Liqiao Hui Ethnic Town in Xincai County, Zhumadian

Liqiao Hui Ethnic Town in Xincai County, Zhumadian

Liqiao Hui Township is located in Xincai County (新蔡县), Zhumadian City (驻马店市), Henan Province (河南省). It lies in the northwest part of Xincai County, bordered by Sunzhao Town (孙召镇) to the east, Zhuangdian Town (砖店镇) to the south, Huanglou Town (黄楼镇) to the southwest, and Pingyu County’s Shuangmiao Township (双庙乡) to the west. To the north, it adjoins Mituo Temple Township (弥陀寺乡). The township is 18 kilometers from the urban area of Xincai County and covers an area of 40.97 square kilometers.

Historical Development

1949: Liqiao was part of Xincai County’s second district.
1958: Established as Hongguang Commune (红光公社).
1962: Renamed Liqiao People’s Commune (李桥人民公社).
1983 December: Changed to Liqiao Township (李桥乡).
1985 July: Renamed Liqiao Hui Township (李桥回族乡).
1988 October: Upgraded to Liqiao Hui Town (李桥回族镇).

Administrative Division

As of the end of 2011, Liqiao Hui Town administratively includes ten villages:

Liqiao Village (李桥村)
Shizhuang Village (石庄村)
Changlaozhuang Village (常老庄村)
Dali Village (大李庄村)
Shizikou Village (狮子口村)
Zhouzhuang Village (周庄村)
Xiazhuang Village (夏庄村)
Daguozhuang Village (大郭庄村)
Geling Village (葛陵村)
Changwan Village (常湾村)

These villages are further divided into 127 village groups. The town government is based in Liqiao Village. By 2020, the administrative structure remained unchanged. [2][3]

Geographic Environment

Location

Liqiao Hui Town is situated in the northwest of Xincai County. It is bordered by Sunzhao Town to the east, Zhuangdian Town to the south, Huanglou Town to the southwest, and Pingyu County’s Shuangmiao Township to the west. Mituo Temple Township lies to the north. The township is 18 kilometers from Xincai County’s urban area, covering a total area of 40.97 square kilometers.

Hydrology

The township is traversed by the Xiaohong River (小洪河), which flows from the northwest to the southeast. It enters from Changwan Village, passing through Geling, Daguozhuang, Xiazhuang, Changlaozhuang, Liqiao, and Shizhuang, and exits at Shizikou Village. The river extends 15 kilometers within the township.

Natural Resources

As of 2011, Liqiao Hui Town had 33,000 mu (approximately 22 square kilometers) of arable land, with an average of 1.1 mu (0.73 hectares) per capita.

Population

As of the end of 2011, the total population of Liqiao Hui Town was 29,058. This included 3,199 urban residents with an urbanization rate of 11%, and 880 transient residents. The population demographics were:

Males: 14,699 (50.6%)
Females: 14,359 (49.4%)
Under 18 years: 5,677 (19.5%)
Ages 18-35 years: 6,245 (21.5%)
Ages 35-60 years: 12,299 (42.3%)
Over 60 years: 4,837 (16.7%)
Han ethnic group: 78.7%
Hui ethnic group: 21.3%

The birth rate was 11.1‰, the death rate was 6‰, and the natural population growth rate was 5.1‰, with a population density of 645 people per square kilometer. By the end of 2017, the permanent population was 26,495. By the end of 2018, the registered population was 32,487, and by the end of 2019, it was 32,857. [4][5][6]

Transportation

Liqiao Hui Town is accessible via several major routes:

Xinyang Expressway (新阳高速公路): Passes through the town for 5 kilometers, providing a dual-lane road that connects to Sunzhao Town and Zhuangdian Town.
Sunzhao-Liqiao Road (孙召李桥公路): Connects to National Road 106 (106国道) to the east.
Zhuangdian-Liqiao Road (砖店李桥公路): Connects to Zhunxin Road (驻新公路) to the south.

As of 2011, the town had three county and township roads, totaling 21 kilometers.

How to Get There

By Car: You can drive from Zhumadian City to Liqiao Hui Town via the Xinyang Expressway.
By Public Transport: Local buses or taxis are available from nearby cities and towns to reach Liqiao Hui Town.

Travel Tips

Road Conditions: The roads leading to Liqiao Hui Town are generally well-maintained, but it’s advisable to check for any travel advisories or road closures before your trip.
Local Transportation: Within the town, local buses and taxis are available, but it may be useful to have a local contact or guide to navigate the area more easily.

Cultural and Historical Aspects

Origin of the Name

Liqiao Hui Town was originally named Liuzhuang Bridge (柳庄桥). During the Ming Dynasty, the Li family changed the name to Liqiao Bridge (李桥桥), which later became simply Liqiao. [2]

Historical and Cultural Sites

Geling Ancient City (葛陵故城): A national key cultural relic protection site located within the town.
Liqiao Henan Mosque (李桥河南清真寺): A county-level cultural relic protection site.