Ya'an


Ya'an is a prefecture-level city in the western part of Sichuan province, China, located just below the Tibetan Plateau.

History

Previously known as Yazhou-fu, the city is first mentioned during the Zhou Dynasty. It served as a county seat during the Qin and Han Dynasties, but was subsequently taken by nomadic tribes. After being reintegrated into the Chinese Empire in the late 5th century, it was made the seat of the Ya Prefecture in 604. The modern Ya'an county was established in 1912. It became the provincial capital of Xikang province in 1951,
but has been a municipality under the administration of Sichuan province since 1955, when Xikang province was merged and became a part of Sichuan province.
The first giant panda was found in Baoxing County of Ya'an; Ya'an is also the origin of artificial planting tea of the world; Mengding Mountain in Mingshan County, has been keeping seven tea trees, which are believed to be the origins of tea, for more than 1,000 years.
Panda tea is also a local speciality.
On April 20, 2013, the city was hit by a major earthquake, causing numerous casualties and heavy damage to housing and infrastructure.

Geography

Ya'an is located at the western edge of the Sichuan Basin and on the upper reaches of the Yangtze, covering the transition between the Chengdu Plain and the Tibetan Plateau. Its latitude ranges from 28° 51′ 10″ — 30° 56′ 40″ N and its longitude from 101° 56′ 26″—103° 23′ 28″ E. Neighbouring prefectures are, starting from the northeast and moving counter-clockwise, Chengdu, Meishan, Leshan, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. With an area of and
a population of 1,530,000,
The city is encircled by mountains, and four rivers flow through it.

Climate

Ya'an has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate and is largely mild and humid. The presence of the mountains to the northwest greatly affects the city's climate. In the short winters, they help shield the city from cold Siberian winds. January averages, and while frost may occur, snow is rare. Summers are hot and humid, with highs often reaching, yet extended heat waves are rare; the daily average in July and August is around. Rainfall is common year-round, though in winter it tends to be light, and is particularly heavy in summer, when warm, humid southerly or southeasterly winds blow against the mountains, causing orographic lift to occur, enhancing rainfall. With nearly of rainfall occurring on 213 days per year, Ya'an is also known as the "Rain City". In addition, rain often falls at night, so fog is not a common occurrence.

Administrative subdivisions

Transport