Historical Evolution of Loufan

Loufan was originally written as Loufan. Initially it was the name of a tribal confederation, and later became a geographical term. Archaeological evidence proves that human beings lived and multiplied in this area as early as the Neolithic Age.

After the Xia Dynasty, the Loufan State was founded in Ningwu. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the state gradually grew powerful and expanded its territory. In the 12th year of Duke Jing of Jin (588 BC), the State of Jin was controlled by six noble clans: Zhi, Han, Wei, Zhao, Fan and Zhongxing, who fought against one another. The King of Loufan seized this opportunity to occupy present-day Loufan, and Loufan spade-shaped coins circulated here. In the 17th year of Duke Ping of Jin (541 BC), Jin expanded northward, forcing the Loufan tribes to retreat north and seized their land. In the 22nd year of Duke Chu of Jin (453 BC), the three clans of Han, Wei and Zhao partitioned Jin. The Zhao clan occupied Taiyuan and confronted the Loufan and Linhu tribes in the north. During the reign of King Wuling of Zhao, the State of Zhao carried out the military reform of "adopting Hu clothing and developing mounted archery". Growing increasingly powerful, Zhao defeated Loufan and Linhu in the north, conquered the State of Zhongshan, and captured Yunzhong and Jiuyuan. The entire Loufan region came under the rule of Zhao.

During the Qin Dynasty, Han Dynasty, the Three Kingdoms and the Western Jin Dynasty, Loufan belonged to Taiyuan Commandery or the Kingdom of Taiyuan. In the Northern Wei Dynasty, it was under Xiurong Commandery of Sizhou.

In the early Sui Dynasty, the Loufan Pasturage was established. In the 18th year of the Kaihuang reign (598), the area came under Fenyuan County. In the 4th year of the Daye reign (608), Loufan Commandery was set up, governing three counties: Fenyuan (Jingle), Linquan and Xiurong. The commandery was abandoned at the end of the Sui Dynasty. The Three Religions Temple stood to the left of the commandery seat, which is now submerged under the Fenhe Reservoir in present-day Loufan County.

Loufan Commandery was re-established in the early Tang Dynasty. In the 4th year of the Wude reign (621), Liudu County was founded with its seat in East Liudu Village, 15 kilometres north of today’s Loufan County seat, under Guanzhou. Six years later, Guanzhou was abolished. Fenyang County and Liudu County were merged into Jingle County, which was administered by Loufan Commandery of Lanzhou. In the 4th year of the Kaiyuan reign (716), Wang Maozhong built the city of Loufan. In the 1st year of the Tianbao reign (742), Lanzhou was renamed Loufan Commandery. It reverted to Lanzhou in the 1st year of the Qianyuan reign (758). In the 15th year of the Zhenyuan reign (799), the Loufan Pasturage was established, with Yang Bo appointed as the Pasturage Commissioner. The institution operated independently beyond prefectural jurisdiction. In the 1st year of the Longji reign (889), Li Keyong petitioned the imperial court to establish Xianzhou based on the Loufan Pasturage. The prefecture administered three counties: Loufan, Yuanchi and Tianchi. The prefectural seat and Loufan County seat lay one li west of the pasturage (now submerged by the Fenhe Reservoir), while Tianchi County was seated in Konghegou of present-day Loufan County.

In the Five Dynasties period, the area belonged to Xianzhou under Taiyuan Prefecture.

In the 5th year of the Xianping reign of the Song Dynasty (1002), Loufan remained a county and was put under Lanzhou. In the 29th year of the Dading reign of the Jin Dynasty (1189), it was affiliated to Lanzhou, North Hedong Circuit.

In the 16th year of Genghis Khan’s reign (1221), Loufan County was abolished and incorporated into Guanzhou. In the 2nd year of the Zhiyuan reign (1265), it was merged into Lanzhou, only to be restored as a county under Taiyuan Circuit in the same year. It was incorporated into Guanzhou once more the next year. A patrol department was set up here in the 7th year of the Zhiyuan reign, still under Guanzhou.

In the 2nd year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1369), Loufan became a town with a patrol department stationed here. During the Wanli reign, the written form "楼烦" was officially changed to "娄烦".

In the early Qing Dynasty, the administrative system followed that of the Ming. In the 2nd year of the Yongzheng reign (1724), Loufan remained a town with a patrol department, falling under Jingle County of Xinzhou Prefecture.

In the 1st year of the Republic of China (1912), prefectures were replaced by circuits. Jingle County belonged to Yandao Circuit, Shanxi Province. The whole county was divided into three districts, and most of present-day Loufan made up the Second District. In January of the 29th year of the Republic of China (1940), Loufan belonged to Jingle County under the Third Administrative Commissioner’s Office of the Northwest Shanxi Administrative Region, and served as the seat of the Anti-Japanese Democratic Government of Jingle County.

After the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in November of the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945), the Jinsui Border Region renamed Jingle County (formerly under the Eighth Administrative Commissioner’s Office) as Loufan County and placed it under the Third Administrative Commissioner’s Office, with the county government based in Loufan Town. In February of the following year, Loufan County was revoked and Jingle County restored. The Loufan region returned to Jingle County under the Sixth Administrative Commissioner’s Office.

From the founding of the People’s Republic of China until April 1971, Loufan remained part of Jingle County.

With the approval of the State Council, Loufan County was re-established in May 1971 under Lüliang Prefecture. In April 1972, Loufan County was transferred to Taiyuan City, an administrative affiliation that has remained unchanged ever since