Zezhou county

Updated: 2017-06-16
( chinadaily.com.cn)

A sharp bend in Zezhou county's Qinhe River which is known as the "first bend" in Qinhe River. [Photo/pingyao.gov.cn]

Zezhou county in southeast Shanxi province is at the intersection of Shanxi and Henan provinces, and covers an area of 2,023 square kilometers with a population of 530,000.

As a vital traffic hub in Shanxi, Zezhou county has a developed transport network. The county is within 100 kilometers of three airports –– Shanxi's Changzhi city, and Zhengzhou and Luoyang in Henan province. It has highways to Tianjin, Rizhao and Lianyungang, three important port cities in China. The Taiyuan-Jiaozuo high-speed rail, a railway between Shanxi and Henan provinces, is also under construction. An airport for civil aviation will also be built in the county.

Zezhou county is rich in mineral resources, such as coal, iron and bauxite. It is a major national production base for anthracite. Proven reserves of coal in the county are around 4.8 billion metric tons.

The economy in Zezhou county has been booming in recent years. It is among the top 100 counties in Central China for its economic competitiveness. The county has been chosen as a pilot county for many national reforms and projects, including the reform of the land expropriation system and tourism-driven economic development project.

The county is also a place with beautiful scenery such as Jushou Mountain, the "first bend" in Qinhe River and Dayang ancient town. Many historical tales and myths came from the ancient Zezhou county which was chosen as a political center responsible for managing six counties in southeast Shanxi during the Sui Dynasty (581-618). There are 28 historical sites under the protection of either local or national government.