Xikou Hui Ethnic Town in Zhen’an County, Shangluo
Overview
Xikou Hui Ethnic Town is located in the southeastern part of Zhen’an County (镇安县), Shangluo City (商洛市), Shaanxi Province (陕西省). It borders Miliang Town (米粮镇) to the east, Maoping Hui Ethnic Town (茅坪回族镇) and Xiaohé Town (小河镇) in Ankang City (安康市) to the south, Qingtongguan Town (青铜关镇) to the west, and Gaofeng Town (高峰镇) and Zhangjia Town (张家镇) to the north. The town covers a total area of 166.75 square kilometers, with a maximum east-west distance of 16.2 kilometers and a maximum north-south distance of 23 kilometers. As of June 2023, Xikou Hui Ethnic Town governs 1 community and 9 administrative villages, with a registered population of 17,386 as of the end of 2018.
Historical Development
Xikou Hui Ethnic Town is named after its original government location at Shanghe Village, Xikou Street (上河村西沟口街), situated at the foot of Beiyang Mountain (北阳山).
- 1949: Establishment of Xizhen Township (西镇乡) and Chengjia Township (程家乡).
- 1958: Renamed to Xizhen Management Area (西镇管理区) and Chengjia Management Area (程家管理区).
- 1961: Formation of Xizhen Commune (西镇公社) and Chengjia Commune (程家公社).
- 1984: Renamed to Xizhen Township (西镇乡) and Chengjia Hui Ethnic Township (程家回族乡).
- 1997: Xizhen Township and Chengjia Hui Ethnic Township were merged to establish Xikou Hui Ethnic Town.
- 2011: Inclusion of Dongzhuang Village (东庄村), Baoshi Village (宝石村), and Shimen Village (石门村) from Guanyin River Township (关坪河乡).
Administrative Division
As of 2023, Xikou Hui Ethnic Town includes:
- Community: Shanghe Community (上河社区)
- Villages: Qingshu Village (青树村), Linggou Village (岭沟村), Nongfeng Village (农丰村), Niejiaogou Village (聂家沟村), Shanghe Village (上河村), Changfa Village (长发村), Sunjiaping Village (孙家坪村), Anling Village (安岭村), Shijing Village (石景村)
The town comprises a total of 52 villagers’ groups.
Geography
Location
Xikou Hui Ethnic Town is situated in the southeastern part of Zhen’an County, bordered by various towns and featuring significant geographical features.
Terrain and Climate
The town features karst mountain topography, with the highest point being Shijing Mountain (石景山) at an elevation of 1,902.6 meters, and the lowest point at 850.5 meters in Nongfeng Village (农丰村). The average temperature is 10.2°C, with the highest monthly average temperature reaching 28°C in July and the lowest monthly average temperature dropping to -2°C in January.
Water Resources
The town is part of the Yangtze River Basin, with major rivers including Chengjia Chuan River (程家川河) and Xigou River (西沟河), with a total length of 21.8 kilometers.
Natural Resources
Xikou Hui Ethnic Town has identified underground minerals including iron, copper, gold, marble, and limestone. The “Zhen’an Red” marble has reserves of 1.2 billion cubic meters. The agricultural land area is 20,000 acres, with 30,000 acres dedicated to economic forestry, including 16,000 acres of walnut orchards and 14,000 acres of chestnut orchards.
Natural Disasters
The area is susceptible to natural disasters such as heavy rain and mountain floods, particularly from June to September. The most severe flood occurred on July 30, 2009, when continuous heavy rainfall caused river levels to rise rapidly, flooding farmland and damaging roads and infrastructure, resulting in economic losses of 8 million yuan.
Population
As of the end of 2011, Xikou Hui Ethnic Town had a total population of 16,736, with an urban population of 7,063, leading to an urbanization rate of 42.2%. The population includes 2,879 individuals under the age of 14 (17.2%), 12,268 individuals aged 15-64 (73.3%), and 1,589 individuals over the age of 65 (9.5%). The population density is 100 people per square kilometer.
Transportation
Xikou Hui Ethnic Town is accessible by road, with connections to nearby towns. There are regular bus services from Shangluo City to Zhen’an County, with local transport available to reach the town.
How to Get There
To reach Xikou Hui Ethnic Town, you can take a bus from Shangluo City to Zhen’an County. Upon arrival in Zhen’an, local transportation services such as taxis or shared vehicles can take you directly to the town.
Travel Tips
- Best Time to Visit: The optimal time to visit is during the spring and autumn months when the weather is mild.
- Local Cuisine: Don’t miss out on trying local Hui dishes, which feature unique flavors and ingredients.
- Cultural Awareness: Respect local customs and traditions, especially as the town has a significant Hui population. Engaging with local community activities can enhance your experience.
