# Fang County

Fang County or Fangxian (simplified Chinese: 房县; traditional Chinese: 房縣; pinyin: Fáng Xiàn) is a county of northwestern Hubei province, People's Republic of China. It is under the administration of Shiyan City.
The county spans an area of 5,110 square kilometres (1,970 sq mi), and has a population of 390,991 as of 2010.

## History

During the Spring and Autumn period, the region was known as Fangzhu (Chinese: 防渚; pinyin: Fángzhǔ).
During the Warring States period, the area belonged to the State of Chu.
The area was incorporated as Fangling County (simplified Chinese: 房陵县; traditional Chinese: 房陵縣; pinyin: Fánglíng Xiàn) during the Qin dynasty, where it belonged to the Hanzhong Commandery [zh].
In 636 CE, the area of present-day Fang County was organized as Fang Prefecture [zh].
In 1277, Fang Prefecture was changed to Fang County, which it has remained since. It was placed under the jurisdiction of Xiangyang Fu [zh].
In 1476, Xiangyang Fu was changed to Yunyang Fu [zh].

### Republic of China

Upon the establishment of the Republic of China, the area was placed under the jurisdiction of Xiangyang Circuit [zh].
In 1931, the area was re-organized as the 11th Administrative Inspectorate [zh] of Hubei Province. In 1936, it was changed to be under the 8th Administrative Inspectorate of Hubei Province.

### People's Republic of China

In 1949, upon the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the area was administered under the Liangyun Prefecture [zh].
The area was moved to the jurisdiction of the Yunyang Prefecture [zh] in 1965.
In 1994, the county was moved to the jurisdiction of the newly-formed prefecture-level city of Shiyan.

## Geography

The Wudang Mountains run through the northern part of Fang County, and the Daba Mountains run through its southern part.
The lowest part of the county is Jiangjiapo (Chinese: 姜家坡), in Damuchang [zh], which stands 180 metres (590 ft) above sea level. The highest part of the county is Guanjiaya (Chinese: 关家垭), in Shangkan Township [zh], which stands 2,485.6 metres (8,155 ft) above sea level.

## Climate

Climate data for Fangxian, elevation 427 m (1,401 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.6 (69.1) | 25.6 (78.1) | 33.7 (92.7) | 35.0 (95.0) | 37.9 (100.2) | 38.9 (102.0) | 41.4 (106.5) | 39.3 (102.7) | 40.3 (104.5) | 32.0 (89.6) | 28.9 (84.0) | 20.5 (68.9) | 41.4 (106.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) | 11.6 (52.9) | 16.9 (62.4) | 23.0 (73.4) | 26.6 (79.9) | 30.0 (86.0) | 32.0 (89.6) | 30.9 (87.6) | 26.4 (79.5) | 21.3 (70.3) | 15.7 (60.3) | 10.2 (50.4) | 21.1 (70.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 5.1 (41.2) | 9.9 (49.8) | 15.7 (60.3) | 19.9 (67.8) | 23.8 (74.8) | 26.1 (79.0) | 25.1 (77.2) | 20.7 (69.3) | 15.3 (59.5) | 9.3 (48.7) | 4.0 (39.2) | 14.8 (58.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) | 0.6 (33.1) | 4.7 (40.5) | 10.2 (50.4) | 14.9 (58.8) | 19.1 (66.4) | 22.2 (72.0) | 21.3 (70.3) | 17.0 (62.6) | 11.5 (52.7) | 5.2 (41.4) | 0.0 (32.0) | 10.4 (50.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.1 (13.8) | −8.8 (16.2) | −5.5 (22.1) | −1.0 (30.2) | 2.9 (37.2) | 11.3 (52.3) | 13.7 (56.7) | 13.3 (55.9) | 6.6 (43.9) | −0.5 (31.1) | −4.6 (23.7) | −15.6 (3.9) | −15.6 (3.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 11.4 (0.45) | 15.0 (0.59) | 40.3 (1.59) | 60.5 (2.38) | 105.4 (4.15) | 111.2 (4.38) | 132.5 (5.22) | 137.2 (5.40) | 89.7 (3.53) | 72.1 (2.84) | 31.0 (1.22) | 11.6 (0.46) | 817.9 (32.21) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 6.1 | 6.9 | 9.3 | 10.2 | 12.8 | 12.2 | 13.9 | 12.3 | 11.5 | 11.2 | 8.3 | 6.3 | 121 |
| Average snowy days | 5.6 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 15.7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 71 | 69 | 68 | 71 | 74 | 76 | 80 | 81 | 80 | 80 | 78 | 73 | 75 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 111.4 | 109.3 | 145.7 | 164.7 | 175.3 | 173.3 | 188.4 | 177.7 | 129.5 | 117.1 | 112.9 | 116.8 | 1,722.1 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 35 | 35 | 39 | 42 | 41 | 41 | 44 | 44 | 35 | 34 | 36 | 37 | 39 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||

## Administrative divisions

Fang County administers 12 towns and 8 townships.
Township-level divisions of Fang County :
| Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Division type | Population (2010) |
| Chengguan [zh] | 城关镇 | Chéngguān Zhèn | Town | 89,898 |
| Jundian [zh] | 军店镇 | Jūndiàn Zhèn | Town | 32,346 |
| Hualongyan [zh] | 化龙堰镇 | Huàlóngyàn Zhèn | Town | 20,163 |
| Tucheng [zh] | 土城镇 | Tǔchéng Zhèn | Town | 16,404 |
| Damuchang [zh] | 大木厂镇 | Dàmùchǎng Zhèn | Town | 26,828 |
| Qingfeng [zh] | 青峰镇 | Qīngfēng Zhèn | Town | 27,231 |
| Mengusi [zh] | 门古寺镇 | Méngǔsì Zhèn | Town | 26,488 |
| Baihe [zh] | 白鹤镇 (房县) | Báihè Zhèn | Town | 28,435 |
| Yerengu [zh] | 野人谷镇 | Yěréngǔ Zhèn | Town | 9,638 |
| Hongta [zh] | 红塔镇 | Hóngtǎ Zhèn | Town | 31,367 |
| Yaohuai [zh] | 窑淮镇 | Yáohuái Zhèn | Town | 10,763 |
| Yinjifu | 尹吉甫镇 | Yǐnjífǔ Zhèn | Town | 7,261 |
| Yaoping Township [zh] | 姚坪乡 | Yáopíng Xiāng | Township | 13,008 |
| Shahe Township [zh] | 沙河乡 | Shāhé Xiāng | Township | 7,197 |
| Wanyuhe Township [zh] | 万峪河乡 | Wànyùhé Xiāng | Township | 6,917 |
| Shangkan Township [zh] | 上龛乡 | Shàngkān Xiāng | Township | 8,712 |
| Zhongba Township [zh] | 中坝乡 | Zhōngbà Xiāng | Township | 7,130 |
| Jiudao Township [zh] | 九道乡 | Jiǔdào Xiāng | Township | 8,675 |
| Huilong Township | 回龙乡 | Huílóng Xiāng | Township | 3,022 |
| Wutai Township [zh] | 五台乡 | Wǔtái Xiāng | Township | 3,268 |

### Former divisions

In March 2012, Langkou Township (Chinese: 榔口乡; pinyin: Lángkǒu Xiāng) was abolished, and merged into the town of Yinjifu.

## Economy

Mineral deposits in the county include copper, iron, lead, zinc, phosphorus, sulfur, coal, and gypsum.
A number of large caves in Fang County also serve as tourist attractions.

## Transport

National Highway 209 runs through the county.