Zhoukou, also known as Zhoujiakou, is located at the intersection of Shahe, He Ying and Jia Luhe. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, it was only a market town where nearby farmers exchanged agricultural and sideline products. During the Yongle period of Ming Dynasty, due to the opening of Huaihe River, Shahe River and Heying River, the market town expanded from the north bank of Shahe River in the early Ming Dynasty to the south bank of Shahe River. In order to facilitate the exchange of materials, a ferry was opened in the south bank street (now the old street), and a family named Zhou ferried back and forth here, so it was called the ferry, hence the name "Zhoujiakou".
In the most prosperous period, there were 1 16 streets in Zhoujiakou Town alone, and each street had its own characteristic industry. For example, Jiaozi Street sells bamboo wares, Ma Xian Street sells sacks, and Datong Street specializes in bronze wares such as copper pots. On average, a temple is built every two streets. Although Zhoujiakou Town has 1 16 street, its business is mainly developed by transshipment trade, mainly between eastern Henan and Jiangnan. Its export commodities are mainly agricultural and sideline products produced in Chen Zhou and Kaifeng, while its input is mainly silk and groceries produced in Jiangnan. Yang Zishan said that some people used the word "business travel Mercedes-Benz" to describe the commercial prosperity of Zhoujiakou at that time, which was very appropriate.
So what was the commercial scale of Zhoujiakou at that time? Yang Zishan said that Professor Xu Tan of Nankai University used the two monuments of Shanshan Guild Hall in the 18th year of Daoguang in Zhoujiakou as the basis to raise funds from businessmen according to the principle of "one thousandth", and calculated that there were 164 businessmen in Zhoujiakou, and 320 businessmen had only one name to test.
Xiong Tingbi, a scholar in the twenty-sixth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, wrote a poem called "Crossing Zhoujiakou" when passing by Zhoujiakou. There is a sentence in the poem: "Jiangpu shines with lights, and Qian Fan is like Gao Han." It means that Zhoujiakou is brightly lit like Nanjing Pukou at night, and Qian Fan gathers like Hankou during the day. "This shows the degree of prosperity at that time." The real prosperity of Zhoujiakou was in the Qing Dynasty. During the Qianlong period, Zhoujiakou had opened a ferry 16. At the peak, the number of local residents reached 40,000 to 50,000, while the floating population reached several hundred thousand. It also won the reputation of "Nanpidu" and "Xiaohankou" and became one of the four major commercial centers in Henan.
This ancient holy land, with a long history, is one of the birthplaces of ancient culture in China. Duwanqiu (now Huaiyang County), the ancestor of mankind, made gossip and nets and taught people to fish and hunt; Nu Wa, the goddess of China, the capital of Xihua, made people unearthed, refined stones to make up the sky, and educated everything; Shennong began to take Chen (now Huaiyang County) as the capital, tasted herbs, cultivated grains, taught people to cultivate crops, and created a new era of planting and breeding in China; Laozi (whose real name is Li Er), the ancient sage, the originator of Taoism, ranked first among 100 celebrities in the world. He was born in Guxian County (now Luyi County) and went to Hangu in the west, and wrote the Tao Te Ching with 5,000 words, which has been passed down through the ages. Chen Sheng and Guangwu, the leaders of the first peasant uprising in China, established the first peasant regime in China in Chen Cheng (now Huaiyang). Chen Tuan, an outstanding Yi-ology scholar in China, was also born in Luyi County. Bao Zheng's disaster relief in Lower Chenzhou led to a famous story. Yuan Shikai, the last emperor of China feudal dynasty, was born in this city. Ji Hongchang, a famous anti-Japanese general, was born in Fugou County. The ancestors of more than ten surnames such as Chen, Li and Xie all originated in Zhoukou.
The long history and splendid culture have left many places of interest in Zhoukou, an ancient land, and formed rich tourism resources. This is the key area of ancient cultural tourism in China. Taihao Mausoleum, the tomb of Fu, the head of the "Huang San", covers an area of 870 mu, with five opposite doors and magnificent halls; Fuxi looked up and looked down, painting a platform for gossip, pavilions and colorful pavilions, green cypresses; Fu Shengbai Turtle (1984), who started the Eight Diagrams, reappeared for thousands of years from the side of the Guatai. Pingliangtai, the site of Wanqiu ancient city more than 4,600 years ago, is the earliest ancient city site in China. Confucius and Cai Chen were deprived of food, and Xiange Tower, a plain and arduous memorial website, was renovated. Build an altar in the lake, red lotus reflects the sun, and Lan Lian welcomes the sky; The Taiqing Palace, the hometown of Laozi, was built in imitation of Chang 'an Palace, with Kowloon Well and the monument of "Zan Empress Dowager" as its dependencies. Laozi cultivated into an immortal and floated to Laojuntai, where there are many tall buildings, solemn and simple; Xihua Nuwa City, one of the Nuwa Capital "Huang San", has become a commercial and tourist attraction with beautiful environment. Fugou Ji Hongchang Memorial Hall records that the immortal achievements of heroes have been passed down through the ages; The Guandi Temple in Zhoukou City is well preserved, which is an ancient architectural complex integrating ancient architecture, sculpture, art and smelting in China. Yuan Shikai's former residence, elegant and chic, has the flavor of modern houses in the Central Plains; The old town of Nanton is beautifully built and has the style of an ancient city; The pine and cypress in Huaiyang Pruning Garden have peculiar shapes, and the images of birds and animals, pavilions, towers, pavilions and workshops are vivid and lifelike. Around Huaiyang Lake16,000 mu, which is twice as big as the West Lake, reeds are lush, lotus flowers are fragrant, blue waves are boating, swimming in water and picking lotus flowers, fishing and barbecue are fun. The newly-built "Five Thousand Years of China" scenic spot in Zhoukou City condenses the history of China for five thousand years, imitates the Great Wall architecture, and embeds the China Tower and the Great Wall in the ratio of 1: 1. Jade carving, stone carving and clay sculpture are more than ten thousand kings and scholars, and the Great Wall is located in different halls.
On June 8, 2000, the State Council approved (1) to cancel Zhoukou area and county-level Zhoukou city and establish prefecture-level Zhoukou city. The Municipal People's Government is located in the newly established Chuanhui District. (2) The Chuanhui District is established in Zhoukou City, and the administrative area of Zhoukou City at the county level is the administrative area of Chuanhui District. Laojie District People's Government. (3) Zhoukou City governs Shangshui County, Huaiyang County, Taikang County, Luyi County, Xihua County, Fugou County, shenqiu county, dancheng and the newly established Chuanhui District in the original Zhoukou area. The city in the former Zhoukou area was directly under the jurisdiction of Henan Province.
In 2000, according to the data of the fifth national census, the total population of Zhoukou City was 9741.283; Chuanhui District 323738 Fugou County 666779 Xihua County 8203 19 Shangshui County 1093686 shenqiu county 1079278 Dancheng 15 1994 Huaiyang County122933. Unit: person)
In 2005, the adjustment of township administrative divisions in Zhoukou City: Chuanhui District abolished Vegetable Township, Nanjiao Township and Bankou Township, and set up corresponding sub-district offices (east, south, north and Bankou four streets). In Xiangcheng, Moling Town and Laocheng Township were abolished, Moling Town was newly established, and Moling Town Government was stationed in Beiguan Neighborhood Committee.
June, 2005 165438+1October16, four administrative villages in Taikang County (Chenlaojia Village, Chenxiaozhuang Village, Taikang Miao Village and Zhongyingzi Village in Zhangji Township) and two administrative villages in Luyi County (Kong Ji Village in Xinji Township and Zhang Village in Tangji Township)
Zhoukou City is one of the important birthplaces of Yellow River culture, with a long history, outstanding people and numerous places of interest. Ancient Huaiyang county has preserved the tombs and temples of the ancestors of China. There are "seven tables and eight views", such as Fuxi's divination platform for pushing yin and yang, Xiange Tower where Confucius and Cai Chen deprived food, and Baogong's platform for releasing food. Xihua County has the ruins of Nuwa in the ancient myth of China, which is called "mending the sky by refining stones". Laozi, the first philosopher in China and the originator of Taoism, is from Luyi County, where Taiqing Taoist Temple, Laojuntai, Jiubujing and other cultural relics are preserved.
Zhoukou city has superior geographical environment, thousands of miles of plains and boundless soil layers. Shaying River, Wohui River, Xifeihe River, Hongru River and other tributaries of Huaihe River meander, providing unique conditions for the development of agriculture, forestry and fishery in the city. Zhoukou has a leading agricultural development, with the total grain and cotton output ranking first in Henan Province, accounting for 1/6 and 1/4 respectively. Zhoukou is a famous grain and cotton area in China. The main crops are wheat, corn, soybean, cotton, sesame and tobacco. Pigs, cattle and sheep are the main breeding areas, and it has become an important production and export base of wheat, cotton, goat skin, pigs, cattle and other commodities in China and Henan Province. The development situation of forestry is gratifying, and it is an advanced city of plain greening which is famous all over the country.