Hezhang County

Hezhang () is a county in the northwest of Guizhou province, China, bordering Yunnan to the north. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Bijie.

Administrative divisions

Hezhang County is divided into 5 subdistricts, 10 towns, 3 townships and 12 ethnic townships:

• Shuitangbao Yi and Miao Ethnic Township 水塘堡彝族苗族乡
• Xingfa Miao, Yi and Hui Ethnic Township 兴发苗族彝族回族乡
• Songlinpo Bai, Yi and Miao Ethnic Township 松林坡白族彝族苗族乡
• Zhijie Yi and Miao Ethnic Township 雉街彝族苗族乡
• Zhushi Yi Ethnic Township 珠市彝族乡
• Shuangping Yi and Miao Ethnic Township 双坪彝族苗族乡
• Tiejiang Miao Ethnic Township 铁匠苗族乡
• Fuchu Yi and Miao Ethnic Township 辅处彝族苗族乡
• Kele Yi and Miao Ethnic Township 可乐彝族苗族乡
• Hezhen Yi and Miao Ethnic Township 河镇彝族苗族乡
• Jiegou Yi and Miao Ethnic Township 结构彝族苗族乡
• Guda Miao and Yi Ethnic Township 古达苗族彝族乡

Ethnic groups

The Hezhang County Gazetteer (2001:105-108) lists the following ethnic groups and their respective locations.

• Bai: 3,856 persons (1995)
• Qixingmin (): located in Yongkang () and Shanmuqing (), Shuitangbao Township ()
• Autonyms/Yi exonyms: Luoju (), Zhuoluoju ()
• Historical names: Boren () and Baizi ()
• Other names: Qixingmin () and Minjia ()
• Surnames: Zhang (), Li (), Su (), Yang (), Zhao (), Xu (), Qian ()
• Locations: ancestors from Sandaohe (), Weining County
• Nanjingren () (Yi exonym: Awutu )
• Buyi: 2,939 persons (1995): in Nongchang Village (), Kele Township () (pop. 332)

Ethnic Bai are also found in:

• Sanjiazhai (), Kele Township ()
• Wopi (), Zexiong (), Songlinpo Township ()

Mining

The county has large reserves of coal, iron, lead, zinc, and germanium. Mining had been and remains a major industry; however, inadequate management and regulation of zinc mining has resulted in widespread cadmium poisoning.

Climate

References