Baoshan, historically also Yongchang , is a prefecture-level city in western Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China. Baoshan is the second-biggest metropolitan area in western Yunnan after Dali.

Geography and climate

Baoshan is located between the border of Burma and the Lancang river (Mekong); specifically it borders the Burmese states of Kachin to the northwest and Shan to the south. The Nujiang (Salween River) flows through the entire length of the prefecture, north to south. Tempered by the low latitude and moderate elevation, Baoshan has a mild subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb), with short, mild, dry winters and warm, rainy summers. Frost may occur in winter but the days still generally warm up to around 16 to 17 C, with a January average of 9.1 C. The warmest month is June, which averages 21.5 C. Nearly three quarters of the annual rainfall occurs from June to October.

Administrative divisions

The city-prefecture of Baoshan has jurisdiction over five subdivisions — a district, one county-level city and three counties. Tengyue, the other major populated area in the county, successfully lobbied for and achieved city status in 2015-16 and is currently in the process of separating itself and the surrounding Tengchong area from Baoshan administratively.

Demography

The prefecture has about 2.5 million inhabitants.

Ethnic groups

Among the resident population, the population of Han is 2,248,140, accounting for 89.69%; the population of ethnic minorities is 258,351, accounting for 10.31%.

Bulang

According to the Baoshan Ethnic Gazetteer (2006:337), ethnic Bulang are distributed in the following villages within Baoshan City.

De'ang

The Yaojing, a subgroup of the De'ang, are located in Baizhai (白寨), Laxian (拉线), and Dagoubian (大沟边) of Mangyan Village (芒颜村) and Shiti Village (石梯村) in Lujiang Township (潞江乡), Longyang District (Baoshan Ethnic Gazetteer 2006:490-491).

Transport

Baoshan lies on the main road from Ruili on the Burmese border to Kunming. The Baoshan−Kunming section is completed highway, and the Baoshan-Ruili part was completed in 2016, finalizing the highway net crossing Yunnan east-to-west. It is the first finished highway between China and Myanmar. Baoshan Yunrui Airport has daily flights to and from Kunming. The currently under construction Dali–Ruili railway will pass through Baoshan. Baoshan railway station will handle passenger services while Baoshan North will handle freight.

Notable people