Baoxing County

The history of Baoxing spans over four thousand years, though under several different names. During the Spring and Autumn period of China, it was part of the territories of the Qiang State of Qingyi founded by the Qiang people, who were native of the area. In the Qin and Han dynasties, when Han people started to immigrate to this region, Baoxing was named the "County of Qingyi" {{nowrap|(t {{lang|zh|{{linktext|青|衣|縣}}}},}} {{nowrap|s {{lang|zh|{{linktext|青|衣|县}}}},}} Qīngyī xiàn) and affiliated to the Prefecture of Shu. By the end of the Yuan dynasty, when it was called "Dongbu" {{nowrap|({{lang|zh|{{linktext|董|卜}}}},}} Dǒngbǔ), Tibetan Buddhist influence emerged in this area; many Qiang people converted to the faith and since then were perceived as a branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name changed again in the reign of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty, then went "Muping" {{nowrap|(t {{lang|zh|{{linktext|穆|坪}}}},}} Mùpíng) as the name for the same region. The county of Baoxing was not established as a political division until 1930, and because of the rich natural resources it maintains, the name "Baoxing" was officially given. This name, meaning "treasure and prosperity", originates from one of the five Confucius classics Doctrine of the Mean. In 1939, Xikang Province was established, and Baoxing was a county under its administration.

Baoxing was in Xikang Province until 1955, when Xikang was merged with and became a part of Sichuan Province. Though Baoxing's significance as the biggest county of the provincial capital of Xikang Province, Ya'an City, was dimmed by this merger, its weight as the type locality and ideal resort for giant pandas has not been devalued. From 1957 to 1982, more than 15 giant pandas were chosen from Baoxing's Fengtongzhai National Natural Protected Area, and sent overseas to various nations such as the United States, Spain, France, Mexico and Japan, as gifts from China.

Baoxing County comprises 3 towns, 3 townships and 1 ethnic township:{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/tjbz/tjyqhdmhcxhfdm/2023/51/18/511827.html|script-title=zh:2023年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：宝兴县| publisher = National Bureau of Statistics of China| language = zh-hans| access-date =}}

;towns:

• Muping Town (穆坪镇)
• Lingguan Town (灵关镇)
• Longdong Town (陇东镇)

;townships:

• Fengtongzhai Township (蜂桶寨乡)
• Wulong Township (五龙乡)
• Daxi Township (大溪乡)

;ethnic township:

• Qiaoqi Tibetan Ethnic Township (硗碛藏族乡)

Baoxing is located in the north of Ya'an City and the west of Sichuan province, and has an area of {{convert|3114|km2|abbr=on}}. Its area consists of primarily mountainous terrain that is part of the Qionglai Mountains, with many lesser hills, ravines, slopes, valleys and rivers. Elevations rising from southeast to northwest, and the highest point is Mount Shilama ({{lang|zh|石喇嘛山}}) at {{convert|5328|m|abbr=on}}, while the lowest is Lingguan Gap at {{convert|750|m|abbr=on}}; the county seat Muping Town lies at {{convert|1011|m|abbr=on}}. The varied terrain in Baoxing gives rise to wide variations in climate, though the climate is generally temperate and displays strong monsoonal influences. The annual precipitation is {{convert|912.2|mm|abbr=on}}.

Baoxing River, which springs from the south ridge of the Jiajin Mountains ({{lang|zh-hans|夹金山}}), is the major water source of the Qingyi River system. Baoxing River traverses the county, as well as many lesser rivers and streams. It has been estimated that these rivers has an electricity generating capacity of more than 140 million kilowatts.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Baoxing, elevation {{convert|1022|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present)

|Jan high C = 8.1

|Feb high C = 10.5

|Mar high C = 15.2

|Apr high C = 20.6

|May high C = 23.9

|Jun high C = 26.1

|Jul high C = 28.1

|Aug high C = 27.9

|Sep high C = 23.7

|Oct high C = 18.9

|Nov high C = 14.6

|Dec high C = 9.7

|Jan mean C = 4.9

|Feb mean C = 6.9

|Mar mean C = 10.7

|Apr mean C = 15.3

|May mean C = 18.5

|Jun mean C = 20.9

|Jul mean C = 22.8

|Aug mean C = 22.6

|Sep mean C = 19.3

|Oct mean C = 15.2

|Nov mean C = 11.2

|Dec mean C = 6.4

|Jan low C = 2.5

|Feb low C = 4.2

|Mar low C = 7.5

|Apr low C = 11.6

|May low C = 14.9

|Jun low C = 17.6

|Jul low C = 19.4

|Aug low C = 19.4

|Sep low C = 16.8

|Oct low C = 13.0

|Nov low C = 8.8

|Dec low C = 4.0

|Jan record high C = 19.5 |Jan record low C = -4.2

|Feb record high C = 22.3 |Feb record low C = -4.1

|Mar record high C = 30.3 |Mar record low C = -2.2

|Apr record high C = 32.0 |Apr record low C = 2.0

|May record high C = 33.2 |May record low C = 6.8

|Jun record high C = 34.0 |Jun record low C = 11.6

|Jul record high C = 34.8 |Jul record low C = 14.5

|Aug record high C = 34.1 |Aug record low C = 14.4

|Sep record high C = 33.4 |Sep record low C = 10.5

|Oct record high C = 27.0 |Oct record low C = 4.4

|Nov record high C = 22.8 |Nov record low C = 0.3

|Dec record high C = 19.3 |Dec record low C = -4.8

|year high C= |year low C=

|year high F = |year low F =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 2.5

|Feb precipitation mm = 8.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 29.8

|Apr precipitation mm = 66.7

|May precipitation mm = 96.0

|Jun precipitation mm = 141.7

|Jul precipitation mm = 207.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 224.1

|Sep precipitation mm = 118.3

|Oct precipitation mm = 48.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 11.5

|Dec precipitation mm = 2.4

|Jan humidity = 73

|Feb humidity = 73

|Mar humidity = 74

|Apr humidity = 74

|May humidity = 76

|Jun humidity = 80

|Jul humidity = 82

|Aug humidity = 82

|Sep humidity = 84

|Oct humidity = 83

|Nov humidity = 78

|Dec humidity = 74

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 4.9

|Feb precipitation days = 7.4

|Mar precipitation days = 13.0

|Apr precipitation days = 16.3

|May precipitation days = 19.0

|Jun precipitation days = 21.9

|Jul precipitation days = 21.6

|Aug precipitation days = 20.7

|Sep precipitation days = 20.3

|Oct precipitation days = 17.4

|Nov precipitation days = 7.3

|Dec precipitation days = 3.3

|year precipitation days =

|Jan sun = 48.7

|Feb sun = 44.6

|Mar sun = 60.3

|Apr sun = 76.5

|May sun = 83.3

|Jun sun = 70.5

|Jul sun = 91.1

|Aug sun = 92.8

|Sep sun = 51.0

|Oct sun = 41.9

|Nov sun = 48.8

|Dec sun = 53.1

|year sun =

| Jan percentsun = 15

| Feb percentsun = 14

| Mar percentsun = 16

| Apr percentsun = 20

| May percentsun = 20

| Jun percentsun = 17

| Jul percentsun = 21

| Aug percentsun = 23

| Sep percentsun = 14

| Oct percentsun = 12

| Nov percentsun = 15

| Dec percentsun = 17

| year percentsun =

|Jan snow days = 5.4

|Feb snow days = 2.6

|Mar snow days = 0.2

|Apr snow days = 0

|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 = 0.1

|Dec snow days = 1.4

|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=13 April 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 =13 April 2023}}

}}

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Qiaoqi Township (1991–2018 normals)

|Jan high C = 5.7

|Feb high C = 8.6

|Mar high C = 12.8

|Apr high C = 16.9

|May high C = 19.3

|Jun high C = 20.4

|Jul high C = 22.8

|Aug high C = 22.6

|Sep high C = 19.1

|Oct high C = 14.6

|Nov high C = 11.0

|Dec high C = 6.9

| year high C =

|Jan mean C = 0.0

|Feb mean C = 2.6

|Mar mean C = 6.5

|Apr mean C = 10.7

|May mean C = 13.3

|Jun mean C = 15.4

|Jul mean C = 17.9

|Aug mean C = 17.4

|Sep mean C = 14.3

|Oct mean C = 9.7

|Nov mean C = 5.4

|Dec mean C = 1.3

| year mean C =

|Jan low C = -5.8

|Feb low C = -3.4

|Mar low C = 0.2

|Apr low C = 4.5

|May low C = 7.4

|Jun low C = 10.5

|Jul low C = 13.0

|Aug low C = 12.2

|Sep low C = 9.6

|Oct low C = 4.8

|Nov low C = -0.1

|Dec low C = -3.8

| year low C =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 5.1

|Feb precipitation mm = 9.1

|Mar precipitation mm = 23.4

|Apr precipitation mm = 53.0

|May precipitation mm = 101.9

|Jun precipitation mm = 142.6

|Jul precipitation mm = 119.8

|Aug precipitation mm = 102.0

|Sep precipitation mm = 110.5

|Oct precipitation mm = 60.2

|Nov precipitation mm = 17.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 5.9

|year precipitation mm =

|source 1 = Baidu{{cite web |title= 宝兴县硗碛乡历史气候数据(雅安市)月尺度温度和降雨量(1961-2018年) - 百度文库

|url=https://wenku.baidu.com/view/02ff18d075eeaeaad1f34693daef5ef7ba0d1257.html?_wkts_=1730013740105&bdQuery=%E7%A1%97%E7%A2%9B%E6%B0%94%E5%80%99%E6%95%B0%E6%8D%AE+1961&needWelcomeRecommand=1 |access-date=27 October 2024 |website=Baidu Library |publisher=Baidu |language=zh-hans}}

}}

Located at the eastern part of the historical region of Kham (Eastern Tibet), which is often recognized as the Ethic and Religion Corridor of Southwest China, Baoxing merges a number of culturally and linguistically distinct ethnic groups and subgroups. To name a few, Han, Qiang, Tibetan, Nakhi, and Gyalrong Tibetan. This well-mingled hybrid of population was proved to be of considerable influence on Baoxing's geopolitical and transportation significance throughout history.

Baoxing's geographical location determines its identity as a transportation hub between Kham and the Sichuan Basin. Bordering two big counties (namely, Dayi and Tianquan) to its east and south, where Han people is the majority ethnicity, Baoxing connects Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture at Xiaojin County and Danba County, whose populations are largely Tibetan and Qiang people. The active tradings among different ethnicity groups in this region could be traced back to more than 800 years ago, when the first Tea Horse Road started to take shape.{{citation|title=Annals of Baoxing County|publisher=Baoxing Archives Administration}}

The complexity in Baoxing's demography and importance in its transportation value, plus its critical location, has made Baoxing a vital site for different military, commercial and political powers. The Tea and Horse road between Sichuan and Tibet, since its start in the Tang dynasty, put Baoxing and Kangding as two major stop-over sites and mid-way markets for commuting merchants, salt-carriers, Han tea sellers(most of them from Sichuan), Tibetan horse traders etc.

Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity (predominantly Catholic) and indigenous religions including Nature Worship and Urreligion are the most commonly seen religions and practices in ethnic groups of Baoxing. Branches in Tibetan Buddhism are also well represented.

Baoxing is named by the UNESCO as one of the World Heritage in 2006, during the World Heritage Convention in Lithuania. Jiajin Mountains, which is located in Baoxing County, is the core area of the World Heritage site "Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary", along with Wolong and Mount Siguniang. While Baoxing is only one part of the core areas in the World Heritage, it distinguishes itself from all other giant panda reserves, for Baoxing has a greater prestige in its own right: in Baoxing was giant panda first discovered and reported, by the French missionary Armand David in Dengchigou of Baoxing County in the Jiajin Mountains, in 1869.

Baoxing is renowned as the type locality to many species, to name a few of the most famous ones, are the giant panda, dove tree, and golden snub-nosed monkey.

The UNESCO named the World Heritage Site of Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary – Wolong, Mt. Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains in 2006 after it was nominated in 2002. After being officially recognized as an integral part of the World Heritage site, Baoxing needs to conform with the rules and standards set by UNESCO to maintain its status as a World Heritage.

• Giant panda
• Dove tree
• Chinese thrush
• Golden snub-nosed monkey
• Oreolalax popei

• Armand David
• Ya'an
• Sichuan
• Giant panda
• Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, Fengtongzhai Nature Reserve

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

{{Refend}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110118055406/http://www.yabxzc.cn/ Official website of Baoxing County government]
• [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1213/ UNESCO Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100421063908/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/05/tea-horse-road/jenkins-text/2 Tea Horse Road, National Geographic]

{{County-level divisions of Sichuan}}

{{authority control}}

Category:County-level divisions of Sichuan