Zhongxiang

Zhongxiang is a county-level city of Jingmen, Hubei province of the People's Republic of China.The name of Zhongxiang means "Blessed with propitious omen",which was gifted by Ming Shizong Emperor Jiajing in Ming Dynasty.Zhongxiang is a famous historic and cultural cities in China.

History

Zhongxiang is one of the cradles of the Chu culture. It was the alternate capital of the Chu state in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. And, during the Ming Dynasty, because of Ming Shizong Emperor Jiajing was born and lived in the city before he succeeded to the emperor, Zhongxiang, the place where the Chengtian Government Office, became one of the three major prefectures directly under the central government.

Jiajing's father Gongruixian Emperor Zhu Youyuan and mother Zhangsheng empress dowager, was buried at the Xianling Tomb, which was included on the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000.

Geography

Zhongxiang,with a total land area of 4,488 square kilometers, is situated in the central part of Hubei Province. It lies at the north of Jianghan Plain, and the middle reaches of the Hanjiang River. Zhongxiang is at 66 m above sea level. Another city not far from Zhongxiang is Jingmen. After the building of the Three Gorges Dam a number of people from the Gaoyang area moved to the area around Zhongxiang.

Climate

Zhongxiang has a subtropical monsoon climate.The average annual temperature is 15.9 °C. July is the the hottest month, with an average temperature 27.8 °C or above, The highest temperature recorded in the city is 39.7 °C, reached in June 22, 1961. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 3 °C. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Zhongxiang was -15.3 °C on January 30, 1977.

Zhongxiang has abundant precipitation throughout the year, with average precipitation of 961.6 mm every year. Rain and heat occurring in the same season. Snow commonly occurres on December and January. Zhongxinag receives plenty of sunshine, with about 1930.8 to 2114.3 hours every year.

Administrative divisions

Zhongxiang is administratively equal to a county and is divided into 19 townships:

*Yingzhong , 49 km?, 170.991
*Yangzi , 403 km?, 68.341
*Changshou , 275 km?, 27.535
*Fengle , 162 km?, 68.700
*Huji , 393 km?, 129.891
*Shuanghe , 235 km?, 46.220
*Linkuang , 219 km?, 47.092
*Wenji , 128 km?, 44.405
*Lengshui , 314 km?, 47.393
*Shipai , 295 km?, 84.296
*Jiukou , 201 km?, 103.514
*Chaihu , 225 km?, 95.663
*Changtan , 153 km?, 20.338
*Dongqiao , 256 km?, 24.085
*Kedian , 293 km?, 14.581
*Zhangji , 289 km?, 22.805
*Jiuli , 99 km?, 16.718

Sites

*Xianling Tomb
*Mountain Dahong National Scenic Area
*Huangxian Cave famous for its karst landform
*Wenxia Reservoir