Banzhuang

Banzhuang 班庄/班莊
Town
Nickname(s): Stone Town
Coordinates: 34°51′01″N 118°51′04″E / 34.8504°N 118.851°ECoordinates: 34°51′01″N 118°51′04″E / 34.8504°N 118.851°E
Country	China
Province	Jiangsu
Prefecture-level city	Lianyungang
County	Ganyu
Area
• Total	175.61 km^2 (67.80 sq mi)
Population
• Total	100,000
• Density	570/km^2 (1,500/sq mi)

Banzhuang (simplified Chinese: 班庄; traditional Chinese: 班莊; pinyin: Bānzhuāng)is the largest town of Ganyu County in the north of Jiangsu Province of PRC, adjacent to Linyi of Shandong Province. After combinated with Huandun Town, Banzhuang Town has a total area of 175.61 square kilometers, and so is the largest town in area in Ganyu County. It is also has a population of about 100,000.

Geography

Map of Banzhuang

Banzhuang is the largest town of Ganyu County, covering the area of 175.61 square kilometers.

In the north part of the town is low, hilly area. There are many low mountains which are called by the locals Taipin, Langtou, Zhuqi, Jiagu, Hulu, Jinniu, Shuang, Ma (Horse), Liao, Ma'an (Anti-Japan), Liujia, Gejia, Heng, Zhuque. In the south part of the town is fertile plains which is the main farming area of Banzhuang Town.

In the other part, it is the large plain. And it is very fertile and suitable for farming. So it becomes the main grain-producing area.

The staple crops cover paddy, wheat corn, peanut, soya. In the northern hilly area, fruit and tea trees are very popular. Mung and azuki are two popular crops in the area. But the planting area is very small.

There are some small rivers in the town, and no large river. Since 1949, some small canals were dug for the purpose of irrigation and for connecting Shilianghe Reservoir and Tashan Reservoir. There are also no large natural lakes. All the lakes are man-made reservoir, such as Shilianghe Reservoir, Honglingjin Reservoir, and Sanba Reservoir.

Shilianghe Reservoir is the largest man-made lake in the town, even in Jiangsu Province. It was dug in 1958 and finished in 1960s. There a little larger river flows into the reservoir: New Shoo River, Zhufan River, and Tangz River. 1-Grade flood intercepting trench links Shilianghe Reservoir and Tashan Reservoir.

Government and Politics

Administrative Village

The town is divided into 44 administrative villages. Some administrative villages can be divided into some small natural villages.

The administrative villages are listed as below:

Administrative Villages of Banzhuang Town
English Name	Chinese	Pinyin	Local Dialect	Villager's Group	Household	Population	Farmable Land	Villages
Gucheng	古城村	gǔ chéng	gǔch	14	1342	5706	273.47
Yanmachang	演马场	yǎn mǎ chǎng	yánmǎchang	4	366	1292	113.33	Yanmachang(演马场) Sanjiaozhuang(三角庄)
Qianji	前集	qián jí	qiánji	2	180	570	37.69
Sanqing Ge	三清阁	sān qīng gé	sānqīnggé	3	291	992	81.44
Qian Yanzhuang	前阎庄	qián yán zhuāng	qiányánzhuāng	6	560	2064	166.35	He Yanzhuang(贺闫庄) Yu Yanzhuang(于闫庄) Chen Yanzhuang(陈闫庄) Liu Yanzhuang(刘闫庄)
Caoding Cun	曹顶	cáo dǐng	cáodīng	7	568	2133	1903.90
Quanzipo	泉子坡	quán zi pō	quánzpō	5	532	1939	142.67
Huang Banzhuang	黄班庄	huáng bān zhuāng	huáng bānzhuāng	2	286	1103	66.7
Xinhe	新河	xīn hé	xīnhe	3	256	960	61.50	Xiaohecun(小河村) Xinhedong(新河东)
Shang Yanzhuang	上阎庄	shàng yán zhuāng	shàng-yánzhuāng	3	364	1333	85.18
Zhao Banzhuang	赵班庄	zhào bān zhuāng	zhào bānzhuāng	4	336	1234	100.12
Xinji	新集	xīn jí	xīnjiz	4	726	2553	161.55
Dagou'ai	大沟埃	dà gōu ái	dàg'yái	4	482	2003	108.72
Banzhuang	班庄	bān zhuāng	bānzhuāng	9	922	3454	192.76	Banxi(班西) bandong (班东村) Dong Banzhuang(东班庄) Meng Banzhuang(孟班庄)
Mawei	马圩	mǎ wéi	māvéi	3	268	1082	79.51
Wang'yu	汪于	wāng yǘ	Vāng'yǘ	4	442	1508	65.72
West Jiejia	西接驾	xÄ« jiÄ“ jiÃ	xÄ«jiÄ“jiā	4	612	2024	137.74	Chen Jiezhuang(陈接庄) Vang Jiezhuang(王接庄)
East Jiejia	东接驾	dong jie jia	dōngjiÄ“jiÃ	4	499	1690	87.58	Zheng Jiezhuang(郑接庄) Xu Jiezhuang(徐接庄)
Hengshan Guanzhuang	横山官庄	Hèngshānguānzhuāng	héngshānguāngzhuāng	4	493	1911	197.83
West Xiangshi	西响石	xī xiǎng shí	Xīxǎngshí	5	511	2052	121.39
Shanxi	山西	shān xī	shānxi	6	528	2470	185.00	Vugou(吴沟) Donggou(董沟) Liaogou(廖沟)
Hongshuang	洪爽	hóng shuǎng	hóngshui	3	508	1746	105.59	Miaoqian(庙前) Miaohou(庙后) Miaodong(庙东)
Liu Hongshui	刘洪爽	liú hóng shuǎng	Liú Hóngshui	4	651	2106	126.20	Yang Hongshui(杨洪爽) Liu Hongshui(刘洪爽) Han Hongshui(韩洪爽)
Yu Hongshuang	于洪爽	yǘ hóng shuǎng	yǘhóngshui	2	276	1021	51.03	Yuling(于岭) Yugou(于沟) Yu Hongshui(于洪爽)
Wang Hongshuang	王洪爽	wáng hóng shuǎng	vánghóngshui	3	263	843	73.50
Dou Hongshuang	窦洪爽	dǒu hóng shuǎng	dòuhóngshui	5	581	2369	96.05
Quangzi Hongshuang	圈子洪爽	quān zi hóng shuǎng	quānzhóngshui	3	272	896	92.05
South Hongshuang	南洪爽	nán hóng shuǎng	nánhóngshui	2	295	1086	68.30	Shi Hongshui(时洪爽) Chen Hongshui(陈洪爽)
Huandun	欢墩	huān dūn	Huāndēn	13	1492	5718	257.00	Huanxi(欢西) Huandong(欢东) Huanxin(欢新,old name:Fan Jingbuz(范净埠))
Ma Zhumeng	马朱孟	mǎ zhū mèng	Mā Zhūm	5	367	1254	12.00
Taiping	太平	tài píng	tàipīng	6	730	2718	66.47	Taiping Cun(太平村)（old name: ximzhuang(西孟庄)) Sanjvang(三角汪) Aiguo(爱国）（Jinxialing（金下岭,old name:Zhuchavang(朱岔汪）），Lelongcun(二龙村)）
Shigou'ai	石沟埃	shí gōu ái	shíg'yai	4	371	1451	41.27	Yuhe Cun(玉河村) Qian Shig'yai(前石沟埃) Hou Shig'yai(后石沟埃)
East Wozi	东窝子	dōng wō zi	dōngvōzi	4	417	1695	45.47
Shimentou	石门头	shí mén tóu	shímtou	13	659	2710	145.53	Shimtou yicun(一村) Shimtou Lercun(二村) Shimtou Sancun(三村) Shimtou Sicun(四村)
Lee Xiaowan	李小湾	lǐ xiǎo wān	lixiǎovāi	2	155	575	27.73
East Zhufan	东朱范	dōng zhūfàn	dōngzhūf	10	748	2836	121.13	Xu zhuf(徐朱范) Yao Zhuf(姚朱范) Yangmtuair(演马团)
Poqiao	坡桥	pō qiáo	pōqiao	4	498	1889	157.07
Jiegou	介沟	jiè gōu	Jiàichgōu	8	757	2732	162.33	liu Jiaigou(刘介沟) Zang Jiaigou(臧介沟) Yan Jiaigou(阎介沟)
Huangnigou	黄泥沟	huáng ní gōu	Huángmígōu	7	642	2399	130.47	Peng Huangmigou(彭黄泥沟) Jiang Huangmigou(蒋黄泥沟) Lee Huangmigou(李黄泥沟) Hebei(河北)
Hewa	河洼	hé wÃ	hévÃ	4	297	1153	88.73	Xiao Heva(小河洼) Vavu(瓦屋)
Dongjin	东进	dōng jìn	dōngjìn	10	857	2989	193.40	Dong Jingbuz(董净埠) Zhang Jingbuz(张净埠)
Zhumeng	朱孟	zhū mèng	Jūm	4	271		45.27	Zhu Zhum(朱朱孟) Lee Zhum(李朱孟)
Dongfanghong	东方红	dōng fāng hóng	dōngfānghóng	4	443	1550	54.07	Dongfanghong(old name:Xue Zhum(薛朱孟)
Sun Jingbu	孙净åŸ	sÅ«n jìng bù	sÄ“njìngbùz	7	534	2143	138.80	Sen Jingbuz(孙净埠) Lee Jingbuz(李净埠)

Politics

The communist Party is the sole ruling party as other town in China's Mainland. All the officials of the government must be elected by all local residents according to the related laws. But in fact they are nominated by the government of county. The residents have no right to recall the officials though the law says they have such rights.

The Secretary of the Communist Part is the supreme leader of the town. But He or she is only the cadre of the Communist Part, not the administrative official. The head de jure of town government is governor of the town.

All the directors of the village must be elected by local villagers. And any officials have no right to nominate the village directors and are prohibited from intervening the village-level election. But in actual operation, the town government try its best to control the village and rig the villager's election. If no support from the town, the village directors are unable to do anything except watching the ceiling.

History

Archeological artifacts provide evidence of the Ancient Zhuqi Kingdom locating in the west of the town for thousands of years before it became a vassal state of Zhou Dynasty. During the earlier Spring and Autumn Period, the another vassal state of Lu to west of Zhuqi, expanded to here, and then conquered Zhuqi. So Zhuqi become a bordering city of Lu State. The capital of Zhuqi is situated in the east of Gucheng, a village in the west of Banzhuang. But its territory was not indefinite.

From Qin Dynasty to Sui Dynasty, Banzhuang was under Zhuqi County and no change. And Zhuqi County seat was situated in the east of Gucheng, a big village in the west of Banzhuangtown. In Tang Dynasty Zhuqi County was combined into Huairen County in AD623 after Tang Dynasty overthrew Sui Dynasty. So the Banzhuang Town became the western part of Guanyu (i.e. Huairen) County and without big change from then on, though the dynasties rose and perished.

At the end of Qing Dynasty, the ruler started to reform the local government system and exercised local autonomy. So Jiagu City was founded on base of Guangxiao Town (光孝乡) of Ganyu County, and was under the jurisdiction of Guanyu County. Jiagu City covere 4 towns: Menlouhe Town, Xingning Town, Banlizhuang Town, and Huandun Town. The city government was situated in Huandun Town.^[1]

After the National government in Nanjing overthrew the Beiyang authorities in Peking, it also began to reform 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.

During Anti-Japan war Japanese invaded and occupied Ganyu County, and the legal government was dismissed by Japan. They founded the pro-Japanese government with the help of some Chinese traitors. Then the Communist Party of China (CPC) came and organized some guerrilla troops to fight against Japanese troops and puppet armies. CPC founded a new administrative managing system of itself completely according to its demands. The forth district of Ganyu County was then divided into small districts further: Zhumeng District in the south and Guyang District in the north.

During the third civil war between CPC and Kuomintang, the two biggest political and military force, CPC controlled fully all Ganyu County. Zhumeng District was broken away from Ganyu County for several months in 1947.^[2]

After CPC occupied Nanjing, the capital of China of that time, Jiangsu Province was abolished and split. Ganyu County was combined into Shandong Province till the Jiangsu Province was restored in 1953.

In 1951 Guyang District was called the 7th District of Ganyu County, covering 11 towns;^[3] and Zhumeng District the 9th District of Ganyu County, covering 9 towns.^[4]

Ganyu County returned to Jiangsu Province after Jiangsu was restored in 1953. But it was not a county under Haizhou which now called Lianyungang, but a county under Xuzhou City. In this year, the 9th District of Ganyu County was abolished and combined into the 7th District of the county.^[5]

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.^[6] When the Compaign of People's Commune began, the two towns names were changed to Jigushan People's Commune and Huandun People's Commune respectively. But the people still called Huandun as Huandun Town as usual.

In 1958, construction of Shilianghe Reservoir began and the migrations started. But the organization of migration by the government was very poor. Most people arrived at their new home and found nothing, and the government gave no reimbursement against their great loss from building the reservoir. Some of them were unable to bear the starvation and fled back to their home town. The reimbursement against this migration was exercised 50 years late. However, the local government tried their best to limit the quantity of the people who had rights to the reimbursement.

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 old name of Huandun Township; Banzhuang People's Commune was called Banzhuang Township, and Jiashan People's Commune Jiashan Township. In 1985 Huandun Township became Huandun Town, while Banzhuang Township became a town in 2000.

In 2001 Banzhuang Town and Jiashan Township was united into Banzhuang Town. In 2013 Huandun Town was combined into Banzhuang Town. All seem to return to the start except that the old name was gone.

References

1. 王佐良等．《续修赣榆县志》(《中国地方志集成·江苏府县志辑》65)：江苏古籍出版社，1991：693页
2. 《赣榆县志》(赣榆县志编纂委员会，中华书局，1997年，150页
3. 《赣榆县志》(赣榆县志编纂委员会，中华书局，1997年，119页
4. 《赣榆县志》(赣榆县志编纂委员会，中华书局，1997年，115页
5. 《赣榆县志》(赣榆县志编纂委员会，中华书局，1997年，119页
6. 《赣榆县志》(赣榆县志编纂委员会，中华书局，1997年，125页