Gucheng Hui Ethnic Town in Ping’an District, Haidong

Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township (Gucheng Huizu Xiang, 古城回族乡) is a township located in the southern part of Ping’an District, Haidong City, Qinghai Province. It is situated in the western branch of the upper Bai Shen Gorge, to the east of Shagou Township (沙沟乡), south of Qing Sha Mountain (青沙山) adjacent to Hualong County (化隆县), northwest of Sanhe Town (三合镇), and 21 kilometers from the county seat. The administrative area covers 94.82 square kilometers. As of the end of 2020, the registered population was 13,331.

Historical Development

  • Early 1950s: Part of the 2nd District of Huangzhong County (湟中县).
  • 1958: Became Gucheng Commune (古城公社).
  • 1984: Transformed into Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township (古城回族乡).

As of October 2021, Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township administers 14 administrative villages.

Travel Tips

  • Getting There: The township is accessible via the Ping-A Expressway (平阿高速公路) and Lin-Ping First-Class Highway (临平一级公路). These roads provide a good connection to other major cities and regions.

Administrative Division

As of October 2019, Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township includes 14 administrative villages:

  • Xinzhuang’er Village (新庄尔村)
  • Zongmen Village (总门村)
  • Shaka Village (沙卡村)
  • Beicun Village (北村村)
  • Muchang Village (木场村)
  • Qierpu Village (且尔甫村)
  • Shancheng Village (山城村)
  • Pailou Gorge Village (牌楼沟村)
  • Gucheng Village (古城村)
  • Jiao Jia Village (角加村)
  • Zamen Village (扎门村)
  • Shibei Village (石碑村)
  • Liutai Village (六台村)
  • Heilintan Village (黑林滩村)

Geographic Environment

Location

Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township is located in the southern part of Ping’an District, Haidong City, in the western branch of the upper Bai Shen Gorge. It is bordered by Shagou Township to the east, Qing Sha Mountain and Hualong County to the south, and Sanhe Town to the northwest. The township covers an area of 94.82 square kilometers.

Terrain and Landform

The township is situated in a region with shallow mountains and the Naoshan area (脑山). Most of the area is mountainous, with a complex terrain of ravines and slopes. Elevations range from 2,410 to 3,840 meters above sea level, with slopes of 15 to 45 degrees. The area features old rock formations, including schist and marble, with volcanic rocks and ultrabasic rocks prevalent. The soil erosion rate is light, and vegetation coverage exceeds 80%, with agricultural land found at elevations below 3,000 meters.

Hydrology

The water flow in Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township originates from mountains south of the township at around 3,400 meters above sea level. The streams converge near Dazhai Village (大寨子村) in Shagou Township before flowing into the Huangshui River (湟水河). The total length of the water flow within the township is 23 kilometers, with a drainage area of 132.2 square kilometers and an average flow rate of 0.822 cubic meters per second.

Climate

Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township experiences a continental plateau climate characterized by long sunshine hours, strong solar radiation, dry and windy springs, short and cool summers, rainy and moist autumns, and cold, long winters. The annual total solar radiation ranges between 587.4 and 638.5 kilojoules per square centimeter, with average temperatures from 0.3°C to 6.8°C. The annual precipitation ranges from 350 to 550 millimeters.

Natural Disasters

The main natural disasters in Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township include drought, hail, frost, heavy rain, mountain floods, earthquakes, storms, pests, and rodent damage. Drought is the most common disaster, occurring annually to varying degrees, sometimes resulting in reduced yields or complete crop failure. Hail occurs approximately 2-3 times a year, with varying degrees of frost and flood damage also reported.

Natural Resources

The township has mineral resources such as nickel-iron ore and limestone in the Yuanshi Mountain (元石山) area. There are sand and stone resources along two lines from Xinzhuang’er to Zamen and Shaka to Zishui River, with a 20-kilometer-long sand bed. As of 2011, only the nickel-iron ore in Yuanshi Mountain has been partially exploited.

Population

  • End of 2011: Total population was 11,438, including 1,143 agricultural and 295 non-agricultural residents. The population comprised 5,604 males (49%) and 5,834 females (51%). The majority ethnic group is Hui, with 5,726 individuals (50%), followed by Han (4,319, 37.8%), Tibetan (1,350), Tu (33), Dongxiang (5), Mongolian (4), and Salar (1).
  • End of 2018: Registered population was 13,331.
  • End of 2020: Registered population remained at 13,331.

Travel Tips

  • Getting There: The township is easily accessible via the Ping-A Expressway (平阿高速公路) and Lin-Ping First-Class Highway (临平一级公路), which connect it to major transportation hubs and nearby cities.

Scenic Spots

Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township features several cultural and natural attractions:

  • Pailou Gorge Village (牌楼沟村) and Gucheng Village (古城村): Sites of Bronze Age cultural relics under county-level protection.
  • Qing Sha Mountain (青沙山) and Lotus Mountain (莲花山): Popular spots for sightseeing.
  • Liutai Reservoir (六台水库) and Anjia Temple (安嘉寺): Notable tourist destinations.