Historical Evolution of Wuzhishan City

Prior to March 8 of the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935), within the present territory of Wuzhishan City, Hongmao Lower Dong (today’s Maoyang Town and surrounding areas) and Fanyang Dong (today’s Fanyang Town) were under the administration of Ya County; Shuiman Dong (today’s Shuiman Township and surrounding areas) and Tongjia Dong (today’s Nansheng Town) belonged to Ding’an County; Zhima Bow (today’s Nansheng Town) was administered by Lingshui County.

On March 8 of the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935), the Kuomintang Guangdong Provincial Government established three new counties: Baoting, Baisha and Le’an. As Le’an shared the same name as Le’an County in Jiangxi Province, it was renamed Ledong County in September of the same year. All three counties were under the jurisdiction of the Qiongya Pacification Commission Office. Hongmao Lower Dong and Shuiman Dong, originally under Ya County, were transferred to Baisha County, where four townships were set up: Maogui, Maozhan, Tongshi and Shuiman. Fanyang Dong was placed under Le’an (later renamed Ledong) County as Fanyang Township. Tongjia Dong and Zhima Bow formerly belonging to Lingshui County were assigned to Baoting County and formed Nansheng Township.

In the 37th year of the Republic of China (1948), Tongshi Township came under the administration of Baoting County. In July 1953, the Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Region of Guangdong Province moved its seat from Baoyou Town in Ledong County to Tongshi Township. In October 1955, the Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Region was upgraded to the Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, with Tongshi Township serving as the prefectural capital. On December 24, 1956, Tongshi Town, Nansheng Township, Changhao Township and Maodao Township within the region fell under Baoting County; Maozhan Township, Maogui Township and Shuiman Township belonged to Baisha County; Fanyang Township was administered by Ledong County.

In September 1958, Nansheng Township merged with Tongshi Town, Fu’an Cadre Farm, Fu’an Demonstration Farm and State-owned Tongshi Tea Farm to form the Red Flag People’s Commune of Tongshi Town under Baoting County. Eleven production brigades of Maodao and Changhao Townships, together with the State-owned Changhao Farm, were consolidated into the Red Star People’s Commune, also under Baoting County. In October the same year, Maozhan, Hongmao and Shuiman Townships merged to create the Wuzhishan People’s Commune under Baisha County. On December 22 that year, the Wuzhishan People’s Commune was transferred to Qiongzhong County. Also in December, the People’s Committee of Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture relocated to Haikou to work jointly with the Hainan Administrative Office. Baoting County and Ya County were merged, placing the Red Flag People’s Commune of Tongshi Town under Ya County.

On March 28, 1959, the Red Star People’s Commune was incorporated into another commune. On October 27 the same year, the administrative establishment of Baoting County was restored, and the Red Flag People’s Commune of Tongshi Town under Ya County was returned to Baoting County. The People’s Government of Baoting County was stationed in Tongshi Town and officially began operations on November 14.

In May 1961, the Wuzhishan People’s Commune was split into four communes: Maoyang, Shiyun, Wuzhishan and Hongmao, all under Qiongzhong County. The Fansai (Hongshan) Production Brigade of Maoyang Commune was transferred to the Red Flag People’s Commune of Tongshi Town. The Nansheng People’s Commune and Maodao People’s Commune were newly founded under Baoting County. In November the same year, the original administrative organs of the Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture were reinstated. In December, the Changhao People’s Commune was established under Baoting County.

In February 1962, the Fanyang People’s Commune was set up under Ledong County. In March of the same year, the People’s Committee of Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture moved back to Tongshi Town.

In November 1963, the Party Committee and People’s Government of Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture made a decision to place the Red Flag People’s Commune of Tongshi Town (formerly part of Baoting County) under the direct administration of the autonomous prefecture. The People’s Government of Baoting County relocated to Baocheng Town.

On July 24, 1964, with the approval of the People’s Committee of Guangdong Province, the Red Flag People’s Commune of Tongshi Town was officially designated as Tongshi Town.

In September 1966, the Red Flag People’s Commune of Tongshi Town handed over the Fansai Administrative District to Baoting County to form the Hongshan People’s Commune. On October 28 the same year, the General Office of the People’s Committee of Guangdong Province approved renaming Tongshi Town as Hongqi Town.

On May 5, 1980, the original institutional setup of the People’s Government of Tongshi Town was restored. On October 9 the same year, the Red Flag People’s Commune was abolished while the administrative division of Hongqi (Tongshi) Town was retained.

On February 15, 1982, Hongqi Town was renamed Tongshi Town.

In 1983, all people’s communes within today’s Wuzhishan City were reorganized into district offices.

On June 12, 1986, the State Council approved the establishment of county-level Tongshi City. Its administrative territory covered eight districts and towns: Changhao, Hongshan, Maodao and Nansheng Districts formerly belonging to Baoting County; Wuzhishan and Maoyang Districts under Qiongzhong County; Fanyang District from Ledong County; and Tongshi Town directly administered by Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Tongshi City was affiliated to the Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Guangdong Province, and the State-owned Changhao Farm was also located within its boundaries.

On January 2, 1987, Tongshi City abolished seven district offices including Hongshan, Tongshi Town, and 38 small townships such as Shihui. The city reorganized its administrative divisions into three towns (Nansheng, Maoyang and Fanyang), four townships (Changhao, Hongshan, Maodao and Wuzhishan), and the Chongshan Sub-district Office.

On December 30, 1987, the Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was dissolved. Tongshi City came under the administration of the Hainan Administrative Region and the Hainan Provincial Establishment Preparatory Group.

In April 1988, Hainan Province was founded as a special economic zone. Tongshi City fell under the jurisdiction of Hainan Province and enjoyed preferential policies applicable to ethnic autonomous areas.

The Chinese character “什” in Tongshi City is pronounced “zá” in the local place name, yet the official pronunciations listed in the Modern Chinese Dictionary for this character are only shí, shén and shèn, excluding “zá”. This discrepancy created numerous inconveniences for external exchanges involving Tongshi City, especially postal services and commercial transactions. Meanwhile, Wuzhi Mountain is the symbol of Hainan Island, with its main peaks located within Tongshi City’s territory. Renaming Tongshi City as Wuzhishan City could more accurately reflect the city’s geographical identity, raise its national profile, accelerate development and construction, and boost local economic and social progress. For the above reasons, the People’s Government of Hainan Province submitted an application to the State Council on February 13, 2001 to rename Tongshi City Wuzhishan City. On July 5 the same year, the State Council granted approval for the name change