# Huitong County

Huitong County (simplified Chinese: 会同县; traditional Chinese: 會同縣; pinyin: Huìtóng Xiàn) is a county of Hunan Province, China, it is under the administration of Huaihua Prefecturel-level City.
Huitong County covers 2,258.76 km$^2$ (872.11 sq mi), as of 2015, It had a registered population of 365,800 and a resident population of 330,500. Huitong County has eight towns and 10 townships under its jurisdiction, the government seat is Lincheng (林城镇).

## History

The earliest evidence of human settlement in the territory of Huitong County dates back to the Neolithic Age.
During the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties (2070 BC–256 BC), it was a part of Jingzhou (荆州).
During the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period (770 BC–221 BC), it was under the jurisdiction of Chu State (1115 BC–223 BC).
After conquering all the states, Emperor Qin Shi Huang implemented the system of prefectures and counties in 221 BC. Huitong County belonged to Qianzhongjun (黔中郡) and Xiangjun (象郡).
In the Western Han dynasty (206 BC–8 AD), Huitong County was under the jurisdiction of Wulingjun (武陵郡).
In the Three Kingdoms period (220–280), Huitong County was under the rule of Wu State (222–280).
In the Southern dynasties (420–589), it came under the jurisdiction of Tancheng County (镡城县) of Wuyang County (舞阳县).
In 581, Emperor Wen of Sui established the Sui Empire, it was under the jurisdiction of Longbiao County of Yuanlingjun (沅陵郡).
In 634, in the 8th year of Zhenguan period of the Tang dynasty (618–907), Langxi County (朗溪县) split from Huitong County.
In 1102, Sanjiang County (三江县) was set up and renamed "Huitong County" in the following year.
In 1914, Jingzhou was revoked and it came under the jurisdiction of Chenyuandao (辰沅道). From 1936 to 1949, it successively belonged to the 4th Administrative Inspection Area, 7th Administrative Inspection Area, and 10th Administrative Inspection Area.
On 4 October 1949, the People's Liberation Army took control of the county and renamed Huitong Special District (会同专区). The county became a part of Zhijiang Special District (芷江专区) in August 1952, Qianyang Special District (黔阳专区) in December 1952, Qianyang Prefecture in 1970, Huaihua Prefecture (怀化地区) in 1981, and Huaihua City (怀化市) in November 1997.

## Administrative division

As of 2023, Huitong County has 6 ethnic townships, 4 townships and 8 towns under its jurisdiction. The county seat is the town of Lincheng.
| Name | Chinese character | Population (2019) | Area (km2) |
| Buzi | 堡子镇 | 18,116 | 68.94 |
| Guangping | 广坪镇 | 22,594 | 134.03 |
| Jinzhu | 金竹镇 | 20,450 | 201.52 |
| Lincheng | 林城镇 | 83,058 | 297.89 |
| Ma'an | 马鞍镇 | 13,404 | 120.71 |
| Pingcun | 坪村镇 | 23,090 | 76.68 |
| Ruoshui | 若水镇 | 21,350 | 200.52 |
| Tuanhe | 团河镇 | 13,929 | 132.24 |
| Diling Township | 地灵乡 | 10,174 | 87.1 |
| Gaoyi Township | 高椅乡 | 9,220 | 99 |
| Lianshan Township | 连山乡 | 15,528 | 68.09 |
| Shaxi Township | 沙溪乡 | 15,419 | 130.15 |
| Baotian Dong and Miao Ethnic Township | 宝田侗族苗族乡 | 10,008 | 64.56 |
| Jinziyan Dong and Miao Ethnic Township | 金子岩侗族苗族乡 | 33,689 | 243.88 |
| Mobin Dong and Miao Ethnic Township | 漠滨侗族苗族乡 | 13,786 | 77.82 |
| Paotuan Dong and Miao Ethnic Township | 炮团侗族苗族乡 | 13,185 | 79.35 |
| Puwen Dong and Miao Ethnic Township | 蒲稳侗族苗族乡 | 10,077 | 56.58 |
| Qinglang Dong and Miao Ethnic Township | 青朗侗族苗族乡 | 23,708 | 118.13 |

## Geography

Located on the west central margin of the province, Huitong County lies to the east of the border of Guizhou. It is bordered to the north by Zhijiang County and Hongjiang City, to the east and southeast by Suining County, to the south by Jingzhou County, to the west by Tianzhu County of Guizhou.

### Rivers

There are 725 rivers and streams in the county. The Qushui River (渠水河) and Wu River, both are tributaries of the Yuan River, flow through Huitong County south to north.

### Mountains

The highest point in the county is Xuefengjie Mountain (雪峰界) which stands 1,477.4 metres (4,847 ft) above sea level. The Golden Dragon Mountain (金龙山) is the second highest peak within the county, with a height of 1,080.5 metres (3,545 ft).

### Climate

Huitong County is in the central subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, with an average annual temperature of 16 °C (61 °F), total annual rainfall of 1,289.4-millimetre (50.76 in), a frost-free period of 303 days and annual average sunshine hours in 1405.7 hours.
Climate data for Huitong, elevation 281 m (922 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1991–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 25.5 (77.9) | 29.8 (85.6) | 31.5 (88.7) | 34.7 (94.5) | 35.7 (96.3) | 37.4 (99.3) | 38.5 (101.3) | 39.6 (103.3) | 38.0 (100.4) | 35.6 (96.1) | 30.9 (87.6) | 25.7 (78.3) | 39.6 (103.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.1 (48.4) | 12.1 (53.8) | 16.3 (61.3) | 22.9 (73.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 32.7 (90.9) | 32.6 (90.7) | 29.1 (84.4) | 23.1 (73.6) | 17.9 (64.2) | 11.9 (53.4) | 22.0 (71.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.5 (41.9) | 8.0 (46.4) | 11.8 (53.2) | 17.6 (63.7) | 21.8 (71.2) | 25.2 (77.4) | 27.7 (81.9) | 27.0 (80.6) | 23.4 (74.1) | 18.1 (64.6) | 12.8 (55.0) | 7.5 (45.5) | 17.2 (63.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.3 (37.9) | 5.3 (41.5) | 8.9 (48.0) | 14.1 (57.4) | 18.2 (64.8) | 22.1 (71.8) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.3 (73.9) | 19.8 (67.6) | 14.9 (58.8) | 9.7 (49.5) | 4.8 (40.6) | 14.0 (57.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −5.0 (23.0) | −3.8 (25.2) | −0.7 (30.7) | 2.5 (36.5) | 10.1 (50.2) | 15.2 (59.4) | 18.3 (64.9) | 16.8 (62.2) | 11.7 (53.1) | 3.4 (38.1) | −0.6 (30.9) | −5.2 (22.6) | −5.2 (22.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 58.3 (2.30) | 64.5 (2.54) | 100.5 (3.96) | 146.1 (5.75) | 202.6 (7.98) | 225.1 (8.86) | 166.0 (6.54) | 122.0 (4.80) | 73.6 (2.90) | 81.6 (3.21) | 62.5 (2.46) | 46.6 (1.83) | 1,349.4 (53.13) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 15.0 | 14.3 | 18.0 | 17.1 | 16.9 | 15.0 | 11.1 | 11.5 | 9.4 | 11.0 | 10.9 | 10.8 | 161 |
| Average snowy days | 3.8 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 7.7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 80 | 79 | 80 | 79 | 80 | 80 | 76 | 77 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 77 | 79 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 38.9 | 49.3 | 64.2 | 96.9 | 119.5 | 121.9 | 206.9 | 197.8 | 144.5 | 101.2 | 86.7 | 66.4 | 1,294.2 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 12 | 15 | 17 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 49 | 49 | 40 | 29 | 27 | 21 | 29 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

As of 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics of China estimates the county's population now to be 365,200, including 193,000 males and 172,200 females, with a sex ratio of 112:100. The birth population is 2,501, with a birth rate of 6.5‰, a death rate of 2,186, a mortality rate of 5.7‰, and a natural population growth rate of 0.8‰.

### Language

Mandarin is the official language. The local people speak Kam language and Hmongic languages.

### Religion

The Dong and Miao people believe in animism and worship ancestors. Buddhism and Taoism are the two major religions in Huitong County.

## Transportation
### Highway

The G65 Baotou–Maoming Expressway, also popularly known as Baomao Expressway, is a north-south highway passing through the east of the county limits.
The China National Highway 209 runs north to south through the west of the county.
The Provincial Highway S342 is a north-south highway passing through the county's downtown, commercial, and industrial districts.

### Railway

The Jiaozuo–Liuzhou railway runs north-south through the downtown county and the Huitong Railway Station serves the county.