Shagou Hui Ethnic Town in Ping’an District, Haidong
Shagou Hui Ethnic Township (Shāgōu Huízú Xiāng沙沟回族乡) is located in Ping’an District (平安区), Haidong City (海东市), Qinghai Province (青海省). It lies in the southern part of Ping’an District, at the eastern branch of the Bai-Shen Gou (白沈沟) upper gully. To the east is Bazang Gou Township (巴藏沟乡), to the south is Liutai Gou of Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township (古城回族乡), to the west is Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township (古城回族乡), and to the north is Bai Jia Village (白家村) in Ping’an Town (平安镇). It also borders Sanhe Town (三合镇) to the northwest. The township covers an administrative area of 90.42 square kilometers. As of the end of 2020, Shagou Hui Ethnic Township had a registered population of 11,601 people.
Historical Evolution
- 1949: Established as Xinzhuang Er Township (新庄尔乡) under the old system.
- 1958: Merged into the Xianfeng Commune (先锋公社), later renamed Ping’an Commune (平安公社).
- 1960: Administered by Xining City (西宁市).
- 1961: Established Shagou Commune (沙沟公社).
- 1962: Returned to the administration of Niezhong County (涅中县).
- 1978: Incorporated into Ping’an County (平安县).
- 1984: Renamed Shagou Township (沙沟乡); in August, it was renamed Shagou Hui Ethnic Township (沙沟回族乡).
Administrative Division
As of the end of 2011, Shagou Hui Ethnic Township was divided into ten village committees: Shagou Village (沙沟村), Dazhaizi Village (大寨子村), Shuerwan Village (树尔湾村), Shigouyan Village (石沟沿村), Lucao Gou Village (芦草沟村), Houjia Zhuang Village (侯家庄村), Zhongzhuang Village (中庄村), Sang’ang Village (桑昂村), Yazha Village (牙扎村), and Sifang Ding Village (四方顶村). The township also included 16 natural villages and 48 agricultural production cooperatives. As of October 2021, the administrative division remained the same, with the township government located in Shagou Village.
Geographic Environment
Location
Shagou Hui Ethnic Township is situated in the southern part of Ping’an District, at the eastern branch of the Bai-Shen Gou (白沈沟) upper gully. It borders Bazang Gou Township (巴藏沟乡) to the east, Liutai Gou of Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township (古城回族乡) to the south, Gucheng Hui Ethnic Township (古城回族乡) to the west, Bai Jia Village (白家村) in Ping’an Town (平安镇) to the north, and Sanhe Town (三合镇) to the northwest. The administrative area covers 90.42 square kilometers.
Terrain and Landforms
The elevation in Shagou Hui Ethnic Township ranges from 2,300 to 4,095 meters. The geological formations include ancient strata with schist, marble layers, and exposed volcanic rocks. Ultramafic rocks are present, and the rocks are hard with minimal soil erosion. The soil erosion modulus is between 400 and 800 tons per square kilometer per year. Due to the high water content in the rock layers, the humus layer is 0.5 to 1 meter thick, and vegetation coverage exceeds 80%. Below 3,300 meters in elevation, there are spruce, mountain poplars, and birch trees, with shrub forests on the shady slopes. Above 3,000 meters, the area is used for grazing, while lower regions are used for agriculture.
Climate
Shagou Hui Ethnic Township experiences a continental plateau climate characterized by long sunshine hours and strong solar radiation. The spring is dry and windy, summer is short and cool, autumn is moist with rain, and winter is cold and long. The average annual temperature is 5.4°C, with annual precipitation ranging from 300 to 600 millimeters. The frost-free period lasts 163 days, and the forest coverage rate is 15.6%.
Hydrology
Water flows from the high mountains in the southern part of Shagou Hui Ethnic Township at an elevation of around 3,400 meters. The water near Dazhaizi Village (大寨子村) merges with tributaries from Gucheng Township (古城乡) and then flows through Bai-Shen Gou (白沈沟) in Ping’an Town (平安镇) before entering the Huangshui River (湟水河) at Xicun (西村). The total length of the river within the township is 15 kilometers, with a drainage area of 122.2 square kilometers and an average flow rate of 0.822 cubic meters per second. The main stream is 10.4 kilometers long, with an average slope of 42.9%. The average annual water volume is 11.951 million cubic meters.
Natural Disasters
Shagou Hui Ethnic Township faces several natural disasters, including droughts, hail, frost, heavy rain, mountain floods, earthquakes, storms, pests, and rodent damage. Droughts, frost, and floods occur to varying degrees each year, with hailstorms occurring 2 to 3 times annually.
Natural Resources
The southeastern mountainous area of Shagou Hui Ethnic Township contains the Donggou Coal Mine (东沟煤矿) and nearby clay layers and barite resources. The Naoshan (脑山) region has rich grasslands. In 2011, the township had 110,000 acres of grassland, with 85,000 acres available for use.
Population
By the end of 2011, Shagou Hui Ethnic Township had a total population of 10,985 people, with 298 engaged in non-agricultural activities. The population comprised 5,543 males (50%) and 5,442 females (50%). The Hui ethnic group was the majority with 6,516 people (59.3%), followed by Han with 3,511 people (32%), Tibetan with 946 people, Tu with 10 people, and Mongolian with 1 person. As of the end of 2020, the registered population was 11,601.
Transportation
In 2011, Shagou Hui Ethnic Township was accessible via the Ping-An Expressway (平阿高速公路) and the Linping Grade I Road (临平一级公路) that cross the western villages of the township. The Ping-An Expressway is a two-way, three-lane concrete road. All ten villages in the township have paved roads.
Travel Tips:
- Getting There: To reach Shagou Hui Ethnic Township, you can fly into Xining Caojiabao Airport (西宁曹家堡机场) and then take a long-distance bus or drive to Ping’an District. From Ping’an District, you can use local roads or hire a taxi to reach Shagou Hui Ethnic Township.
- Local Transportation: Renting a vehicle or hiring a local driver is recommended for exploring the township and its surroundings due to limited public transportation options.
History and Culture
Origin of the Name
Shagou Hui Ethnic Township is named “Shagou” (沙沟) because the villages are located on either side of the eastern gully, which is characterized by sandy and stony terrain.
