Nanyang, Henan

Nanyang 南阳 Wan (宛)
—  Prefecture-level city  —
南阳市
Satellite view of Nanyang
Nanyang City in Henan
Nanyang Location in China
Coordinates: 33°00′N 112°32′E / 33°N 112.533°E / 33; 112.533Coordinates: 33°00′N 112°32′E / 33°N 112.533°E / 33; 112.533
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Henan
Government
– Mayor	Huang Xingwei
Area
– Prefecture-level city	26,591 km2 (10,266.8 sq mi)
– Urban	1,887 km2 (728.6 sq mi)
– Metro	1,887 km2 (728.6 sq mi)
Elevation	131 m (430 ft)
Population (2010 census)
– Prefecture-level city	10,263,006
– Density	386/km2 (999.6/sq mi)
– Urban	1,672,171
– Urban density	886.2/km2 (2,295.1/sq mi)
– Metro	1,672,171
– Metro density	886.2/km2 (2,295.1/sq mi)
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Postal code	473000
Area code(s)	377
GDP	¥120billion (2006)
Major Nationalities	Han
County-level divisions	13
Township-level divisions	unknown
City Flowers	Chrysanthemum&China Rose
License plate prefixes	豫R
Website	http://www.nanyang.gov.cn

Nanyang (simplified Chinese: 南阳; traditional Chinese: 南陽; pinyin: Nányáng) is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Henan province, People's Republic of China. The city with the largest administrative area in Henan, Nanyang borders Xinyang to the southeast, Zhumadian to the east, Pingdingshan to the northeast, Luoyang to the north, Sanmenxia to the northwest, the province of Shaanxi to the west, and the province of Hubei to the south.

It has 10,263,006 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 1,672,171 in the built up area made of 2 urban districts (Wolong and Wancheng). Dinosaur egg fossils have been discovered in the Nanyang Basin.

Administration

The prefecture-level city of Nanyang administers 3 districts, 1 county-level city and 10 counties.

• Wolong District (卧龙区)
• Wancheng District (宛城区)
• Gaoxin District (高新区)
• Dengzhou City (邓州市)
• Xinye County (新野县)
• Sheqi County (社旗县)
• Tanghe County (唐河县)
• Tongbai County (桐柏县)
• Fangcheng County (方城县)
• Nanzhao County (南召县)
• Zhenping County (镇平县)
• Neixiang County (内乡县)
• Xixia County (西峡县)
• Xichuan County (淅川县)

Names

Nanyang (Simplified Chinese: (南阳), Traditional Chinese: (南阳); pinyin: Nányáng) 南 Nán-South,阳 yáng-sun (the south side of a mountain, or the north side of a river, which in Chinese is called Yang meaning "sunny"). Wan (宛) is the abbreviation for Nanyang which in ancient times was known as Wancheng (宛城), meaning "Wan City".

Geography

Nanyang is located in southwestern Henan, bordering Hubei (Xiangyang, Shiyan, and Suizhou) to the south, Shaanxi (Shangluo) to the west and the following prefecture-level cities in Henan:

• Zhumadian (E)
• Xinyang (SE)
• Sanmenxia (NW)
• Luoyang (N)
• Pingdingshan (NE)

The latitude of the entire prefecture ranges from 32° 17' to 33° 48' N, while the longitude ranges from 110° 58' to 113° 49' E, and the prefecture spans 26,600 square kilometres (10,300 sq mi). The city lies within the Nanyang Basin, which is part of a region in Central China that lies in the gap between the eastern end of the Qin Mountains and the source of the Huai River. Thus, using those two geographic features as the standard dividing line, it is difficult to classify the city into northern or southern China.

To the north of Nanyang city proper, there is a mountain called Mount Du, which is famous for the Dushan Jade, one of the four famous jades of China and is now a rarity. To the southwest is Neixiang County with the newly developing Baotianman Biosphere Reserve—an area of high biodiversity, with 65 rare and endangered species.

Satellite view of the area, showing the Nanyang Basin in the centre. The city proper of Nanyang is located in the north-central part of this picture.

Climate

The climate is generally moderate and is a four-season humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), with strong monsoon influences: winters are cool but dry, and summers are hot and humid. Spring and autumn provide transitions of reasonable length. The monthly daily average temperature in January is 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) and in July it is 26.9 °C (80.4 °F); the annual mean is 14.9 °C (58.8 °F). More than half the annual rainfall occurs from June to August.

Climate data for Nanyang, Henan (1971–2000)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	6.7 (44.1)	9.4 (48.9)	14.0 (57.2)	21.2 (70.2)	26.5 (79.7)	30.8 (87.4)	31.5 (88.7)	30.8 (87.4)	26.7 (80.1)	21.7 (71.1)	15.0 (59.0)	9.0 (48.2)	20.3
Average low °C (°F)	−2.6 (27.3)	−0.6 (30.9)	3.8 (38.8)	10.2 (50.4)	15.3 (59.5)	20.2 (68.4)	23.2 (73.8)	22.5 (72.5)	17.4 (63.3)	11.3 (52.3)	4.6 (40.3)	−0.9 (30.4)	10.4
Precipitation mm (inches)	13.7 (0.539)	16.2 (0.638)	34.7 (1.366)	48.8 (1.921)	73.1 (2.878)	123.9 (4.878)	177.8 (7)	114.3 (4.5)	75.9 (2.988)	58.1 (2.287)	29.7 (1.169)	11.5 (0.453)	777.7 (30.618)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	4.5	5.0	7.9	8.1	9.5	9.9	12.3	10.4	9.2	8.8	6.0	3.8	95.4
Source: Weather.com.cn

Transportation

Railways

Nanyang has one major railway station: Nanyang Railway Station. There are also several other small stations serving suburban area.

Nanyang is a railway junction for the Nanjing-Xi'an Railway and the Jiaozuo-Liuzhou Railway. Direct train service is available to Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hefei to the east, Xian and Lanzhou to the west, Luoyang to the north and Liuzhou to the south.

Roads and expressways

Over 500 km of highway network has been built along the railway line and others. A 80 km of beltway is being constructed surrounding the city. As of 2009, feasibility studies for 80KM of elevated rope suspension pathways hanging 10 meters high for pedestrian and bicycle use have been approved by city level governance. Installation will begin early 2010.

• China National Highway 312

Airport and Airlines

Nanyang Airport is one of the three civil aviation airports in Henan Province. It is only 20 minutes bus time from the urban area. Passengers can take airplanes to and from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin.

There are also two avion airports.

Public transit

Nanyang city buses has about 30 lines in the urban area. Taxis are common.

Demographics

The whole city area has a population over 10.5 million, which is the largest prefecture-level city in China now. The Urban area has over 0.8 million people, which is the third largest city in Henan Province.

It has a population of about 1 million who commute from the city, mainly to Zhengzhou, Guangdong province, Beijing and Shanghai.

The majority of the province is Han; among the minority nationalities are the Hui people and Man people.

Culture

Language

Henan dialect, with easily identifiable stereotypical features. Its local dialect is known as Nanyang Hua (南阳话), spoken by about 15 million people around the area.

Wan Opera

It is the local form of Chinese opera.

Famous persons of Nanyang

• Zhang Heng, Eastern Han Dynasty astronomer, mathematician and inventor of the first seismometer in history.
• Zhang Zhongjing, late Eastern Han Dynasty physician and pharmacist.
• Zhuge Liang, renowned advisor to Liu Bei and the first chancellor of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms era.
• Gan Ning, general of Wu during the Three Kingdoms, born in Nanyang.
• Han Yu, Tang Dynasty poet.
• Huang Zhong a leading military general of the Kingdom of Shu ruled by Liu Bei during the Three Kingdoms era, was one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu.

Famous persons of Nanyang, modern times

Er Yuehe, Feng Youlan, Peng Xuefeng, Yao Xueyin, Ding Shengshu, Wang Yongmin

Tourism

Nanyang is a famous tourism city in China, which has a long history and beautiful sights.

Within the Nanyang City area

Temples, cathedrals, and mosques

• Wolong Gang
• Nanyang Mansion (Ming & Qing Dynasty)
• Temple of holy doctor Zhang Zhongjing
• Zhang Heng's Grave(Han Dynasty)

Sights

• Baihe River
• Dushan Hill

Shopping Places

• Meixilu Walking and Shopping Road
• Bayi Walking and Shopping Road（Under construction）
• Nanyang Emporium
• Nanyang Xinhua Commercial City(Will be move out)
• Datton Mall
• Dannisi Underground Shopping Mall

Outside the metropolitan area, but within the municipality

Temples, cathedrals, and mosques

• Jingziguan Town in Xichuan County is a historical and cultural town.
• Neixiang County Mansion(Ming & Qing Dynasty)
• Sheqi Meeting Place(Qing Dynasty)
• Dengzhou Huazhou College

Sights

• Funiu Shan World Geology Park
• Danjiangkou Reservoir
• Tongbai Water-Curtain Cave Temple
• Shiren Shan(Stoneman in Chinese) Mountain

Hotels and lodging

• Jinkaiyue Oriental Hotel
• Jindu Hotel
• Nanyang Hotel
• Yinquan Hotel

Nightlife

• Baihe Band
• Central(Zhongxin) Guangchang
• Mingzhu Pool Club
• Net Cafes
• Dio Cafe

Economy

• Nanyang has a developing cattle industry, as well as a tobacco factory.
• The Bai River flows through Nanyang and provides it with an abundant supply of fish.
• Nanyang produces two kinds of quality wine: Shedianlaojiu and Wolongyuye.
• Nanyang Oilfield is one to biggest oilfield in China.
• Agriculture plays an important role in its economy.

External links

• Government website of Nanyang (in Simplified Chinese)