# Yanling County, Henan

Yanling County (simplified Chinese: 鄢陵县; traditional Chinese: 鄢陵縣; pinyin: Yānlíng Xiàn) is a county in the central part of Henan province, China. It is the easternmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Xuchang.

## History

Human habitation of the area began around 6000 BC.
In the early Zhou dynasty, the area became the state of Yan (鄢國).
In the Eastern Zhou dynasty, the area became known as Yan Yi (鄢邑) after the destruction of the state of Yan under Duke Wu of Zheng (鄭武公) in the early part of the reign of King Ping of Zhou (after 770 BC).
In the fifth month of 722 BC, Duke Zhuang of Zheng defeated his younger brother Gongshu Duan (共叔段) north of present-day Yanling County.
The famous Battle of Yanling (575 BC) took place in Yanling County.
Yanling County was established during the Western Han dynasty in the year 201 BC.
In 2014, six men in Yanling County were fined 2,000 yuan each for their roles in catching 1,689 wild geckos in Zhangqiao.

## Administrative divisions

The county is made up of twelve towns:
Towns:
* Anling (安陵镇), Malan (Ma-lan-chen; 马栏镇), Bailiang (柏梁镇), Chenhuadian (陈化店镇), Wangtian (望田镇), Zhangqiao (Chang-ch'iao; 张桥镇, formerly 张桥乡), Nanwu (南坞镇, formerly 南坞乡), Taocheng (T'ao-ch'eng; 陶城镇, formerly 陶城乡), Zhile (只乐镇, formerly 只乐乡), Dama (大马镇, formerly 大马乡), Pengdian (P'eng-tien; 彭店镇, formerly 彭店乡), Mafang (马坊镇, formerly 马坊乡)

## Climate

Climate data for Yanling, elevation 61 m (200 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) | 18.8 (65.8) | 23.7 (74.7) | 29.3 (84.7) | 32.8 (91.0) | 38.7 (101.7) | 40.5 (104.9) | 40.7 (105.3) | 37.6 (99.7) | 36.3 (97.3) | 35.6 (96.1) | 27.8 (82.0) | 20.5 (68.9) | 40.7 (105.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.0 (42.8) | 9.8 (49.6) | 15.4 (59.7) | 21.7 (71.1) | 27.2 (81.0) | 32.0 (89.6) | 32.2 (90.0) | 30.7 (87.3) | 27.0 (80.6) | 22.1 (71.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 8.1 (46.6) | 20.6 (69.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 0.5 (32.9) | 3.9 (39.0) | 9.3 (48.7) | 15.4 (59.7) | 21.0 (69.8) | 25.7 (78.3) | 27.3 (81.1) | 25.8 (78.4) | 21.2 (70.2) | 15.5 (59.9) | 8.4 (47.1) | 2.4 (36.3) | 14.7 (58.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −3.8 (25.2) | −0.8 (30.6) | 4.0 (39.2) | 9.6 (49.3) | 15.3 (59.5) | 20.3 (68.5) | 23.3 (73.9) | 22.1 (71.8) | 16.8 (62.2) | 10.5 (50.9) | 3.5 (38.3) | −1.9 (28.6) | 9.9 (49.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −17.7 (0.1) | −17.9 (−0.2) | −8.4 (16.9) | −1.9 (28.6) | 2.2 (36.0) | 11.1 (52.0) | 16.8 (62.2) | 12.1 (53.8) | 6.4 (43.5) | −1.6 (29.1) | −16.4 (2.5) | −15.4 (4.3) | −17.9 (−0.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 12.7 (0.50) | 16.4 (0.65) | 27.2 (1.07) | 41.4 (1.63) | 65.8 (2.59) | 89.0 (3.50) | 172.2 (6.78) | 134.5 (5.30) | 82.1 (3.23) | 42.7 (1.68) | 33.0 (1.30) | 12.6 (0.50) | 729.6 (28.73) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 11.3 | 11.0 | 8.7 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 3.8 | 83.9 |
| Average snowy days | 3.6 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 11.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 67 | 66 | 66 | 70 | 70 | 68 | 81 | 85 | 80 | 74 | 72 | 68 | 72 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 121.8 | 132.1 | 171.3 | 199.8 | 212.0 | 195.8 | 188.2 | 173.2 | 157.7 | 149.2 | 134.7 | 127.6 | 1,963.4 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 39 | 42 | 46 | 51 | 49 | 45 | 43 | 42 | 43 | 43 | 44 | 42 | 44 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||

## Economy

The county's primary agricultural products include wheat, beans, sweet potatoes, cotton and tobacco among others. The county is known for growing flowers which began during the Tang dynasty and flourished during the Song dynasty. The county is therefore known as 'Flower County' (花县, or also 花都 and 花乡). Industries in the county include machinery manufacturing, fertilizer, concrete and wine making among others.
In 2017, the value of the county's output in the flower and plant industry reached 7.1 billion yuan (1.03 billion U.S. dollars).

## Demographics

The population of the county decreased between the 2000 census and 2010 census.

## Transportation

* China National Highway 311

## People from Yanling County

* Lü Debin (1953–2005), executed politician