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Ankang

Ankang
安康市
Prefecture-level city
Location of Ankang City jurisdiction in Shaanxi
Location of Ankang City jurisdiction in Shaanxi
Country People's Republic of China
Province Shaanxi
Time zone China Standard (UTC+8)
Ankang
Chinese 安康
Literal meaning Peaceful & Healthy
Xicheng
Chinese
Literal meaning West City
Jinzhou
Chinese
Literal meaning [Seat of the] Golden Prefecture

Ankang (Chinese: 安康; pinyin: Ānkāng) is a prefecture-level city in southern Shaanxi Province in the People's Republic of China.

The settlement of Ankang dates to the Stone Age, and its recorded history dates back more than 3000 years. The settlement was originally known as Xicheng. Ankang County was established in 1st Taikang year of the Western Jin Dynasty (AD 280). It later formed part of the Eastern Liang Prefecture, which was reorganized into the Jin Prefecture in the 3rd Feidi year of the Western Wei (AD 554). Under the Sui, this was renamed Xicheng Commandery (, Xīchéngjùn) and, under the Tang, Ankang Commandery (, Ānkāngjùn).

After the founding of the People's Republic of China (1949), the Ankang Office of the Shaanxi Province People's Government was set up in 1950, growing to become the Ankang Area Civic Administration in 1979. In 2001, Ankang Area became Ankang City with a city-level administration.

Ankang's history and culture is nearly the same as Chinese culture, but with distinctive characteristics and geographical features marked by its diversity, which integrates east and west, north and south. It is influenced by Shaanxi culture, Chinese culture and Diqiang culture, with elements Bashu and Jinchu culture to form the present-day Han River culture after thousands of years of assimilation and fusion. The operas of Ankang have a long history, with nearly ten varieties, of which Han Opera is the best and most mature. According to incomplete statistics (?), the operas of Ankang consist of more than a thousand traditional plays. It is said that the tone of Beijing Opera originates from Han Opera. Ankang is well known as "the land for folk songs" and was named as "the land for folk songs in China" by the Ministry of Culture in 2003. Ziyang folk songs have become a cultural brand of Ankang. Ziyang folk songs and the Han tune "Erhuang" have been listed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the State Council.


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