Handan

For other uses, see Handan (disambiguation).

Handan 邯郸市
Prefecture-level city
Location of Handan City jurisdiction in Hebei
Handan Location of the city centre in Hebei
Coordinates:
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Hebei
Area
• Prefecture-level city	12,068 km2 (4,659 sq mi)
• Urban	142 km2 (55 sq mi)
• Metro	2,466 km2 (952 sq mi)
Population (2010 census)
• Prefecture-level city	9,174,683
• Density	760/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
• Urban	941,427
• Metro	2,845,790
• Metro density	1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Licence plate prefixes	冀D
Website	hd.gov.cn

Handan
"Handan" in Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese	邯鄲
Simplified Chinese	邯郸
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Hándān Wade–Giles Han2-tan1 IPA [xǎntán] Gwoyeu Romatzyh Harndan Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Hon4-daan1 Yale Romanization Hòhn-dāan Old Chinese Baxter-Sagart *[g]ˤa[n] tˤa[r]

Handan (Chinese: 邯郸) is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei province, People's Republic of China. It borders Xingtai on the north, and the provinces of Shanxi on the west, Henan on the south and Shandong on the east. At the 2010 census, its population was 9,174,683 inhabitants whom 2,845,790 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of 3 urban districts, Handan and Yangyan counties, and Shahe City in Xintai municipality, largely being conurbated now

History

Handan, whose name has not changed in its entire history (unlike most other Chinese cities), was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period (475−221 BCE), after the capital moved from Zhongmu. King Wuling of Zhao turned Zhao into one of the Qin state's most stalwart foes, pioneering the use of walls to secure new frontiers (which would inspire the eventual construction of the Great Wall of China). The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of Zhao by Qin except for the Dai Commandery. The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang was born in Handan, the child of a statesman from the state of Qin and after successfully conquering Zhao he ordered all enemies of his mother to be buried alive. The conquest of Zhao, particularly the Qin siege of Handan, is featured extensively in Chen Kaige's classic film, The Emperor and the Assassin.

Handan was still regarded as a cultural and commercial centre during the Western and Eastern Han dynasties (206 BCE−220 CE). It slowly declined, perhaps because of the numerous battles that ravaged northern China following the Han Dynasty, but maintained a reputation for its fine Cizhou ware well into the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). It was also the birthplace in the 19th century of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan, one of the five major schools of tai chi in China.

Though much of Handan's ancient history is no longer visible, it still has some attractions, most derived from Zhao folklore such as the road into which Lin Xiangru, courier of the precious jade He Shi Bi, backed in order to let his nemesis Lian Po pass first, as well as the location in which Lian Po begged for Lin Xiangru's forgiveness. Modern-day Congtai Park is located on the site of the historical Zhao court. Next to Congtai Park is the legendary "Xuebu Qiao" (学步桥), or "Learning to Walk Bridge". Legend has it that a noble from the state of Yan heard of a particularly elegant manner of walking unique to Handan. Arriving in Handan, he spent weeks trying to master the Handan style of walking on a bridge, only to fail. In the process, however, he had forgotten how to walk normally and had to crawl back to Yan. This story inspired the Chinese expression, 邯郸学步, which means learning something difficult too intensely, thereby forgetting the basics in the process.

The nearby Xiangtangshan Caves contain massive Buddha statues carved into the mountainside, some dating to the 6th century. Many of these statues were severely vandalised by occupying Japanese forces during World War II. Handan was prized by the Japanese invaders for its coal reserves.

Administration

The population at the 2010 census was 941,427 for the 3 urban districts, 2,845,790 for the built up area and 9,174,683 for the entire Prefecture-level city area of 12,068 km² (4,659 sq mi).

The municipal executive, legislative and judiciary are situated in Congtai District (丛台区, Cóngtái Qū), as well as the CPC and Public Security bureaux.

Map
1 1 2 3 Fengfeng Handan County Linzhang County Cheng'an County Daming County She County Ci County Feixiang County Yongnian County Qiu County Jize County Guangping County Guantao County Wei County Quzhou County Wu'an (city) 1. Hanshan 2. Congtai 3. Fuxing
Name	Simplified Characters	Traditional Chinese	Hanyu Pinyin	Population (2004 est.)	Area (km²)	Density (/km²)
Congtai District	丛台区	叢臺區	Cóngtái Qū	330,000	28	11,786
Hanshan District	邯山区	邯山區	Hánshān Qū	310,000	32	9,688
Fuxing District	复兴区	復興區	Fùxīng Qū	250,000	37	6,757
Fengfeng Mining District	峰峰矿区	峰峰礦區	Fēngfēng Kuàngqū	500,000	353	1,416
Wu'an City	武安市	武安市	Wǔ'ān Shì	720,000	1,806	399
Handan County	邯郸县	邯鄲縣	Hándān Xiàn	400,000	522	766
Linzhang County	临漳县	臨漳縣	Línzhāng Xiàn	590,000	744	793
Cheng'an County	成安县	成安縣	Chéng'ān Xiàn	370,000	485	763
Daming County	大名县	大名縣	Dàmíng Xiàn	750,000	1,052	713
She County	涉县	涉縣	Shè Xiàn	390,000	1,509	258
Ci County	磁县	磁縣	Cí Xiàn	640,000	1,035	618
Feixiang County	肥乡县	肥鄉縣	Féixiāng Xiàn	310,000	496	625
Yongnian County	永年县	永年縣	Yǒngnián Xiàn	860,000	898	958
Qiu County	邱县	邱縣	Qiū Xiàn	200,000	448	446
Jize County	鸡泽县	鷄澤縣	Jīzé Xiàn	250,000	337	742
Guangping County	广平县	廣平縣	Guǎngpíng Xiàn	250,000	320	781
Guantao County	馆陶县	館陶縣	Guǎntáo Xiàn	290,000	456	636
Wei County	魏县	魏縣	Wèi Xiàn	810,000	862	940
Quzhou County	曲周县	曲周縣	Qǔzhōu Xiàn	410,000	667	615

Economy

Industrial growth in the city was due to its communication and transport activities. Coal mines at Fengfeng provide power for Handan's iron, steel and textile mills. Chemical and cement plants along with other industries also benefit. The GDP per capita in Renminbi (人民币), aka yuan (元) was estimated at ¥13,449 in 2005.

Air pollution

According to a survey by "Global voices China" in February 2013, Handan is one of China's most polluted cities due to heavy industrial outputs.

Demographics

Ethnic minorities

According to Handan government in 2007, 40 ethnic groups were present in Handan. Ethnic minorities represent 50,000 people, among which 48,000 Hui. There are 22 Hui schools and 5 Hui junior high schools in Handan.

Religion

The most widespread religions in Handan (邯郸宗教) are Chinese folk religions including Taoism, and Buddhism.

In 2013, there were more than 150.000 Catholics in Handan according to the Catholic Church, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yongnian. Mother of Grace Cathedral in Daming County was built in 1918. The most recent church was built in 2007.

There are also 300.000 Protestants. The largest Protestant church is on Qianjin Avenue (邯郸市西堂) and was built in 1997. The oldest church was on Congtai Street and was built in 1920 by Americans. The church was destroyed 2009 by the local government. A new church was built in 2011.

According to the local government 30.000 Hui Muslims live in the prefecture of Handan.

Notable people

• Qiaosheng Han
• Yang Luchan
• Qin Yue Ren
• Fang Lijun

Twin cities

• Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine

External links

• City of Handan, Official site