Happy TravellerWelcome to Qujing, a prefecture-level city located in the east of Yunnan province, China. Known as the ‘Key between Yunnan and Guizhou’ and the ‘Throat of Yunnan’, Qujing is a city steeped in history and culture. With a population of over 6 million people, Qujing is part of the Central Yunnan Metropolitan Region plan and is set to become the big city at the origin of the Pearl River in the following decades. Here’s everything you need to know about this fascinating city.
Geography and Climate
Qujing is located about 130 kilometers east of Kunming, the provincial capital. It is part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and has a mild subtropical highland climate. The winters are short, mild, and dry, while the summers are warm and rainy. The majority of the rainfall occurs from June to October.
Transport
Qujing is well-connected to Kunming by the National Highway 320, and the drive time is about three hours. The transportation system in Qujing is well-developed, and you can access almost every corner of the city by way of the Kun Qu Freeway. Buses to Kunming depart from Qujing Bus Station every half hour, and the trip takes about three hours. The bus station also provides transportation to Dali, Honghezhou, and other destinations around Qujing. Taxis and buses are available in Qujing, and the base rate of a taxi is RMB 7 for the first 2.5 km. Two train routes, Guizhou to Kunming and Nanning to Kunming, run through eight towns in Qujing each day. It takes one and a half hours to get from Qujing to Kunming by express. After the completion of the Shanghai-Kunming high-speed railway in December 2016, it takes 45 minutes to reach Kunming South High-speed Train Station and an hour to reach Guiyang North High-speed Train Station from Qujing North High-speed Train Station. There is a plan for a speed train to run between Chengdu and Nanning by the year 2015, which will make the trip from Kunming to Qujing only 30 minutes long.
Administrative Divisions
The government seat is located in Qilin District.
Economy
Qujing’s total GDP was 177.5 billion Yuan in 2016, and the GDP per capita was 27044 yuans. Tobacco, automobiles, power generation, and chemical engineering are the main industries in Qujing. Qujing Economic and Technological Development Zone is a provincial development zone approved by Yunnan Provincial Government in August 1992. It is located in the east of urban Qujing, the second largest city in Yunnan in terms of economic strengths. The location of the development zone is the economic, political, and cultural center of Qujing. As an agency under Qujing municipal Party committee and municipal government, the administrative commission of QETDZ functions as an economy supervising body at the prefecture level and an administration body at the county level. It has 106 km2 under its jurisdiction and shoulders the task of building a new 40-square-kilometer city area and providing service for a population of 400,000 in the upcoming 10 years.
Ethnic Groups
The Qujing Prefecture Almanac lists the following Yi subgroups: Black Yi, White Yi, and Dry Yi.
Sites of Interest
Jiulong Waterfall (Nine Dragons Waterfall) in Luoping County and Tiansheng Cave, formerly Xianren Dong (Fairy Cave, although some translate it as Celestial Being Cave), are two of the most popular tourist attractions in Qujing. Jiulong Waterfall is a series of waterfalls that cascade down a steep cliff, and Tiansheng Cave is a natural limestone cave that is home to a variety of stalactites and stalagmites.
In conclusion, Qujing is a city that is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. With its well-developed transportation system, visitors can easily explore all that this fascinating city has to offer. Whether you’re interested in exploring the city’s many historical sites, sampling its delicious local cuisine, or simply taking in the stunning natural scenery, Qujing is a destination that should not be missed.
