Xi County or Xixian (simplified Chinese: 隰县; traditional Chinese: 隰縣; pinyin: Xī Xiàn) is a county in the southwest of Shanxi province, China. It is located in the northwest of the administrative area of the prefecture-level city of Linfen. The county spans an area of 1,413 square kilometres (546 sq mi),[1] and according to the 2010 Chinese census, Xi County had a population of 103,617.[2]
The county was named after a definition in the Erya which stated "that which is wet shall be called xi" (simplified Chinese: 下湿曰隰; traditional Chinese: 下濕曰隰; pinyin: xià shī yuē xí), in reference to the county's wet period during the spring.[2]
During the Han dynasty, the area was organized as Puzi County (simplified Chinese: 蒲子县; traditional Chinese: 蒲子縣; pinyin: Púzi Xiàn).[2]
Under the Northern Wei, the northern portion of present-day Xi County was organized as part of Tujing Commandery , and the southern portion was part of Pingchang County (simplified Chinese: 平昌县; traditional Chinese: 平昌縣; pinyin: Píngchāng Xiàn).[2]
In 579 CE, the Northern Zhou established Changshou County (simplified Chinese: 长寿县; traditional Chinese: 長壽縣; pinyin: Chángshòu Xiàn) in the area, under the jurisdiction of Longquan Commandery .[2]
In 585 CE, the area was reorganized as Xi Zhousimplified Chinese: 隰川县; traditional Chinese: 隰川縣; pinyin: Xíchuān Xiàn) in the mid 14th century.[2]
, which existed on and off until the area was reorganized as Xichuan County (In 1912, the area was reorganized as Xi County, as it is today, belonging to Hedong Circuit
.[2]Under the People's Republic of China, the county was under the jurisdiction of Jinnan Prefecture , until it was reorganized as Linfen in 1970.[2]
The county is located on the western edge of the Lüliang Mountains, with an average elevation ranging from 950 metres (3,120 ft) to 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) above sea level.[1] Xi County's highest point is 1,953 metres (6,407 ft) above sea level.[1]
The Xinshui Rivertributary of the Yellow River, flows through the county.[1]
, aXi County administers three towns and five townships.[5]
The county's three towns are Longquan
, Wucheng , and Huangtu .[5]The county's five townships are Yangtousheng Township
, Zhaizi Township , Duopo Township , Xiali Township , and Chengnan Township .[5]The county's population per the 2010 Chinese census was 103,617, up from the 95,895 reported in the 2000 Chinese census.[2] In 1999, the county's population was estimated to be 97,758.[2]
36°42′42″N 111°00′00″E / 36.71167°N 111.00000°E / 36.71167; 111.00000