Dachang

What secrets does Dachang hold? Dachang Hui Autonomous County is a fascinating place. It’s nestled in Hebei province, under the administration of Langfang city. Dachang was established in 1955. It’s unique as a Hui autonomous county. Dachang has a poignant history. It suffered greatly during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Dachang, along with Sanhe City and Xianghe County, form a special area. They are known as the “Northern three counties”. This area is part of Hebei province. But it’s completely surrounded by Beijing and Tianjin. Dachang itself borders Beijing to the west, separated by the Chaobai River. Imagine standing near the river, looking across to Beijing. The county seat of Dachang is Dachang Town. The county covers a small area of just 176 square kilometers. Yet it’s home to over 171,000 people. The county’s population is split between urban and rural areas. As of 2020, about 64% lived in urban areas and 36% in rural areas. Dachang isn’t just a place of history. It also holds a unique position in Islamic scholarship. A Dachang Hui Imam, Ma Zhenwu, translated the Qur’an into Chinese. His translation is notable for including both Chinese characters and Xiao’erjing. Dachang may seem small. But it has a significant amount of forested land, approximately 34.2% of the total area. The county is also well-connected. Several expressways run through it, including the Jingping Expressway and the G95 Capital Area Loop Expressway. There are even passenger bus lines linking Dachang to Beijing. The Beijing-Tangshan intercity railway is planned to pass through Dachang. This will further enhance its connectivity.