Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, China

🇨🇳 Zhaotong (昭通) is a prefecture-level city located in the north-east corner of Yunnan province, China, bordering the provinces of Guizhou to the south and south-east and Sichuan to the north-east, north, and west.

History Zhaotong has historic and cultural links to the Shu (Sichuan basin) region. Yi people consider Zhaotong to be their homeland (called Zizipuwu). Zhaotong was part of Zhuti County (朱提縣) during Han to Tang dynasties. Zhaotong belonged to the Nanzhao then Dali Kingdom until the Mongols destroyed the latter in the 13th century. During the Yuan Dynasty, it became the Wumeng Commandery (乌蒙路), during which many Hui Muslims settled in the area. During the Qing dynasty, local tusi chieftains were removed, and the region was renamed Zhaotong Prefecture.

Demography The prefecture, almost exclusively agricultural, is one of the poorest in China, which led the authorities to encourage young people to migrate to eastern and southern parts of China to find work. For the year 2003, the number of emigrants was 650,000.

The government wanted the number to increase by 50,000 in 2004.

Religion It is the seat of the Latin Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of Zhaotong.

Economy The main industries in the prefecture are mining, tobacco and cement manufacturing

Zhaotong has some of the largest lignite sources in China. The 18,000-capacity Yuanbaoshan Stadium is also located in the city. It hosts many events, for example athletic events such as soccer matches.

Transport • Zhaotong Airport (ZAT), flight destination to Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Beijing, Guiyang • Train service to Kunming, Chengdu, Guangzhou • Zhaotong is connected to the Chongqing-Kunming National Highway network. • China National Highway 213 • G85 Yinchuan–Kunming Expressway

Zhaotong has several bridges over the Jinsha River, an upstream section of the Yangtze.

Administrative divisions Zhaoyang District, 昭阳区 Zhāoyáng Qū; Shuifu city, 水富市 Shuǐfù Shì; Ludian County, 鲁甸县 Lǔdiàn Xiàn; Qiaojia County, 巧家县 Qiǎojiā Xiàn; Yanjin County, 盐津县 Yánjīn Xiàn; Daguan County, 大关县 Dàguān Xiàn; Yongshan County, 永善县 Yǒngshàn Xiàn; Suijiang County, 绥江县 Suíjiāng Xiàn; Zhenxiong County, 镇雄县 Zhènxióng Xiàn; Yiliang County, 彝良县 Yíliáng Xiàn; Weixin County, 威信县 Wēixìn Xiàn.

Ethnicity Among the resident population, the Han population is 4,683,478, accounting for 89.83% of the total population; the ethnic minorities population is 530,055, accounting for 10.17% of the total population.