# Liqu

Liqu (simplified Chinese: 李渠镇; traditional Chinese: 李渠鎮; pinyin: Lǐqú Zhèn) is a town in Baota District, Yan'an, Shaanxi, China. Liqu is located in the northeast of central Baota District, bordered by Fengzhuang Township [zh] to its north, Chuankou [zh] to its south, Yaodian [zh] to its east, and Qiaogou Subdistrict to its west. The town spans an area of 136 square kilometres (53 sq mi), and has a population of 21,167 according to the 2010 Chinese census.

## History

After Liu Bobo established the Great Xia dynasty in 407 CE, he built the ancient city of Fenglin (simplified Chinese: 丰林; traditional Chinese: 豐林; pinyin: Fēnglín), which was located in present-day Zhoujiawan Village (Chinese: 周家湾村) in Liqu.$^{:7}$ Fenglin's location, on a mountainous terrace north of the Yan River, made the city easy to defend.$^{:535}$ Fenglin was a Walled City, and the city's walls were approximately 9 metres (30 ft) high and anywhere between 3 centimetres (1.2 in) to 30 centimetres (12 in) thick.$^{:616}$ Song dynasty scientist Shen Kuo called the city as dense as a stone, and noted how difficult it would be to attack the city.$^{:616}$ The city was colloquially known as Helian City (simplified Chinese: 赫连城; traditional Chinese: 赫連城; pinyin: Hèlián chéng), after Liu Bobo's alternative name Helian Bobo.$^{:7}$ In 577 CE, Fenglin County (simplified Chinese: 丰林县; traditional Chinese: 豐林縣; pinyin: Fēnglín Xiàn) was established, and was seated in the city of Fenglin.$^{:46}$ Song dynasty general Di Qing once renovated it.$^{:616}$ The county existed intermittently until 1072, when it was abolished by Emperor Shenzong of Song and demoted to a town.$^{:46}$ Today, the site of Fenglin is used as farmland.$^{:616}$
In 1972 the people's communes of Liqu and Nianzhuang (Chinese: 碾庄) were established. In 1984, the people's communes were abolished, and Liqu was re-established as a town, and Nianzhuang was re-established as a township.
By 1996, Liqu spanned an area of 82 square kilometres (32 sq mi), and had a population of approximately 16,000. That same year, Nianzhuang Township had a total area of 54 square kilometres (21 sq mi), and a population of about 5,000.
In 2001, Nianzhuang Township was merged into Liqu.

## Geography

Liqu is located in the northeast of central Baota District, bordered by Fengzhuang Township [zh] to its north, Chuankou [zh] to its south, Yaodian [zh] to its east, and Qiaogou Subdistrict to its west.
The Yan River flows through the town.$^{:62}$
From the mid-1980s throughout the 2010s, there was an increase in forested land throughout much of rural Liqu,$^{:7}$ largely driven by a decrease in cropland,$^{:7}$ which itself is a product of a decrease in the area's rural working-age population.$^{:8}$

## Administrative divisions

Liqu administers 2 residential communities and 24 administrative villages.

### Residential communities

The town's 2 residential communities are as follows:
* Jingqu Community (Chinese: 井渠社区)
* Yangshan Community (Chinese: 阳山社区)

### Administrative villages

The town's 24 administrative villages are as follows:
* Dongcun Village (Chinese: 东村村; lit. 'east village')
* Xicun Village (Chinese: 西村村; lit. 'west village')
* Zhoujiawan Village (Chinese: 周家湾村)
* Chaiya Village (Chinese: 柴崖村)
* Miaogou Village (Chinese: 庙沟村)
* Gaomaowan Village (Chinese: 高峁湾村)
* Zhujiagou Village (Chinese: 朱家沟村)
* Yaliping Village (Chinese: 崖里坪村)
* Goumen Village (Chinese: 沟门村)
* Yangshan Village (Chinese: 阳山村)
* Zhangzhuang Village (Chinese: 张庄村)
* Zhongzhuang Village (Chinese: 中庄村)
* Lijiagou Village (Chinese: 李家沟村)
* Wangzhuang Village (Chinese: 王庄村)
* Caojiagou Village (Chinese: 曹家沟村)
* Hujiapo Village (Chinese: 呼家坡村)
* Lijiagou Village (Chinese: 刘家沟村)
* Shagelao Village (Chinese: 沙圪崂村)
* Nianzhuang Village (Chinese: 碾庄村)
* Yangxingzhuang Village (Chinese: 杨兴庄村)
* Liuzhuang Village (Chinese: 刘庄村)
* Wangjiabian Village (Chinese: 王家砭村)
* Shuangtian Village (Chinese: 双田村)
* Zhangxingzhuang Village (Chinese: 张兴庄村)

## Demographics

According to the 2010 Chinese census, Liqu has a population of 21,167.
A 2008 survey put the town's population at about 28,000 residents living in 5,360 households. Of this, 16,863 people lived in 4,110 agricultural households, 6,158 people lived in 1,328 non-agricultural households, and 4,979 or so people were found to be temporary residents.
The 2000 Chinese census recorded a population of 17,343 in the town.
A 1996 estimate put Liqu's population at approximately 16,000. Nianzhuang Township (Chinese: 碾庄乡), which would be merged into Liqu in 2001, had a population of about 5,000 in 1996, giving the combined area a total population of about 21,000.

## Economy

Through the 1990s into the 21st century, as China's economy grew rapidly, an increasing amount of Liqu's residents migrated elsewhere for work, particularly younger working-age people.$^{:5–6}$ Income for those who work in Liqu is generally lower than for those who migrate elsewhere.$^{:6}$
Beginning in the late 20th century, local agriculture began to shift from primarily Vegetables, and towards increased maize growing.$^{:5–6}$

## Transportation

The Shenmu–Yan'an railway passes through Liqu. Yan'an North railway station [zh] is located in the town.
National Highway 210 also passes through Liqu.
The town was located 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) away from the now-defunct Yan'an Ershilipu Airport. The region is now served by Yan'an Nanniwan Airport.