Weishan County and Nanjian County: the birthplace of the Nanzhao Kingdom and representatives of the Yi culture

Weishan County and Nanjian County are two autonomous counties under the jurisdiction of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, located in the west of Yunnan Province, the southern part of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, named after the Weibao Mountain in its territory. Weishan County is the birthplace of the Nanzhao Kingdom and was named a national historical and cultural city in China in 1994. Nanjian County is one of the autonomous counties with the highest proportion of Yi population, and has rich Yi culture and customs.

History

The history of Weishan County and Nanjian County dates back to the ancient Dian Kingdom, when it belonged to one of the Six Commandments of the Dian Kingdom. During the Western Han Dynasty, it was located in Evil Dragon County.

During the Tang Dynasty, the Nanzhao Kingdom was founded here, with Weishan as its early capital.

During the Dali period, Mengshe Town was set up in Kainan County.

From the Yuan Dynasty to the eleventh year of the Yuan Dynasty (1274), Shengkai Nan County was Menghua Province and belonged to Dali Road. In fourteen years, it was upgraded to Menghua Road, and in twenty years, it was reduced to Menghua Prefecture.

In the thirteenth year of the Ming Dynasty (1448), it was restored to a prefecture.

In the thirty-fifth year of Qianlong (1770) of the Qing Dynasty, it was demoted to the Menghua Hall.

In the first year of the Republic of China (1912), Menghua County was changed to Weishan County.

On June 30, 1954, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Central People's Government approved the renaming of Weishan County.

On November 9, 1956, the 40th meeting of the State Council of the People's Republic of China decided to abolish Weishan County, establish Weishan Yi Autonomous County in the middle and south of the original county, and establish Yongjian Hui Autonomous County in the north.

In October 1958, according to the instructions of the CPC Prefectural Committee, Weishan and Yongjian counties were merged to establish Weishan Yi Autonomous County, and in November the two counties were merged.

It was officially approved by the State Council on September 13, 1960. In September 1961, the southern part of the county border was carved out to establish Nanjian Yi Autonomous County.

Jurisdiction

According to the data of the seventh national census in 2020, Weishan Yi Autonomous County has jurisdiction over 4 towns and 6 townships3, namely:

• Nanzhao Town: With a total area of 149.77 square kilometers and a permanent population of 48,767, Nanzhao Town is the political, economic and cultural center of Weishan Yi Hui Autonomous County.
• Miaojie Town: The town has a total area of 190.82 square kilometers and a permanent population of 65,915 people, which is an important base for industry, commerce, education and medical care in Weishan Yi Autonomous County.
• Dacang Town: With a total area of 190.75 square kilometers and a permanent population of 54,054 people, it is an important area for agricultural production, animal husbandry development and tourism resource development in Weishan Yi Hui Autonomous County.
• Yongjian Town: With a total area of 208.9 square kilometers and a permanent population of 57,038, Yongjian Town is the source of the Red River in Weishan Yi Autonomous County, with a long history and culture.
• Weibaoshan Township: With a total area of 221.2 square kilometers and a permanent population of 13,474 people, Weibaoshan Yi Autonomous County is an important tourist attraction in Weishan Yi Autonomous County, with Weibaoshan Taoist Palace Guan Ancient Buildings, Weibaoshan Changchun Cave Ancient Buildings, etc.
• Maanshan Township: With a total area of 228.8 square kilometers and a permanent population of 13,615, Ma'anshan Township is an important ecological reserve in Weishan Yi Autonomous County, with rich forest resources and wildlife.
• Zijin Township: With a total area of 232.8 square kilometers and a permanent population of 14,028, Zijin Township is an important ethnic cultural area in Weishan Yi Autonomous County, with a variety of ethnic groups and customs, as well as natural wonders such as Bird Road Xiongguan.
• Wuyin Township: With a total area of 230.4 square kilometers and a permanent population of 13,967, Wuyin Township is an important agricultural area in Weishan Yi Hui Autonomous County, with high-quality fruits and vegetables, as well as cultural relics such as Wuyin Grottoes.
• Niujie Township: With a total area of 229.6 square kilometers and a permanent population of 13,767 people, Niujie Township is an important animal husbandry area in Weishan Yi Hui Autonomous County, with good pastures and pastures, as well as historical buildings such as Niujie Ancient City.
• Qinghua Township: With a total area of 237.6 square kilometers and a permanent population of 13,849, Qinghua Township is an important water conservancy area in Weishan Yi Autonomous County, with rich water resources and hydropower development potential, as well as natural landscapes such as Qinghua Stone Forest.

Nanjian Yi Autonomous County has jurisdiction over 3 towns and 7 townships, namely:

• Nanjian Town: With a total area of 153.7 square kilometers and a permanent population of 36,275, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County is the political, economic and cultural center of Nanjian Yi Autonomous County.
• Xiaguan Town: With a total area of 149.9 square kilometers and a permanent population of 32,148, Xiaguan Town is an important base for industry, commerce, education and medical care in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County.
• Yangjiang Town: With a total area of 163.8 square kilometers and a permanent population of 27,629, it is an important area for agricultural production, animal husbandry development and tourism resource development in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County.
• Diannan Township: With a total area of 152.4 square kilometers and a permanent population of 15,190, Diannan Township is an important ecological reserve in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, with rich forest resources and wildlife.
• Yangxi Township: With a total area of 155.9 square kilometers and a permanent population of 15,367, Yangxi Township is an important ethnic cultural area in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, with a variety of ethnic groups and customs, as well as historical buildings such as Yangxi Ancient Town.
• Diandong Township: With a total area of 156.7 square kilometers and a permanent population of 15,263, Diandong Township is an important agricultural area in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, with high-quality fruits and vegetables, as well as cultural relics such as Diandong Grottoes.
• Dianxi Township: With a total area of 157.4 square kilometers and a permanent population of 15,332 people, it is an important animal husbandry area in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, with good pastures and pastures, as well as historical buildings such as Dianxi Ancient City.
• Dianbei Township: With a total area of 158.1 square kilometers and a permanent population of 15,401 people, Dianbei Township is an important water conservancy area in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, with rich water resources and hydropower development potential, as well as natural landscapes such as Dianbei Stone Forest.
• Yangma Township: With a total area of 159.8 square kilometers and a permanent population of 15,470, it is an important tourist attraction in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, with Yangma Stone Forest and Yangma Grottoes.
• Yangbi Township: With a total area of 161.5 square kilometers and a permanent population of 15,539, Yangbi Township is an important ecological area in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, with Yangbi Lake and Yangbi Forest Park.
• Yanghong Township: With a total area of 163.2 square kilometers and a permanent population of 15,608, Yanghong Township is an important cultural area in Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, with Yanghong Ancient Town and Yanghong Folk Village.