# Zhao County

Zhao County (Zhaoxian) (simplified Chinese: 赵县; traditional Chinese: 趙縣; pinyin: Zhào Xiàn), a historic town called Zhaozhou (赵州) in the past, is located in the southwest of Hebei province 40 km (25 mi) southeast of the provincial capital Shijiazhuang, and 280 km (170 mi) south of Beijing. Its total land area is 675 km$^2$ (261 sq mi) and total population is around 550,000. There are many historical sites in Zhao County, including the Anji Bridge, Yongtong Bridge, Tuoluonijing Tower (陀罗尼经幢), and Bailin (Cypress Grove) Temple (柏林寺). The county is also famous for its agricultural products: snowflake pears (xuehua pear), asparagus, and wheat.

## Geography

Zhao Xian is located in the middle of North China Plain; its elevation is fairly low and topography fairly flat.

### Administrative Divisions

Towns:
* Zhaozhou (赵州镇), Fanzhuang (范庄镇), Beiwangli (北王里镇), Xinzhaidian (新寨店镇), Hancun (韩村镇), Nanbaishe (南柏舍镇), Shahedian (沙河店镇)
Townships:
* Qiandazhang Township (前大章乡), Xiezhuang Township (谢庄乡), Gaocun Township (高村乡), Wangxizhang Township (王西章乡)

## Climate

Climate data for Zhaoxian, elevation 39 m (128 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) | 18.0 (64.4) | 25.4 (77.7) | 32.2 (90.0) | 32.7 (90.9) | 39.8 (103.6) | 42.1 (107.8) | 43.0 (109.4) | 36.6 (97.9) | 37.0 (98.6) | 33.1 (91.6) | 27.7 (81.9) | 21.7 (71.1) | 43.0 (109.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.4 (38.1) | 7.7 (45.9) | 14.6 (58.3) | 20.9 (69.6) | 26.6 (79.9) | 32.4 (90.3) | 32.3 (90.1) | 30.3 (86.5) | 26.9 (80.4) | 20.8 (69.4) | 11.4 (52.5) | 4.7 (40.5) | 19.3 (66.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.8 (27.0) | 0.9 (33.6) | 7.5 (45.5) | 14.3 (57.7) | 20.1 (68.2) | 25.5 (77.9) | 26.9 (80.4) | 25.2 (77.4) | 20.4 (68.7) | 14.1 (57.4) | 5.4 (41.7) | −1.1 (30.0) | 13.0 (55.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −8.0 (17.6) | −4.6 (23.7) | 1.1 (34.0) | 7.6 (45.7) | 13.3 (55.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 22.2 (72.0) | 20.8 (69.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 8.3 (46.9) | 0.4 (32.7) | −5.8 (21.6) | 7.4 (45.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.9 (−3.8) | −19.0 (−2.2) | −9.4 (15.1) | −4.4 (24.1) | 1.7 (35.1) | 9.3 (48.7) | 15.5 (59.9) | 11.5 (52.7) | 4.3 (39.7) | −3.7 (25.3) | −16.6 (2.1) | −22.2 (−8.0) | −22.2 (−8.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 2.0 (0.08) | 4.9 (0.19) | 8.7 (0.34) | 26.3 (1.04) | 34.7 (1.37) | 56.4 (2.22) | 125.8 (4.95) | 114.1 (4.49) | 49.7 (1.96) | 25.2 (0.99) | 14.5 (0.57) | 2.9 (0.11) | 465.2 (18.31) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 1.6 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 5.2 | 6.3 | 8.1 | 10.9 | 10.0 | 6.9 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 65.2 |
| Average snowy days | 2.2 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 9.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 60 | 57 | 55 | 64 | 67 | 62 | 76 | 81 | 75 | 68 | 68 | 65 | 67 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 135.7 | 155.1 | 200.8 | 223.4 | 246.2 | 212.7 | 179.7 | 176.9 | 179.4 | 167.5 | 138.3 | 135.3 | 2,151 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 44 | 51 | 54 | 56 | 56 | 48 | 40 | 42 | 49 | 49 | 46 | 46 | 48 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||

## Notable residents

* Li Qi (Tang Dynasty poet)
* Li Yangbing, Tang Dynasty man of letters
* Tie Ning