Wuqiao County Explained

Wuqiao County
Other Name:Wukiao
Postal Code:062650
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Image Map1:Location of Cangzhou Prefecture within Hebei (China).png
Map Caption1:Cangzhou in Hebei
Seat:Sangyuan
Seat Type:County seat
Settlement Type:County
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:People's Republic of China
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Hebei
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture-level city
Subdivision Name2:Cangzhou
Area Code:0317
Area Total Km2:583
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Total:280000
Coordinates:37.6271°N 116.3915°W
Timezone:China Standard
Utc Offset:+8

Wuqiao County (literally "Wu Bridge") is a county of southeastern Hebei province, China, bordering Shandong province to the southeast. It is the southernmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Cangzhou. Wuqiao covers an area of 583km2 with a population of 280,000 and 444 natural villages under its jurisdiction. Over a period of more than 1500 years, Wuqiao is an old county with a vivid and rich history and culture. Wuqiao is situated in the center of the Huabei Plains and has a pleasant climate most of the year round and it is possible to pleasurably visit here at almost any time of the year.

Near the cities Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, and Jinan, Wuqiao County has many transportation connections. There are many rail and bus services operating in the town. Wuqiao was the first Chinese city to open up its doors to the world under the "Open Door" policy and over many years development, Wuqiao has become a flourishing city with a favorable investment environment.

Administrative Divisions[1]

Towns:

Townships:

Wuqiao acrobatic culture

The history of Wuqiao county records that lamps lighted up the whole county of Wuqiao for three days during festivals, people set off firecrackers and performed acrobatics, and the local feudal officials did not practice curfew in the period.

The tomb murals of the Eastern Wei dynasty (534 - 550) in the Northern and Southern dynasties period (386 - 581) unearthed from Xiaomachang Village of Wuqiao County in 1958 depict the performances of handstands, plate spinning, deft horsemanship and so on. However, it was after the Yuan dynasty (1271 - 1368) that acrobatics of Wuqiao gained much reputation. Before that, acrobatics in Henan Province was much more influential. After the Yuan dynasty was established, the capital was moved from Kaifeng of Henan to Beijing, and the acrobatics in Wuqiao of Hebei, which neighbors Beijing, began to prosper and was increasingly influential.

Wuqiao people are now known for their acrobatic ability and are often in acrobatic troupes throughout China and across the world. When Premier Zhou Enlai visited European countries, he found Wuqiao acrobats often when he met with overseas Chinese. He said that Wuqiao is worth the title of 'home of Chinese acrobatics'.

References

Notes and References

  1. http://www.xzqh.org/html/list/45.html 保定市-行政区划网