Xuzhou, how many legends are there?

This is a

A city full of legends

It is

A battleground

From the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period to the Late Qing Dynasty and the Early Republic of China

From the Anti-Japanese War to the Liberation War

Countless battles took place here

Xiang Yu, Liu Bang, Han Xin, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Lu Bu

Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, Su Yu, Tan Zhenlin

How many military strategists in ancient and modern times are here?

to be tactful

(Sculpture of the General Front Committee of the Huaihai Campaign, from left to right: Su Yu, Deng Xiaoping, Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, Tan Zhenlin, photo by @李琼)

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It is

An important transportation hub in China

In ancient times, the Grand Canal ran through the entire territory.

Today, the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and the Longhai Railway intersect at a crossroads.

There is also the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway and land bridge

Double line flying frame

(The intersection of Beijing-Taipei Expressway and the land bridge channel, photo by @李传新)

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It is

A famous industrial and mining town in the north and south

The construction machinery group established here

Leading the Chinese industry

Ranked third in the world

(Qinghai-Tibet Highway, XCMG road machinery joint construction, photography @陈晓东)

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It is

Xuzhou

Not only economic strength should not be underestimated

GDP is higher than Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin and Shijiazhuang

Taiyuan, Nanchang, Kunming, Guiyang, etc.

A number of provincial capital cities

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the overall appearance of Xuzhou's main urban area, photography by @李玉龙)

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It is also one of the models for the transformation of resource-depleted cities in China.

The devastated mine pits of the past

Also in the hands of Xuzhou people

Transformed into a scenic green park

Name

“One city is green mountains and half is lake”

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Xuzhou Urban Greening, photography by @郑舟)

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So

Why Xuzhou?

Answers Needed

Let's start with Xuzhou's geographical location

01

Strategic location

Aerial view

The vast plains of eastern China

Between the North China Plain and the Lower Yangtze Plain

Less mountainous areas

Like a whole "great plain"

Xuzhou

Located in the center of this vast plain

(Xuzhou location diagram, marked with @陈志浩/Planetary Research Institute)

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Its terrain

The whole is low and flat

(Please watch in horizontal mode, aerial photography of Xuzhou, photography by @吴亦丹)

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Domestic

Shandong Hills

It runs diagonally from northeast to southwest

Although not very tall

But it breaks the monotony of the plain

Makes Xuzhou's landforms relatively rich

(Xuzhou topographic map, drawn by @Chen Zhihao/Planetary Research Institute)

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The mountains are filled with water vapor

A cloud of fog

(Please watch in horizontal mode. The mountains near Xuzhou city are mostly between 100-200m above sea level. Photo by @赵晓民)

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When the ancient famous river Si[sì] flowed through the mountains of Xuzhou

Also because of the mountains

Formed Qinliang flood, Xuzhou flood and Luliang flood

Three dangerous beaches

(Xuzhou Flood, also known as Baibu Flood, is located in the area from Xuzhou Heping Bridge to Xianhong Island on the Yellow River today. Due to the Yellow River's later diversion into the Huai River and human transformation, the dangers of the three floods in Xuzhou have long been hard to find; the picture shows Xuzhou Xianhong Island, photography @郑舟)

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Confucius also came to see Hong

And sigh

(From "The Analects of Confucius·Zi Han", Lüliang Flood is the most dangerous of the three floods. It is said that Confucius once brought his disciples here to watch the flood.)

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Time flies, day and night

Where mountains and water meet

Surrounded by mountains and rivers

Can be used as natural city walls and moats in ancient cities

Su Shi once commented on Xuzhou

(From Su Shi's "Taixu wrote a poem to express his gratitude for the Huanglou Fu". At the end of the Warring States Period, the Xuzhou area was a vassal state of the Chu State. Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu, also established his capital here. Therefore, Xuzhou was also called "Chu Land" in ancient times.)

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"The mountains of Chu form the city, and the Si River forms the pond"

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the landscape of Xuzhou city. The river in the picture is the old course of the Yellow River, which is the place where the ancient Bian Si River flowed. It was the natural moat of the ancient Xuzhou city. In the distance is the mountainous area south of Xuzhou city, which can also be seen as the natural city wall of Xuzhou city. Photo by @郑舟)

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at the same time

The Sishui River is connected to the Bianshui River on the right and the Yishui River on the left.

Finally it flows into the Huaihe River

It brought natural water conservancy to Xuzhou

It is connected to the Central Plains in the west and the Yellow Sea in the east.

It controls Qi and Lu in the north and Jianghuai in the south.

Water Transport Center

(Changes in the Yishu River and Si River systems in the Huaihe River Basin, map by @Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

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besides

Xuzhou also has rich

Coal, iron ore, rock salt resources

(Distribution of key minerals in Jiangsu Province, drawn by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute)

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in this way

Possess population, food, resources, transportation, terrain, etc.

Xuzhou has many advantages

Naturally have the first opportunity to develop and grow

but

The center of the Great Plains

Xuzhou will also face a very severe challenge

Whenever there is trouble

It will become a battleground for all parties

"Land of Four Wars"

(Remains of the ancient battlefield of Jiuli Mountain in Xuzhou, photo by @郑舟)

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Because Xuzhou has the geographical advantages mentioned above

It has been favored by military strategists of all generations.

Become a key offensive and defensive position

Large number of troops stationed

(Evaluation of Xuzhou's strategic position, map by @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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Not only were the wars frequent but also large-scale

According to incomplete statistics

Written records of the incident occurred in the Xuzhou area

There were more than 1,000 battles of varying sizes.

Among them, there are more than 400 large-scale

Frequent wars

Xuzhou has left countless

Classic battles and heroic stories

(List of major wars in Xuzhou before the 19th century. The above data is from "The Origin of Xuzhou Culture", drawn by @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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as a result

It is more about the development of the situation on both sides of the war

The last decisive battle in modern Chinese history

Huaihai Campaign

It is also centered in Xuzhou.

After this battle

The Kuomintang's elite main force was almost completely destroyed

It also laid the foundation for the overall victory of the Liberation War.

(Huaihai Campaign Martyrs Memorial Tower, photo by @李琼)

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certainly

History is not just division and war

During the relatively stable period of unification

Xuzhou is no longer a "place of four wars"

It is an important town in the east

It is the country's transportation hub

And with the upgrade of transportation, new development opportunities are ushered in

02

Transportation Hub

Qin and Han Dynasties

Xuzhou is one of the eastern transportation hubs.

Land transportation and Bian-Si water transport

All intersect within the country

When the First Emperor passed through Pengcheng during his eastern tour

He once sent people to salvage the Zhou Ding in Sishui

In vain

The story of "Silashui Fishing Tripod"

But it has been passed down to this day

(Xuzhou Han Dynasty Stone Relief "Sishui Fishing Tripod", source @Xuzhou Han Dynasty Stone Relief Art Museum, map @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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Han Dynasty

Long-term stability and unity of the country

Xuzhou area as the hometown of Emperor Gaozu

They also received tax relief and other preferential treatment for a long period of time.

Started to develop rapidly

(The sculpture of Liu Bang in the Han Dynasty Ancestor Mausoleum in Xuzhou. Liu Bang was a native of Fengyi, Pei County, which is now Feng County, Xuzhou. He later raised an army in Pei County and called himself "Pei Gong". Photo by @李琼)

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Its agriculture is developed

Wheat, rice, millet, sorghum, etc.

Widely planted

As the saying goes, "abundant harvest feeds all the states"

(Harvesting scene in Xuzhou farmland, for illustration only, photography by @李玉龙)

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Textile, iron smelting, copper making, jade making, etc.

The handicraft industry is also very prosperous

Unearthed Cultural Relics

Such as gold, silver, jade, bronze, lacquerware, etc.

All beautifully made

(Xuzhou Han Dynasty jade artifacts, dragon-shaped jade pendant, photography @Xiao Yining; jade animal head, photography @artery shadow; jade ornaments, image source @Xuzhou Museum; mapping @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

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The prosperity of agriculture and handicrafts

The area around Xuzhou is densely populated and has many towns.

The more famous cities include

Pengcheng, Fengcheng, Peicheng, Xiapi, Wuyuan, etc.

in

Pengcheng is located at the intersection of Bian River and Si River.

It was the largest city in Jiangsu at that time.

The princes who were enfeoffed here

It also has relatively independent military and economic autonomy

(During the Han Dynasty, there were 13 kings of Chu, 5 kings of Pengcheng, and 4 kings of Xiapi in the Xuzhou area. The picture shows the Han Tomb at Guishan in Xuzhou. Photo by @石耀臣)

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Official seals, coins, and pottery figurines unearthed from the Han Tombs in Xuzhou

And the Han Dynasty stone reliefs show

Rules and regulations, food, clothing, housing, transportation, and myths and stories

It has also become a window for people to get a glimpse into the various aspects of life in the Han Dynasty.

(Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Chu King's Tomb at Lion Mountain in Xuzhou, photo by @柳叶氘)

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However

(From Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms)

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The general trend of the world is that long-term division will eventually lead to unification, and long-term unification will eventually lead to division.

Since the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty

Ancient China ushered in nearly 400 years of separatist warfare

Xuzhou experienced war

after

Until the Tang and Song Dynasties

It gradually recovered to become an important town in the east.

(During the Northern Song Dynasty, when Su Shi was the governor of Xuzhou, he worked hard to control floods and develop the economy. The people of Xuzhou built the Su Gong Tower to commemorate Su Shi's achievements in Xuzhou; Photo by @陈晓东)

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But the good times didn't last long

1128 AD

Southern Song generals took the initiative to dig up the Yellow River to stop the Jin army from advancing southward

The main stream of the Yellow River flows into the Huai River

Xuzhou becomes the Yellow River flood area

Over the next 600 years, floods continued

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Luoma Lake; after the Yellow River took over the Si River and flowed into the Huai River, silt blocked the river channel, and many low-lying areas along the Si River accumulated water, forming lakes, Weishan Lake, Luoma Lake and other large lakes in the east; Photo by @吴亦丹)

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but

Also during this period

The dynastic rulers of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties made Beijing their capital

To strengthen the connection with the economic center of Gangnam

The newly dug Grand Canal

It also restored Xuzhou to be a north-south water and land transportation hub.

(Distribution diagram of the Grand Canal of the Sui and Tang Dynasties and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, drawn by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute)

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Industry and Commerce in Xuzhou

Beginning to flourish

At that time

The canal is bustling with boats

(Ships on the Xuzhou Canal, photo by @李琼)

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Coastal towns

Many shops

Developed handicraft industry

(Yaowan Ancient Town, located at the intersection of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and Luoma Lake, photo by @李琼)

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The most prosperous time

Every year, the canal from Xuzhou goes north.

About 12,000 canal ships

Transported 120,000 troops

The amount of rice transported reached 4 million shi

In order to manage the canal and water transport affairs in Xuzhou

The Ming Dynasty government established the Caoyun Commandery and Guangyun Warehouse in Xuzhou.

Household Department, Industrial Department and other institutions

Xuzhou Guangyun Warehouse in its heyday

At its peak, the grain storage capacity reached 1 million shi (about 120 million jin).

(Hubu Mountain in Xuzhou, the above data is from "A Brief History of Xuzhou", photography by @李琼)

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Choi Bo

Tour along the canal

Later in his book "Drifting on the Sea" he said

Xuzhou and other important canal towns

(Cui Pu's "Drifting Records", quoted from "A Brief History of Xuzhou")

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Prosperous and rich, just like Jiangnan

It was only in the middle and late Qing Dynasty that

Xuzhou suffers from natural disasters

Civil uprisings occurred frequently and canal shipping declined.

Its economy and people's livelihood collapsed again

Republic of China

Jinpu (Beijing-Shanghai) Railway, Longhai Railway (part)

Successively completed and opened to traffic

Xuzhou became the main railway hub in China at that time.

(Sketch of the intersection of Jinpu Railway and Longhai Railway, drawn by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute)

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Railway transportation capacity

Far surpassing ancient carriages and canal boats

Xuzhou ushered in a new turning point

Coal mines that have begun mechanized mining

With the completion of the railway, sales were opened up

Xuzhou coal production and sales are booming

It began to become an important coal producing area during the Republic of China period.

(Freight marshaling at Xuzhou North Station, for illustration only, photo by @石耀臣)

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Development of transportation and coal industry

It also boosted the development of electricity, iron ore, machinery, etc.

The successive development of industrial and mining industries

Coupled with the gradual prosperity of light industry and handicrafts

On the eve of the Anti-Japanese War

The population of Xuzhou city has increased to more than 130,000

Once again, it became the border area of ​​Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Anhui provinces.

The first largest city and industrial and agricultural products

Distribution Center

(The Bell and Drum Tower on Datong Street in Xuzhou was built in the early 1930s and was the tallest building in Xuzhou at that time. Photo by @李琼)

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However

The successive outbreaks of the Anti-Japanese War and the Liberation War

Once again interrupted Xuzhou's development momentum

Until the complete victory of the Huaihai Campaign

Xuzhou

Only then can we have true peace

And new development opportunities

03

Heart of Huaihai

After the founding of New China

Reconstruction of Beijing-Shanghai Railway and Longhai Railway

The entire line is open to traffic

Xuzhou has truly become China's railway hub

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Longhai Railway intersects with Beijing-Shanghai Railway, photo by @王新伟)

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at the same time

To meet the demand for coal in East China

The state designated Xuzhou as

One of the old mining areas that is being expanded nationwide

Its coal production accounts for 90% of Jiangsu Province

(Mining scene at Xuzhou Yaoqiao Coal Mine, photo by @李新建)

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Coal mining

It also boosted the development of electricity, steel, machinery, electrolytic aluminum, etc.

The rise and development of basic industries

Xuzhou has also become

China's major coal mining cities and heavy industrial cities

(Xuzhou Tongshan China Resources Power Co., Ltd., Photo by @李玉龙)

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Coupled with the development of the private economy

Until the 1980s

Xuzhou became the main city in the Huaihai region.

(Xuzhou TV Tower, built in 1992, is 199.6 meters high. Its unique shape provided a lot of reference for the later Shanghai TV Tower and Oriental Pearl Tower. Photo by @郑舟)

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but

By the end of the 20th century

Like many coal mining cities

Xuzhou also began to appear

Resource depletion, environmental degradation, industrial decline, etc.

The difference is

Xuzhou takes the initiative to transform based on its own advantages

A great comeback

A classic example of how resource-depleted cities can seek new life

first

Based on the location advantage

Traffic upgrade achieved

The Grand Canal reopens to navigation

Xuzhou Port

Become "North coal transported to the south, west coal transported to the east"

Important transit base

It is also one of China’s 28 important inland ports.

(Xuzhou Port has Wanzhai Port Area, Pizhou Port Area, Mengjiagou Port Area and Shuanglou Port Area under its jurisdiction. The picture shows coal unloading at Pizhou Port. Photo by @李琼)

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Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Taiwan, Lianyungang-Huozhou, etc.

National highway trunk line

Meet here

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Xuzhou South Exit of Lianhuo Expressway, photo by @李传新)

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Construction of Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway and land bridge

It also made Xuzhou the land transportation center of eastern China.

(Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed ​​Railway and Land Bridge, Photo by @李琼)

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Plus

Aviation and oil pipeline construction

Xuzhou became

National comprehensive transportation hub

(Sketch of Xuzhou's comprehensive transportation network, drawn by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute)

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Secondly

Actively upgrade the industry

In the energy industry

In addition to actively building mining bases outside the province and abroad, Xuzhou

Increasing investment in scientific research to improve coal mine utilization efficiency

We also vigorously develop photovoltaic power generation and wind power generation

Solid oxide fuel cells and other new energy industries

So as to get out of the development difficulties caused by resource depletion as soon as possible

(Xuzhou Suining Yaoji Photovoltaic Power Generation Base, Photo by @李玉龙)

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Equipment manufacturing

As early as the 1980s

Xuzhou took the initiative to reform a number of small and medium-sized machinery manufacturing enterprises

The XCMG Group was established

Since its inception

Became the leader in China's construction machinery industry

Many large-scale engineering machinery facilities

Such as electromechanical and hydraulic integrated excavators, large tonnage cranes, large loaders

Large-section rock tunneling machines, large-scale high-grade road pavers

High altitude fire fighting vehicles, oil drilling equipment, etc.

"Hard-core" products are born from this

And reach the international leading level

(XCMG's 4,000-ton crawler crane is hoisting a propane deoxygenation device. Photo by @陈晓东)

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Xuzhou has also become China's

“The Capital of Construction Machinery”

(Xuzhou Jiawang District Engineering Machinery, Photo by @Li Qiong)

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also

Integrated Circuit and Software Development

Biotechnology and new medicines

(Xuzhou Biotechnology and New Medicine Technology Industrial Park, photography @李琼)

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Integrated logistics and other emerging industries

Xuzhou has a comprehensive layout

(Xuzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, photo by @李琼)

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Comprehensive development of three major industries

Xuzhou has transformed from a traditional coal-producing city

Transform into a city of comprehensive strength

GDP in 2020 reached 731.977 billion yuan

Ranked 27th in the country

(Xuzhou city landscape, photography @李玉龙)

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again

In terms of urban construction

Xuzhou also achieved upgrade

From city transportation

(Xuzhou Metro Line 1, photography @陈晓东)

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Shopping at a business

(Xuzhou Suning Plaza, photo by @怪怪尼奥)

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From medical education

(China University of Mining and Technology National University Science and Technology Park, photography @江南君)

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To cultural leisure

Both are developing rapidly

(Xuzhou Underwater Terracotta Warriors Museum, photo by @李玉龙)

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at last

It is worth mentioning that

Xuzhou is a model for ecological restoration

The former coal mining subsidence area

Transformed into a wetland park

(Please watch in horizontal mode. Pan'an Lake Wetland Park in Jiawang District was rebuilt from a coal mining subsidence area. It is a model for ecological restoration in resource-depleted cities across the country. Photo by @郑舟)

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quarry

It was also transformed into Dangkou Park.

(Zhushan Dangkou Park is the first Dangkou heritage park in China; Dangkou mainly refers to the quarry formed by open-pit mining; Photo by @郑舟)

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now

Its overall forest coverage

Number of open gardens and green spaces in the main urban area

Ranked first in Jiangsu Province

It has been awarded the title of "National Garden City"

"National Model City for Environmental Protection", "National Forest City", etc.

Multiple honors

(Xuzhou Xuanshui Lake Scenic Area, photography by @郑舟)

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Here

We can feel

Xuzhou Today

Beautiful environment

(Please watch in horizontal mode, autumn scenery of Xuzhou, photography by @李玉龙)

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Clean and tidy village appearance

(Xuzhou rural scenery, photography @李玉龙)

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Colorful food and entertainment

(Xuzhou delicacies, clay pot chicken, "饣塔" [sa] soup, eight-part fried dough sticks, photography @闫妍; barbecue, photography @王鑫)

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People live happily and contentedly

(Xuzhou Pizhou Ginkgo Avenue, photography @Wang Xin)

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And the future

Xuzhou is the central city of the Huaihai Economic Zone.

Will recreate the legend

(Schematic diagram of the Huaihai Economic Zone layout, drawn by @Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

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This article was created by

Written by | Silence

Photo | Zhou Xuguang

Map | Chen Zhihao

Design | Hanqing

Proofreader | Director Mountain Monster River Quasimodo Taishan

Cover Photographer | Li Yulong

References:

[1] Wang Jian, ed. A Brief History of Xuzhou[M]. Beijing: The Commercial Press, August 2015.

[2] Guo Hailin. The Origin of Xuzhou’s History and Culture[M]. Nanjing: Hohai University Press, September 2016.

[3] Zou Yilin, ed. Historical Geography of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain [M]. Hefei: Anhui Education Press, 1997.12.

[4] Yu Youqian and Tang Qiling (eds.). General History of Jiangsu: Qin and Han Dynasties [M]. Nanjing: Phoenix Publishing House, March 2012.

[5] Shen Zhengping, Wang Jian, Yan Qingwu. Analysis of locational factors in urban evolution: A case study of the historical and cultural city of Xuzhou [J]. Human Geography, 2001(05):29-33+48.

[6] Zhao Yuan, ed.; Wang Jingai, ed. Jiangsu Geography[M]. Beijing: Beijing Normal University Press, 2011.09.

[7] Wu Huan. Research on the impact mechanism of traffic development on the urban spatial evolution of Xuzhou[D]. Jiangsu Normal University, 2017.

[8]Xue Yi. On the historical role and influence of coal industry on the urban development of Xuzhou[J]. Journal of Jiangsu Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 2013, 39(01):87-93.

[9] Jiang Yingzi. Analysis on the development of four strategic emerging industries in Xuzhou[J]. Jiangsu Business Review, 2020(01):134-136.

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