Zhengding Prefecture and Zhongshan County. Zhengding County was created during the Qing dynasty, in 1723. In 1949, the county was subordinated to Shijiazhuang Prefecture and in 1986, it came under the jurisdiction of the City of Shijiazhuang.

The current Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary and Chinese president Xi Jinping was in charge of Secretary of the county Party Committee between 1983 and 1985.Miller, Alice, "Who does Xi Jinping Know and How Does He Know Them?," China Leadership Monitor, Spring 2010 http://media.hoover.org/documents/CLM32AM.pdf As a princeling, son of Xi Zhongxun, he was assigned to this rural area on his own request. He is credited with having a Qing dynasty style mansion constructed in the area for the filming of Dream of Red Mansions.{{cite news|title=Elite and Deft, Xi Aimed High Early in China|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/world/asia/aiming-for-top-xi-jinping-forged-ties-early-in-china.html|access-date=September 30, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 29, 2012|author=Ian Johnson}}

Zhengding County ranges from {{convert|57.6|to|105.2|m|ft}} in elevation. It has a continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. The year-round averages are {{convert|13.6|°C|1}} for the temperature, 62% for the humidity, {{convert|474.4|mm}} for the precipitation, and 2,736 hours for the sunshine time. The frost-free period exceeds 200 days per year.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Zhengding, elevation {{convert|71|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)

|Jan high C = 3.5

|Feb high C = 7.7

|Mar high C = 14.8

|Apr high C = 22.0

|May high C = 27.9

|Jun high C = 32.5

|Jul high C = 32.7

|Aug high C = 30.9

|Sep high C = 27.2

|Oct high C = 20.8

|Nov high C = 11.6

|Dec high C = 5.0

|Jan mean C = -1.5

|Feb mean C = 2.1

|Mar mean C = 8.9

|Apr mean C = 15.9

|May mean C = 22.0

|Jun mean C = 26.5

|Jul mean C = 27.8

|Aug mean C = 26.2

|Sep mean C = 21.7

|Oct mean C = 15.1

|Nov mean C = 6.5

|Dec mean C = 0.3

|Jan low C = -5.5

|Feb low C = -2.2

|Mar low C = 3.8

|Apr low C = 10.5

|May low C = 16.4

|Jun low C = 21.2

|Jul low C = 23.6

|Aug low C = 22.3

|Sep low C = 17.4

|Oct low C = 10.6

|Nov low C = 2.6

|Dec low C = -3.3

|Jan record high C = 17.8 |Jan record low C = -16.3

|Feb record high C = 24.4 |Feb record low C = -19.8

|Mar record high C = 31.7 |Mar record low C = -7.7

|Apr record high C = 35.0 |Apr record low C = -1.1

|May record high C = 38.9 |May record low C = 4.9

|Jun record high C = 42.4 |Jun record low C = 10.9

|Jul record high C = 42.8 |Jul record low C = 15.5

|Aug record high C = 39.3 |Aug record low C = 14.1

|Sep record high C = 39.1 |Sep record low C = 5.8

|Oct record high C = 33.4 |Oct record low C = -3.2

|Nov record high C = 26.7 |Nov record low C = -9.8

|Dec record high C = 21.2 |Dec record low C = -21.5

|year high C = |year low C =

|year high F = |year low F =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 2.8

|Feb precipitation mm = 4.9

|Mar precipitation mm = 9.5

|Apr precipitation mm = 24.7

|May precipitation mm = 36.8

|Jun precipitation mm = 62.8

|Jul precipitation mm = 131.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 126.6

|Sep precipitation mm = 53.8

|Oct precipitation mm = 23.8

|Nov precipitation mm = 15.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 3.1

|Jan humidity = 53

|Feb humidity = 50

|Mar humidity = 46

|Apr humidity = 51

|May humidity = 54

|Jun humidity = 56

|Jul humidity = 70

|Aug humidity = 74

|Sep humidity = 67

|Oct humidity = 62

|Nov humidity = 61

|Dec humidity = 57

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 2.1

|Feb precipitation days = 2.5

|Mar precipitation days = 2.7

|Apr precipitation days = 5.0

|May precipitation days = 6.0

|Jun precipitation days = 8.5

|Jul precipitation days = 11.9

|Aug precipitation days = 10.7

|Sep precipitation days = 7.2

|Oct precipitation days = 5.3

|Nov precipitation days = 3.8

|Dec precipitation days = 2.3

|year precipitation days =

|Jan sun = 152.8

|Feb sun = 163.0

|Mar sun = 211.1

|Apr sun = 237.8

|May sun = 264.8

|Jun sun = 232.7

|Jul sun = 196.4

|Aug sun = 194.2

|Sep sun = 194.9

|Oct sun = 185.0

|Nov sun = 159.9

|Dec sun = 146.2

|year sun =

| Jan percentsun = 50

| Feb percentsun = 53

| Mar percentsun = 57

| Apr percentsun = 60

| May percentsun = 60

| Jun percentsun = 53

| Jul percentsun = 44

| Aug percentsun = 47

| Sep percentsun = 53

| Oct percentsun = 54

| Nov percentsun = 53

| Dec percentsun = 50

| year percentsun =

|Jan snow days = 2.4

|Feb snow days = 2.5

|Mar snow days = 1.1

|Apr snow days = 0.2

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 1.3

|Dec snow days = 2.5

|year snow days =

|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans |access-date=25 August 2023}}

{{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网|publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans | access-date =25 August 2023}}

}}

As of 2020, Zhengding County administers 2 subdistricts, 4 towns and 3 townships, which in turn control 174 villages and 186 natural villages.{{Cite web |url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/tjbz/tjyqhdmhcxhfdm/2021/13/01/130123.html |title=2021国家统计局行政区划用代码 |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=National Bureau of Statistics |url-status=}}

Subdistrict:

• Zhufutun ({{lang|zh-hans|诸福屯街道}}), Sanlitun ({{lang|zh-hans|三里屯街道}})

Towns:

• Zhengding Town ({{lang|zh-hans|正定镇}}), Xin'an ({{lang|zh-hans|新安镇}}), Xinchengpu ({{lang|zh-hans|新城铺镇}}), Nangang (南岗镇), Quyangqiao Town ({{lang|zh-hans|曲阳桥镇}})

Townships:

• Xipingle Township ({{lang|zh-hans|西平乐乡}}), Nanniu Township ({{lang|zh-hans|南牛乡}}), Nanlou Township ({{lang|zh-hans|南楼乡}})

Image:Linji monastery02.JPG

The Chengling Pagoda (Chengling Ta) is built from gray bricks, it is also known as the Grey Pagoda. It is located in the Village of Linji to the south of Zhengding and was formerly part of the Linji Temple. The Linji Temple was built during the times of the Eastern Wei dynasty in 540. During the Tang dynasty, it became the site where the monk Linji Yixuan founded the Linji School, one of the five schools of Chinese Chan Buddhism. Both Linji Yixuan and the Linji School derive their names from the village. The pagoda was first built in 867 to serve as a shrine for the mantle and alms bowl of Linji Yixuan. The original pagoda was ruined and replaced during 1161 to 1189 (Jin dynasty) by the present-day structure. The present pagoda stands on a substructure known as a Sumeru Pedestal after the mythic Mount Sumeru and has an octagonal cross-section. It has nine multi-eared storeys and a total height of 33 meters. Its pedestal is richly decorated. Because it is seen as one of the birthplaces of Zen Buddhism, the Chengling Pagoda is favorite site for pilgrims and tourists from Japan.

{{Main|Lingxiao Pagoda}}

File:Zhengding Lingxiao Pagoda 3.jpg

The Lingxiao Pagoda, also known as the Wooden Pagoda, is a wood-and-brick construction, which was formerly part of Tianning Monastery, located to the west of Longxing Monastery. It was recorded to have been first built in 860 during the Tang dynasty, it has undergone many repairs and rebuildings since then. The architectural style of the present-day pagoda was created during the Song dynasty in 1045 and was left unchanged during later repairs. The pagoda has an octagonal floor plan, nine storeys, and a total height of 41 meters. The four lowest storeys are made from bricks decorated with wooden eaves. From the fifth storey upwards, the pagoda construction is entirely made of wood, constructed around a central pillar. While storey height continuously decreases from the bottom to the top of the pagoda, this decrease is particularly steep in the five upper wooden storeys. The pagoda carries a cast iron spire at its top as well. It is at the foot of this pagoda, that Dutch bishop Mgr. Frans Schraven (1873-1937) and his companions suffered their martyrdom in 1937, at the hands of the Japanese army, because of their refusal to hand over to the soldiers the Chinese women and girls whom had taken refuge in his compound.https://www.lazaristen.com/images/downloads/genesis-of-the-vincentian-future-in-the-netherlands.pdf, pp. 27-37

{{Main|Xumi Pagoda}}

Image:Xumipagodazhengding.jpg

The Xumi Pagoda, named for the mythical Mount Sumeru, also known as Summer Pagoda is part of Kaiyuan Monastery which is located to the west of Zhengding. It was erected from stone and bricks and is at 48 meters the tallest pagoda in Zhengding. The pagoda has an austere geometric design with a square floor plan set on a stone platform which is likewise square-shaped. Stones have also been used in the lower part of the first storey. The Xumi Pagoda was built during the Tang dynasty in 636. Apart from a wooden ceiling over the first storey (of which no floorboards remain), the inside of the pagoda is hollow and there is no staircase either. Among the rather plain decorations on the outside are thirteen tiers of eaves as well as stone carvings of the Heavenly Kings at the corners of the stone platform. The pagoda is one of originally four fiducial buildings on the grounds of the Kaiyuan Monastery: Tianwang Hall in the front and Fachuan Hall (now in ruins) in the back, a bell tower (built in 540 during the Eastern Wei dynasty, renovated in 898 during the Tang dynasty) in the east and the pagoda in the west. Today, the Monastery is largely destroyed and the Xumi pagoda stands surrounded by trees.

{{Main articles|Guanghui Temple Huatai Pagoda}}

Image:Huapagodazhengding.jpg

The Guanghui Temple Huatai Pagoda, called the Hua Pagoda (Hua Ta, lit.: Flower Pagoda, part of Guanghui Temple ({{Zh|s=广惠寺|p=Guǎnghuì Sì}}), in the south of Zhengding) is a four-storey brick building with an unconventional shape and a total height of approximately 40 meters. While the lower three storeys have an octagonal floor plan, the fourth storey has a circular layout over which the walls taper towards the tip giving the storey a conical shape. On the outside, this storey is richly decorated with carvings of Buddhas, elephants, and aquatic animals. Another unusual feature of the Hua Pagoda or four small attached buildings, which are pagodas themselves and crowned with an egg-shaped tip. These were once lost but have recently been completely restored. The Hua Pagoda was first erected during the Tang dynasty. The present-day structure dates back to a rebuilt during the time of the Jin dynasty.

In June 2000, a gigantic bixi turtle was unearthed in Zhengding's Fuqian Street ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|府前街}}). The stone turtle, which originally must have supported a similarly giant stone tablet, is 8.4 m long, 3.2 m wide, and 2.6 m tall, and weighs 107 tons. It is estimated to be around 1200 years old. It has since been moved to Kaiyuan Temple.[http://www.zd.gov.cn/WebSite/Info.aspx?ModelId=1&Id=2171 正定开元寺] (Zhengding's Kaiyuan Temple), 2014-12-22

Zhengding has several important railway and road connections, namely the Beijing–Guangzhou, Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan, and Shijiazhuang–Dezhou railways ({{lang|zh-hans|石德铁路}}), and the Beijing–Hong Kong and Macau and Qingdao–Yinchuan Expressways.

Line 1 of Shijiazhuang Metro have 4 stations in Zhengding County.

Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport (SJW/ZBSJ) is located in the county's northeast corner; the Zhengding Airport railway station on the new Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway is nearby.

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{citation |last=Hung |first=Hing-ming |author-mask=Hung Hing-ming |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ws7jZr7AriIC |title=The Road to the Throne: How Liu Bang Founded China's Han Dynasty |location=New York |publisher=Algora Publishing |date=2011 |isbn=9780875868387 }}.

{{Commons category|Zhengding}}

• [http://www.zd.gov.cn Official government of Zhengding County government]
• [http://www.china.org.cn/english/TR-e/43250.htm Xumi Pagoda on china.org.cn]
• [http://www.china.org.cn/english/TR-e/43450.htm Lingxiao Pagoda on china.org.cn]
• [http://www.china.org.cn/english/TR-e/43249.htm Chengling Pagoda on china.org.cn]
• [http://www.cntravel.biz/china_tour_destinations/zhengding/huata.shtml Hua Pagoda on cntravel.biz]

{{County-level divisions of Hebei}}

{{authority control}}

Category:County-level divisions of Hebei

Category:Shijiazhuang

Category:National Civilized City

Category:National Famous Historical and Cultural City