Baicheng

By 1938 the area was renamed to Baicheng, which in Chinese means white town. The name's origin is the Mongolian name of the city Chaghanhot, which also means "white town".{{Cite book |author=白城市地方志编纂委员会编 |publisher=中国广播电视出版社 |year=1993 |isbn=7-5043-2568-6 |script-title=zh:白城市志 |trans-title=History of Baicheng}}

The area of present-day Baicheng has been inhabited by humans for more than 12,000 years, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic era.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-10 |title= |script-title=zh:历史沿革 |trans-title=Historical development |url=http://www.jlbc.gov.cn/zjbc_3289/lsrw/lsyg/202403/t20240328_985673.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241118210542/http://www.jlbc.gov.cn/zjbc_3289/lsrw/lsyg/202403/t20240328_985673.html |archive-date=2024-11-18 |access-date=2024-11-18 |publisher=Baicheng Municipal People's Government |language=zh}} The area was subsequently inhabited by the nomadic Donghu from the period of the Shang dynasty through to the Qin dynasty. It would later be inhabited by the Xianbei and formed part of Buyeo from the period of the Han dynasty through to the Northern and Southern dynasties. During the time of the Sui dynasty and Tang dynasty, the area was inhabited by the Khitan people.

During the Khitan-founded Liao dynasty, the area was incorporated as part of the {{Interlanguage link|Changchun Prefecture|zh|长春州}}, the seat of which was located in the ancient city of Chengsijiazi ({{Lang-zh|c=城四家子|p=Chéngsìjiāzǐ}}), located in present-day {{Interlanguage link|Deshun Mongol Ethnic Township|zh|德顺蒙古族乡}} in Taobei District. Four emperors of the Liao dynasty were based out of Changchun Prefecture: Emperor Shengzong, Emperor Xingzong, Emperor Daozong, and Emperor Tianzuo. During this time, the area was a major political, military, economic, and cultural center of the Liao Dynasty.

During the Jin dynasty, Changchun Prefecture remained intact until 1150, when it was reorganized as Changchun County ({{Lang-zh|c=长春县|p=Chángchūn Xiàn}}), which was placed under the jurisdiction of {{Interlanguage link|Zhao Prefecture (Jin dynasty)|lt=Zhao Prefecture|zh|肇州 (古代)}}. In 1198, the area was re-organized as {{Interlanguage link|Tai Prefecture (Liao dynasty)|lt=Tai Prefecture|zh|泰州 (辽朝)}}, the seat of which was located in Chengsijiazi.

During the Yuan dynasty, the area was first a fief of Genghis Khan's younger brother Temüge. Later, it was organized as {{Interlanguage link|Taining Circuit|zh|泰宁路}}, which was still based out of Chengsijiazi.

During the Ming dynasty, Taining Circuit reorganized as {{Interlanguage link|Taining Guard|zh|泰宁卫}}, and was part of the Nurgan Regional Military Commission briefly used to administer Manchuria.

During the Qing dynasty, the area belonged to the Khorchin Mongols. As Qing government forbade the settlement of Han Chinese in the 19th century, no farming was allowed until 1902.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} In 1902, under the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the Qing government approved the opening of the area to settlement. In 1904, {{Interlanguage link|Taonan Fu|zh|洮南府}} was established in the area, which was under the jurisdiction of the {{Interlanguage link|Shengjing General|zh|盛京将军}}. In the same year, Kaitong County ({{Lang-zh|c=开通县|p=Kāitōng Xiàn}}) and Jing'an County ({{Lang-zh|c=靖安县|p=Jìng'ān Xiàn}}) were established within Taonan Fu. In 1905, Anguang County ({{Lang-zh|c=安广县|p=Ānguǎng Xiàn}}) was established as part of Taonan Fu. In December 1905, Dalai Ting ({{Lang-zh|c=大赉厅|p=Dàlài Tīng}}) was established in the area, and put under the jurisdiction of the {{Interlanguage link|Heilongjiang General|zh|黑龙江将军}}.

In 1907, the northeast portion of the Qing dynasty was reorganized into provinces, and positions of the Shangjing General and the Heilongjiang General, which were responsible for the area's administration, were merged into the Viceroy of the Three Eastern Provinces. Taonan Fu, including Kaitong County, Jing'an County, and Anguang County were under the jurisdiction of Fengtian province. Dalai Ting was placed under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang province. In 1910, Zhendong County ({{Lang-zh|c=镇东县|p=Zhèndōng Xiàn}}) was established in the area, and placed under the jurisdiction of Fengtian province. In 1913, the area's administrative divisions were reorganized, and the area was split between {{Interlanguage link|Taochang Circuit|zh|洮昌道}} in Fengtian province, and {{Interlanguage link|Longjiang Circuit|zh|龙江道}} in Heilongjiang province. In 1914 Jing'an County was renamed Tao'an ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|洮南}}).{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} In 1915, {{Interlanguage link|Zhanyu County|zh|瞻榆县}} was established in Taochang Circuit.

Baicheng's importance started to increase after a railway from Qiqihar to Siping through Baicheng was constructed in the 1920s. In the 1930s another railway connecting Baicheng to Ulanhot and the mines at Arxan was opened northwestward. These two lines enabled Baicheng to become a regional transportation hub in western Jilin province. One more rail line connecting Changchun was opened in the mid-1930s as well.{{cite web |title=Baicheng - China |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Baicheng |website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the entire area was brought under the control of Longjiang province ({{Lang-zh|c=龙江省|p=Lóngjiāng shěng}}), part of Manchukuo. By 1938 the area was renamed to Baicheng, which in Chinese means white town. The name's origin is the Mongolian name of the city Chaghanhot, which also means "white town".

After the liberation of the area from Japanese forces on August 15, 1945, all counties in the area were placed under the jurisdiction of Nenjiang province. In 1946, Communist forces took the area, and it was placed under the jurisdiction of Nenjiang province and {{Interlanguage link|Liaoji province|zh|辽吉省}}. The following year, the area was reorganized as part of {{Interlanguage link|Liaobei province (Communist Party of China)|lt=Liaobei province|zh|辽北省 (解放区)}}. In 1949, it was moved back to Heilongjiang province. The area was moved again to Jilin province in 1954. In August of that year, the area was reorganized as Baichengzi zone ({{Lang-zh|c=白城子专区|p=Báichéngzǐ zhuānqū}}). The following year, it was renamed to Baicheng. From the late 1950s throughout the late 1970s, the area of Baicheng was modified multiple times, as were its internal borders. In July 1987, Tao'an County was reorganized as Taonan, a county-level city, which it remains today. In November 1988, Da'an County was also reorganized to be a county-level city, which it remains today. Baicheng underwent multiple more border changes in the early 1990s. In August 1993, it was reorganized as a prefecture-level city, which it remains today.

Situated in the northwestern part of Jilin province, Baicheng is located in the western portion of the Songnen Plain, and in the eastern part of the {{Interlanguage link|Horqin Grassland|zh|科尔沁草原}}.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-07 |title= |script-title=zh:行政区划 |trans-title=Administrative divisions |url=http://www.jlbc.gov.cn/zjbc_3289/qhrk/xzqh/202304/t20230407_959431.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241118202857/http://www.jlbc.gov.cn/zjbc_3289/qhrk/xzqh/202304/t20230407_959431.html |archive-date=2024-11-18 |access-date=2024-11-18 |publisher=Baicheng Municipal People's Government |language=zh}} The city stretches from a latitude of 44° 13′ to 46° 18′ N, and a longitude of 121° 38′ to 124° 22' E. At its greatest width, the city spans {{convert|230|km|1}} from north to south and {{convert|211|km}} from east to west. The total area of the city is {{convert|25,758.73|km2|sqmi}}, occupying 13.7% of the provincial area. The eastern part of the Greater Khingan Mountains lies in the northwest of Baicheng. Grassland and wetlands are prominent throughout the city's southeastern part.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Baicheng is bordered by Songyuan to its east and southeast. It is bordered by Horqin Right Middle Banner, Tuquan County, and Horqin Right Front Banner in Hinggan League in Inner Mongolia to the west and northwest. To its north and northeast, Baicheng is bordered by Tailai County in Qiqihar, as well as Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County and Zhaoyuan County in Daqing, all in the province of Heilongjiang.

The city's metro area is located {{convert|333|km}} from the provincial capital of Changchun, {{convert|218|km}} from Qiqihar, {{convert|448|km}} from Siping, and {{convert|83|km|0}} from Ulanhot.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

File:Baicheng sandstorm (cropped).jpg in Baicheng in 2001]]

Baicheng has a rather dry, monsoon-influenced, humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa), with long (lasting from November to March), very cold, windy, but dry winters due to the influence of the Siberian high, and hot, humid summers, due to the East Asian monsoon. The coldest month, January, averages {{convert|−16.1|°C|1}}, while the warmest month, July, averages {{convert|23.5|°C|1}}; the annual mean is {{convert|5.5|°C|1}}. More than 70% of the annual precipitation falls from June to August alone. Drought conditions are common in spring and autumn; from 1961 to 2009, there were 31 years with spring drought and 28 with autumn drought.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Baicheng, elevation {{convert|155|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)

|Jan high C = -8.8

|Feb high C = -3.0

|Mar high C = 5.4

|Apr high C = 15.6

|May high C = 23.1

|Jun high C = 27.7

|Jul high C = 29.2

|Aug high C = 27.7

|Sep high C = 22.7

|Oct high C = 13.7

|Nov high C = 1.3

|Dec high C = -7.5

|Jan mean C = -15.7

|Feb mean C = -10.3

|Mar mean C = -1.6

|Apr mean C = 8.6

|May mean C = 16.6

|Jun mean C = 21.8

|Jul mean C = 24.0

|Aug mean C = 22.0

|Sep mean C = 15.9

|Oct mean C = 6.9

|Nov mean C = -4.8

|Dec mean C = -13.7

|Jan low C = -21.4

|Feb low C = -16.9

|Mar low C = -8.6

|Apr low C = 1.1

|May low C = 9.6

|Jun low C = 15.8

|Jul low C = 19.0

|Aug low C = 16.6

|Sep low C = 9.3

|Oct low C = 0.8

|Nov low C = -10.1

|Dec low C = -18.9

|Jan record high C = 5.9 |Jan record low C = -38.1

|Feb record high C = 12.8 |Feb record low C = -36.7

|Mar record high C = 26.6 |Mar record low C = -26.0

|Apr record high C = 33.3 |Apr record low C = -13.6

|May record high C = 40.0 |May record low C = -4.4

|Jun record high C = 40.7 |Jun record low C = 3.7

|Jul record high C = 38.0 |Jul record low C = 8.0

|Aug record high C = 37.7 |Aug record low C = 6.6

|Sep record high C = 34.0 |Sep record low C = -2.9

|Oct record high C = 29.8 |Oct record low C = -19.6

|Nov record high C = 19.3 |Nov record low C = -29.3

|Dec record high C = 7.2 |Dec record low C = -35.1

|year high C = |year low C =

|year high F = |year low F =

|Jan precipitation mm = 1.0

|Feb precipitation mm = 2.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 4.2

|Apr precipitation mm = 16.0

|May precipitation mm = 38.0

|Jun precipitation mm = 81.9

|Jul precipitation mm = 105.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 70.2

|Sep precipitation mm = 44.0

|Oct precipitation mm = 12.9

|Nov precipitation mm = 4.2

|Dec precipitation mm = 2.7

|Jan humidity = 58

|Feb humidity = 48

|Mar humidity = 40

|Apr humidity = 37

|May humidity = 45

|Jun humidity = 59

|Jul humidity = 73

|Aug humidity = 73

|Sep humidity = 62

|Oct humidity = 52

|Nov humidity = 54

|Dec humidity = 59

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 2.1

|Feb precipitation days = 1.6

|Mar precipitation days = 2.7

|Apr precipitation days = 3.9

|May precipitation days = 7.4

|Jun precipitation days = 11.6

|Jul precipitation days = 11.6

|Aug precipitation days = 9.3

|Sep precipitation days = 6.6

|Oct precipitation days = 4.0

|Nov precipitation days = 3.1

|Dec precipitation days = 3.4

|year precipitation days =

|Jan sun = 212.4

|Feb sun = 229.0

|Mar sun = 272.9

|Apr sun = 264.2

|May sun = 266.0

|Jun sun = 249.1

|Jul sun = 240.5

|Aug sun = 247.1

|Sep sun = 246.9

|Oct sun = 227.2

|Nov sun = 190.8

|Dec sun = 187.0

|year sun =

| Jan percentsun = 75

| Feb percentsun = 78

| Mar percentsun = 73

| Apr percentsun = 65

| May percentsun = 58

| Jun percentsun = 53

| Jul percentsun = 51

| Aug percentsun = 57

| Sep percentsun = 67

| Oct percentsun = 68

| Nov percentsun = 68

| Dec percentsun = 69

| year percentsun =

|Jan snow days = 4.1

|Feb snow days = 2.9

|Mar snow days = 4.0

|Apr snow days = 1.2

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 1.0

|Nov snow days = 4.0

|Dec snow days = 5.1

|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=7 July 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 =7 July 2023 |title=Experience Template }}

| source 2 = Weather China{{cite web

| url = http://www.weather.com.cn/cityintro/101060601.shtml?

| script-title=zh:白城 - 气象数据 -中国天气网

| publisher = Weather China

| language = zh

| access-date = 28 November 2022}}

}}

Baicheng directly administers one district, two counties, and two county-level cities. These county-level divisions then in turn administer 31 subdistricts, 38 towns, and 35 townships (including 8 ethnic townships).

Per a 2023 government publication, 93.65% of Baicheng is ethnically Han Chinese.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-08 |title= |script-title=zh:民族宗教 |trans-title=Ethnicity and religion |url=http://www.jlbc.gov.cn/zjbc_3289/qhrk/mzzj/202310/t20231008_971998.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241118204718/http://www.jlbc.gov.cn/zjbc_3289/qhrk/mzzj/202310/t20231008_971998.html |archive-date=2024-11-18 |access-date=2024-11-18 |publisher=Baicheng Municipal People's Government |language=zh}} Of the remaining 6.35%, the largest ethnic minorities in the city include the Mongols (3.51%), the Manchu (1.92%), Koreans (0.58%), and the Hui (0.21%). As of 2023, Baicheng has eight ethnic townships under its jurisdiction: {{Interlanguage link|Deshun Mongol Ethnic Township|zh|德顺蒙古族乡}} in Taobei District, {{Interlanguage link|Xin'aili Mongol Ethnic Township|zh|新艾里蒙古族乡}} in Da'an, {{Interlanguage link|Hulitu Mongol Ethnic Township|zh|胡力吐蒙古族乡}} and {{Interlanguage link|Huhecheli Mongol Ethnic Township|zh|呼和车力蒙古族乡}} in Taonan, {{Interlanguage link|Momoge Mongol Ethnic Township|zh|莫莫格蒙古族乡}} and {{Interlanguage link|Hatuqi Mongol Ethnic Township|zh|哈吐气蒙古族乡}} in Zhenlai County, and {{Interlanguage link|Xianghai Mongol Ethnic Township|zh|向海蒙古族乡}} and {{Interlanguage link|Baolawendu Mongol Ethnic Township|zh|包拉温都蒙古族乡}} in Tongyu County.

43.3% of Baicheng's population lived in urban areas as of 2022.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title= |script-title=zh:2022年白城市国民经济和社会发展统计公报 |trans-title=2022 Baicheng Municipal Economic and Social Development Statistical Report |url=http://www.jlbc.gov.cn/sjfx_3333/tjgb_218/202306/t20230620_964752.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241118225345/http://www.jlbc.gov.cn/sjfx_3333/tjgb_218/202306/t20230620_964752.html |archive-date=2024-11-18 |access-date=2024-11-18 |publisher=Baicheng Municipal People's Government |language=zh}}

As of 2022, 50.2% of Baicheng's population is male, and 49.8% is female.

File:The Night View of Baicheng City.jpgAs of 2022, Baicheng's gross domestic product (GDP) totaled 57.486 billion renminbi (RMB). Its primary sector accounted for 29.2% of its GDP, while its secondary sector accounted for 18.9%, and its tertiary sector accounted for 51.9%. The per capita disposable income of urban residents in the city was 29,109 RMB, an increase of 2.4% over the previous year, while the per capita disposable income of rural residents in the city was 14,282 RMB, an increase of 5.7% over the previous year.

The total output of the city's agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery industries totaled 31.577 billion RMB in 2022. Major crops grown in Baicheng include maize, rice, various beans, and oilseeds.

Textile industry is one of the main pillars of the economy.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} It is home to the Baicheng Weapons Test Centre.{{cite news |url=https://www.janes.com/article/86175/images-emerge-of-new-chinese-8-8-assault-gun?from_rss=1 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |quote=Images have emerged showing what appears to be a new Chinese 8×8 assault gun equipped with a 105 mm main armament and a remote-controlled weapon station reportedly being trialled at what local media identified as the Baicheng Weapons Test Centre in northeastern China. |title=Images emerge of new Chinese 8×8 assault gun |first=Richard D. Jr. |last=Fisher |date=February 5, 2019}}

The total retail sales of consumer goods in Baicheng totaled 15.319 billion RMB in 2022.

Baicheng was home to 3.203 billion RMB-worth of foreign trade in 2022.

File:白城站.JPG

Baicheng railway station is a railway hub in western Jilin Province. It is the terminus of the Changchun–Baicheng railway. There are multiple daily departures to other cities including Beijing, Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, Dalian, Qiqihar, Ulanhot and several other cities in northern provinces of China.

Expressways

• G4512 Shuangliao–Nenjiang Expressway
• G12 Hunchun–Ulanhot Expressway

National highways (GXXX):

• China National Highway 302

Baicheng Chang'an Airport is located in the town of Taohe ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|洮河}}) in Taobei District, {{convert|16.5|km}} from the city center. It has been under construction since October 26, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.jl.gov.cn/jjjs/xmjs/jtxm/201210/t20121030_1304012.html |script-title=zh:白城新空港：长安机场 |publisher=Government of Jilin Province |date=2012-10-30 |access-date=2013-01-22 |trans-title=A Baicheng Airport: Changan airport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215040718/http://jl.gov.cn/jjjs/xmjs/jtxm/201210/t20121030_1304012.html |archive-date=2013-02-15 }} The total investment is 480 million yuan.{{cite web|url=http://www.jl.gov.cn/jjjs/xmjs/jtxm/201210/t20121030_1304012.html |script-title=zh:白城新空港：长安机场 |publisher=Government of Jilin Province |date=2012-10-30 |access-date=2013-01-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215040718/http://jl.gov.cn/jjjs/xmjs/jtxm/201210/t20121030_1304012.html |archive-date=2013-02-15 }} The airport was opened on 31 March 2017, the fifth civil airport in Jilin province.{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2017-04/01/c_129523448.htm |script-title=zh:吉林白城长安机场正式通航 |work=Xinhua |date=1 April 2017 }} The airport has a runway that is 2,500 meters long and 45 meters wide (class 4C), and a 4,471 square-meter terminal building. It is designed to handle 200,000 passengers and 700 tons of cargo annually by 2020.

As of 2022, Baicheng has one art gallery, five cultural centers, six museums, and six public libraries. The city has seven radio stations and six television channels.

As of 2022, the city has 1,947 medical institutions, including 49 hospitals, 6 maternal and child health care institutions, 5 specialized disease prevention and treatment institutions, 6 disease prevention and control centers, 11 community service centers, 92 township health centers, and 847 clinics, health centers, medical offices, and nursing stations. At the end of the year, Baicheng's health institutions had 9,248 beds, of which, 8,980 were located in hospitals and health centers. The city has 13,340 healthcare professionals, including 5,508 practicing assistant doctors, 4,397 practicing doctors, and 5,869 registered nurses.

• {{flagdeco|Russia}} Barnaul, Altai Krai, Russia

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Baicheng}}

{{Wikivoyage|Baicheng}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060717093940/http://www.jilin.gov.cn/en/sxfm/bc.htm Government Province Website]

{{Jilin topics}}

{{Jilin}}

{{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Prefecture-level divisions of Jilin