Baoji 宝鸡
—  Prefecture-level city  —
宝鸡市
Location of Baoji Prefecture within Shaanxi
Country	China
Province	Shaanxi
Area
• Total	18,712 km2 (7,225 sq mi)
Population (2010)[1]
• Total	3,716,731
• Density	200/km2 (510/sq mi)
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Website	http://www.baoji.gov.cn/

Baoji (simplified Chinese: 宝鸡; traditional Chinese: 寶雞; pinyin: Bǎojī) is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.

Geography[link]

The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of 18,172 km² (7,016 sq mi). The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills, Baoji is in a valley opening out to the east. Its location is strategic, controlling a pass on the Qin Mountains between the Wei Valley and the upper Han River,or named Chia-ling River，(嘉陵江，Chia-ling Chiang，Jialing Jiang)]. Passing through Baoji is the ancient North Silk Road, the northernmost route of about 2600 kilometres in length, which connected the ancient Chinese capital of Xian to the West over the Wushao Ling Pass to Wuwei and emerging in Kashgar before linking to ancient Parthia.^[2]

Climate[link]

History[link]

Thriving early in the Tang dynasty, it has roots to 2000 BC,^[3] but is now a large industrial center. Railways first reached Baoji in 1937 and have been key to its modern growth. Baoji is also considered the gateway between western and eastern China since most trains from Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an pass through here on their way to Gansu, Sichuan, Xinjiang and Tibet (Lhasa). Fa Men Si (Famen temple), home to one of Buddha's finger bones, is also located in Baoji County. The Baoji area was home to the legendary Yandi, one of the Han Chinese forefathers. His tomb is located in the southern part of the city and his temple is located in the North.

People who are interested in the Three Kingdoms of ancient China can visit Zhuge Liang's Memorial Temple, about 20 km (12 mi) from Baoji. To get to the temple, take the bus from Baoji XinJianLu Bus Terminal to Gaodian, then transfer to taxi. Taxi fare to the temple from Gaodian is about 20-30 renminbi varying with seasons.

Ancient trackways[link]

Mount Taibai still has some remaining traces of roadways built during the Three Kingdoms Period (220–280 CE) which are all generally unusable due to decay. They remain a popular attraction because they were built by making wood plank bridges along the side of the mountain.

To the South of Baoji lies the beginning of the plank road into the Qin Mountains. There are also several natural sites such as the Jialing Jiang Fountainhead with its small waterfalls and forests. To the north is Bei Puo, a giant hill made of loess with a panoramic view of the city and a landscape dotted with small farming villages that offer local cuisine.

A number of Longshan archaeological sites have been found north of the Wei River^[4] near the North Silk Road.

Administrative divisions[link]

Map
#	Name	Hanzi	Hanyu Pinyin	Population (2010)	Area (km²)	Density (/km²)
1	Weibin District	渭滨区	Wèibīn Qū	448,189	728	616
2	Jintai District	金台区	Jīntái Qū	394,538	332	1,188
3	Chencang District	陈仓区	Chéncāng Qū	595,075	2,517	236
4	Fengxiang County	凤翔县	Fèngxiáng Xiàn	483,471	1,179	410
5	Qishan County	岐山县	Qíshān Xiàn	459,064	855	537
6	Fufeng County	扶风县	Fúfēng Xiàn	416,398	751	554
7	Mei County	眉县	Méi Xiàn	299,988	863	348
8	Long County	陇县	Lǒng Xiàn	248,901	2,418	103
9	Qianyang County	千阳县	Qiānyáng Xiàn	123,959	959	129
10	Linyou County	麟游县	Línyóu Xiàn	90,728	1,806	50
11	Feng County	凤县	Fèng Xiàn	105,492	3,187	33
12	Taibai County	太白县	Tàibái Xiàn	50,928	2,780	18

Economy[link]

Industrial Zone[link]

• Baoji Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

Established in 1992, Baoji Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone was approved as a national hi-tech zone by State Council. It has a long-term planned area of 40 square kilometers. The transportation system around the zone includes Xi'an-Xianyang International Airport and National Highway 310. Its encouraged industries are auto parts, electronics, IT, pharmaceutical and bioengineering industry and new materials.^[5]

Military[link]

Baoji is the headquarters of the 21st Group Army of the People's Liberation Army, one of the two group armies that comprise the Lanzhou Military Region responsible for defending China's northwest borders.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Baoji Government Website
• Baoji Tourism Bureau
• Baoji News Network

Coordinates: 34°21′13″N 107°22′31″E / 34.35361°N 107.37528°E / 34.35361; 107.37528