Banzhuang () is a town in Ganyu District, Lianyungang, in the north of Jiangsu province of China, adjacent to Linyi of Shandong Province. As of 2013, Banzhuang Town has a total area of , and a population of about 100,000.
History Archeological artifacts found in the west of the town provide evidence that the area was part of the ancient Zhuqi Kingdom for thousands of years before Zhuqi became a vassal state of the Zhou dynasty. During the earlier Spring and Autumn period, Lu expanded to the west of Zhuqi up to the Banzhuang area.
From the Qin to the Sui dynasty periods, Banzhuang was part of Zhuqi. The Zhuqi County seat was situated to the east of Gucheng, a big village to the west of Banzhuang. Following the Tang dynasty overthrow of the Sui dynasty, Zhuqi County was combined into Huairen County in the year 623. Banzhuang has continued to exist administratively as part of the western part of Ganyu (i.e. Huairen) County to the present day.
At the end of the Qing dynasty, reforms were made to the local government system granting greater local autonomy. As part of these reforms, Jiagu City was founded near Guangxiao Town () in Ganyu County. Jiagu City was an amalgamation of four towns: Menlouhe Town, Xingning Town, Banlizhuang Town, and Huandun Town. The city government was based in Huandun Town.王佐良等．《续修赣榆县志》(《中国地方志集成·江苏府县志辑》65)：Jiangsu Ancient Books Publishing House，1991：693页
After the national government in Nanjing overthrew the Beiyang authorities in Peking, it began to make further reforms to the local and central administrative system. Ganyu became a county of the 8th Administrative District (also called Donghai Administrative District) of Jiangsu Province. Jiagu City became the 4th district of Ganyu County.
When the Japanese invaded and occupied Ganyu County, the local government was dismissed, and a new, pro-Japanese government was established. When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took the area from Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War, they set up a new administrative system. The fourth district of Ganyu County was divided further into smaller districts: Zhumeng District in the south and Guyang District in the north. In 1951, Guyang District was the 7th District of Ganyu County, covering 11 towns;《赣榆县志》(赣榆县志编纂委员会，中华书局，1997年，119页 Zhumeng District was the 9th District of Ganyu County, covering 9 towns.《赣榆县志》(赣榆县志编纂委员会，中华书局，1997年，115页
During the Chinese Civil War between the CCP and Kuomintang, the CCP controlled all of Ganyu County. Zhumeng District broke away from Ganyu County for several months in 1947.《赣榆县志》(赣榆县志编纂委员会，中华书局，1997年，150页
After the CCP occupied Nanjing, the capital of China at the time, Jiangsu Province was abolished and split up. Ganyu County was combined into Shandong Province up until Jiangsu Province was restored in 1953. In this same year, the 9th District of Ganyu County was abolished and combined into the 7th District of the county.
In 1955, the 7th District of Ganyu County was called Jiagushan District. In May 1958, Jiagushan District was divided into two towns: Jiagushan Town and Huandun Town.《赣榆县志》(赣榆县志编纂委员会，中华书局，1997年，125页 When the Campaign of People's Commune began, the two towns' names were changed to Jiagushan People's Commune and Huandun People's Commune, respectively.
In 1958, construction of Shilianghe Reservoir began, triggering migrations out of the Banzhuang area. However, these migrations were poorly organized; many arrived at their new homes and found nothing prepared. The government did not reimburse migrants for losses related to their displacement until 50 years later. Some migrants eventually returned to their homes in the area.
In 1961, Jiagushan People's Commune was divided into Banzhuang People's Commune and Jiashan People's Commune.
In 1983, the People's Commune was abolished in Jiangsu Province. Huandun People's Commune was restored to its old name of Huandun Township; Banzhuang People's Commune was renamed Banzhuang Township, and Jiashan People's Commune became Jiashan Township. In 1985, Huandun Township became Huandun Town, while Banzhuang Township became a town in 2000.
In 2001, Banzhuang Town and Jiashan Township were united into Banzhuang Town.
On January 31, 2013, Jiangsu's provincial government decreed the merger of Huandun Township into Banzhuang Town.
Geography
Banzhuang is the largest town in Ganyu County, covering an area of 175.61 square kilometers.
The north part of the town is characterized by low hills. Many of the low mountains have local names: Taipin, Langtou, Zhuqi, Jiagu, Hulu, Jinniu, Shuang, Ma (Horse), Liao, Ma'an (Anti-Japan), Liujia, Gejia, Heng, Zhuque. The south part of the town features fertile plains and constitutes the main farming area of Banzhuang Town.
Rice, wheat, corn, peanut, and soy are the staple crops grown in the area. In the northern hilly areas, fruit and tea trees are very common. Other common crops include mung and adzuki.
There are some small rivers which run through the town. Starting in 1949, some small canals were dug for the purpose of irrigation and for connecting Shilianghe Reservoir and Tashan Reservoir. There are no large natural lakes, only man-made reservoirs, such as Shilianghe Reservoir, Honglingjin Reservoir, and Sanba Reservoir.
Shilianghe Reservoir is the largest man-made lake in the town, and in Jiangsu Province. It was dug in 1958 and finished in 1960s. The reservoir is fed by the New Shoo, Zhufan, and Tangz Rivers. A 1st-grade flood trench links Shilianghe Reservoir and Tashan Reservoir.
Government and politics
Administrative divisions Banzhuang is divided into 44 administrative villages (). There are also natural villages (), which do not act as administrative divisions.
The town's administrative villages are listed as follows:
Administrative Villages of Banzhuang Town English nameChinesePinyinLocal Dialect Villager's GroupHouseholdsPopulationFarmable LandNatural Villages Banzhuangbān zhuāngbānzhuāng99223454192.76Banxi (), Bandong (), Dongbanzhuang (), Mengbanzhuang () Caodingcáo dǐngcáodīng756821331903.90 Shangyanzhuangshàng yán zhuāngshàng-yánzhuāng3364133385.18 Qianyanzhuangqián yán zhuāngqiányánzhuāng65602064166.35Heyanzhuang (), Yuyanzhuang (), Chenyanzhuang (), Liuyanzhuang () Xinjixīn jíxīnjiz47262553161.55 Guchenggǔ chénggǔch1413425706273.47 Zhaobanzhuangzhào bān zhuāngzhào bānzhuāng43361234100.12 Huangbanzhuanghuáng bān zhuānghuáng bānzhuāng2286110366.7 Sanqinggesān qīng gésānqīnggé329199281.44 Maweimǎ wéimāvéi3268108279.51 Yanmachangyǎn mǎ chǎngyánmǎchang43661292113.33Yanmachang (), Sanjiaozhuang () Dagou'aidà gōu áidàg'yái44822003108.72 Quanzipoquán zi pōquánzpō55321939142.67 Xinhedongxīn hé dōngxīnhe325696061.50Xiaohecun (), Xinhedong () Qianjiqián jíqiánji218057037.69 Wangyuwāng yǘVāng'yǘ4442150865.72 Xixiangshixī xiǎng shíXīxǎngshí55112052121.39 Hengshanguanzhuanghèng shān guān zhuānghéngshānguāngzhuāng44931911197.83 Shanxishān xīshānxi65282470185.00Vugou (), Donggou (), Liaogou () Liuhongshuangliú hóng shuǎngLiú Hóngshui46512106126.20Yanghongshuang (), Liuhongshuang (), Hanhongshuang () Hongshuanghóng shuǎnghóngshui35081746105.59Miaoqian (), Miaohou (), Miaodong () Nanhongshuangnán hóng shuǎngnánhóngshui2295108668.30Shihongshuang (), Chenhongshuang () Yuhongshuangyǘ hóng shuǎngyǘhóngshui2276102151.03Yuling (), Yugou (), Yuhongshuang () Wanghongshuangwáng hóng shuǎngvánghóngshui326384373.50 Quangzihongshuangquān zi hóng shuǎngquānzhóngshui327289692.05 Douhongshuangdǒu hóng shuǎngdòuhóngshui5581236996.05 Xijiejiaxī jiē jiàxījiējiā46122024137.74Chenjiezhuang (), Vangjiezhuang () Dongjiejiadong jie jiadōngjiējià4499169087.58Zhengjiezhuang (), Xujiezhuang () Huandunbuhuān dūn bùHuāndēn1314925718257.00Huanxi (), Huandong (), Huanxin (, old name: Fanjingbuz () Hewahé wàhévà4297115388.73Xiaoheva (), Vavu () Huangnigouhuáng ní gōuHuángmígōu76422399130.47Penghuangmigou (), Jianghuangmigou (), Leehuangmigou (), Hebei () Jiegoujiè gōuJiàichgōu87572732162.33Liujiaigou (), Zangjiaigou (), Yanjiaigou () Shimentoushí mén tóushímtou136592710145.53Yicun (), Lercun (), Sancun (), Sicun () Taipingtài píngtàipīng6730271866.47Taipingcun (, old name: Ximzhuang (), Sanjvang (), Aiguo(), Jinxialing (, old name: Zhuchavang(), Lelongcun ( Zhufanzhū fàndōngzhūf107482836121.13Xuzhuf (), Yaozhuf (), Yangmtuair () Zhumengzhū mèngJūm4271 45.27Zhuzhum (), Leezhum () Dongfanghongdōng fāng hóngdōngfānghóng4443155054.07Dongfanghong (, old name: Xuezhum ()) Sunjingbusūn jìng bùsēnjìngbùz75342143138.80Senjingbuz (), Leejingbuz () Dongjingbudǒng jìng bùdōngjìn108572989193.40Dongjingbuz (), Zhangjingbuz () Lixiaowanlǐ xiǎo wānlixiǎovāi215557527.73 Dongwozidōng wō zidōngvōzi4417169545.47 Shigou'aishí gōu áishíg'yai4371145141.27Yuhecun (), Qianshig'yai (), Houshig'yai () Poqiaopō qiáopōqiao44981889157.07 Mazhumengmǎ zhū mèngMā Zhūm5367125412.00
References