# Madongchuan

Madongchuan (simplified Chinese: 麻洞川镇; traditional Chinese: 麻洞川鎮; pinyin: Mádòngchuān Zhèn) is a town in Baota District, Yan'an, Shaanxi, China. The town spans an area of 252.73 square kilometres (97.58 sq mi), and has a population of 6,544 as of 2010.

## History

Manmade grottoes dating back to the Song dynasty have been found in Madongchuan.$^{:630}$ The Shiyaowan Grotto (Chinese: 石窑湾石窟; pinyin: Shíyáowān Shíkū) contains a number of Buddha statues (many of which have now been partially or completed destroyed), and inscriptions dating back to the late 11th century.$^{:630}$
On the evening of February 18, 1935, as part of the Chinese Civil War, forces of the Chinese Red Army clashed with 50 Mintuan [zh] soldiers, aligned with Chiang Kai-Shek's Nationalist government, in the village of Jinpenwan (Chinese: 金盆湾村).$^{:14}$ Red Army forces won the battle.$^{:14}$ Later in the Civil War, on May 11, 1947, Communist Party forces, now reorganized as the People's Liberation Army, clashed with Chiang's Nationalist Army again in Jinpenwan.$^{:21}$ Forces of the People's Liberation Army, led by Yan Kuiyao [zh], won the battle, and effectively captured the village.$^{:21}$ On November 14 and November 15 later that year, Nationalist Army aircraft bombed the village.$^{:21}$
From May through July 1950, an unidentified illness swept through the village of Jinpenwan, as well as other parts of present-day Baota District, killing 680 people.$^{:25}$
Madongchuan was established as a people's commune in 1972. In 1984, it was changed to a township.

## Geography

Madongchuan is located in the southeast portion of Baota District, bordered by the town of Lin [zh] to its east, Nanniwan and Chuankou [zh] to its west, Zhengzhuang [zh] in neighboring Yanchang County to its north, and Niuwu [zh] in neighboring Fu County to its south. The town is located 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Baota District's urban core.
The Fenchuan River (Chinese: 汾川河; pinyin: Fénchuān Hé), a minor river which flows from Nanniwan to Yichuan County and into the Yellow River, flows through Madongchuan.$^{:263}$ The Fenchuan Canal (Chinese: 汾川渠; pinyin: Fénchuān Qú), a small canal off the Fenchuan River which irrigates nearby land, flows through Madongchuan, creating the Jinpenwan Reservoir (Chinese: 金盆湾水库; pinyin: Jīnpénwān Shuǐkù).$^{:268}$ According to 1994 government publication, 62.3% of Madongchuan is forested.$^{:238}$

## Administrative divisions

Madongchuan administers 10 administrative villages (Chinese: 行政村; pinyin: xíngzhèng cūn), as well as 38 natural villages (Chinese: 自然村; pinyin: zìrán cūn), although the latter lacks any administrative jurisdiction. Madongchuan's government is located in Madongchuan Village (Chinese: 麻洞川村). The town's 10 administrative villages are as follows:
* Madongchuan Village (Chinese: 麻洞川村)
* Jinpenwan Village (Chinese: 金盆湾村)
* Yuetun Village (Chinese: 岳屯村)
* Xueshuiwan Village (Chinese: 雪水湾村)
* Shiyaowan Village (Chinese: 石窑湾村)
* Xicun Village (Chinese: 西村村; lit. 'west village')
* Fancun Village (Chinese: 樊村村)
* Zhaotai Village (Chinese: 赵台村)
* Yaojiapo Village (Chinese: 姚家坡村)
* Quli Village (Chinese: 曲里村)

## Demographics

As per the 2010 Chinese Census, Madongchuan has a population of 6,544. This represents a significant decline from the 2000 Chinese Census, when its population totaled 10,416. In 1985, Madongchuan's population totaled 8,405.$^{:92}$ According to the 1982 Chinese Census, Madongchuan had a population of 8,257,$^{:118}$ all of whom were classified as ethnically Han Chinese.$^{:124}$ In the 1982 Census, Madongchuan had an average household size of 4.44 people.$^{:127}$ As of the 1964 Chinese Census, Madongchuan had a population of 4,241, all of whom were classified as ethnically Han Chinese.$^{:115–116}$
Madongchuan has a recorded hukou population of 11,142 as of 2018.

## Economy

Major crops grown in Madongchuan include maize,$^{:186}$ tobacco,$^{:186}$ and vegetables.$^{:203}$
A small hydropower plant known as the Dongwan Small Hydropower Plant (Chinese: 洞湾小水电站) was built in Madongchuan in 1958, and produces 1,000 Kilowatt-hour of electricity annually.$^{:272}$

## Transportation

The S303 highway runs through Madongchuan.