Baoding 保定市 |
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Prefecture-level city | |
Back street in old Baoding
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Location of Baoding City jurisdiction in Hebei |
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Location of the city centre in Hebei | |
Coordinates: 38°52′N 115°28′E / 38.867°N 115.467°ECoordinates: 38°52′N 115°28′E / 38.867°N 115.467°E | |
Country | China |
Province | Hebei |
County-level divisions | 5 districts 4 county-level cities 15 counties |
Township-level divisions | 28 subdistricts 142 towns 170 townships 3 ethnic townships |
Area | |
• Prefecture-level city | 22,185 km2 (8,566 sq mi) |
• Urban | 326 km2 (126 sq mi) |
• Metro | 1,840 km2 (710 sq mi) |
Elevation | 25 m (83 ft) |
Highest elevation | 2,286 m (7,500 ft) |
Lowest elevation | 7 m (23 ft) |
Population (2010 census) | |
• Prefecture-level city | 11,194,379 |
• Urban | 1,157,891 |
• Urban density | 3,600/km2 (9,200/sq mi) |
• Metro | 2,176,857 |
• Metro density | 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi) |
Time zone | China Standard (UTC+8) |
Postal code | 071000 |
Area code(s) | 0312 |
License plate prefixes | 冀F |
Website | bd |
Baoding (Chinese: 保定; pinyin: Bǎodìng) is a city in Hebei province, China, approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) southwest of the national capital, Beijing. At the 2010 census, Baoding City had 11,194,372 inhabitants out of which 2,176,857 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of 3 urban districts and Qingyuan and Mancheng counties largely being conurbated, on 1,840 km2 (710 sq mi). Baoding is among 13 Chinese cities with a population of over 10 million, ranking seventh.
Baoding is a city with a history dating back to the Western Han Dynasty. It was destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century, but after the Mongols established the Yuan Dynasty, it was rebuilt. It acquired the name "Baoding" during the Yuan dynasty — the name is roughly interpreted as "protecting the capital", referring to the city's proximity to Beijing. Baoding served for many years as the capital of Zhili, and was a significant centre of culture in the Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. During the Boxer rebellion, Boxer rebels killed a Turk, two Swiss, and an Italian in Baoding.
Baoding is located in the west-central portion of Hebei province and lies on the North China Plain, with the Taihang Mountains to the west. Bordering prefecture-level cities in the province are Zhangjiakou to the north, Langfang and Cangzhou to the east, and Shijiazhuang and Hengshui to the south. Baoding also borders Beijing to the northeast and Shanxi to the west.