Changtingⓘ (simplified Chinese: 长汀; traditional Chinese: 長汀; pinyin: Chángtīng; Hakka: Tshòng-tin), also known as Tingzhou or Tingchow (汀州; Tīngzhōu), is a county in western Fujian province, People's Republic of China. With a population of 397,470 in 2020 and an area of 3,099 square kilometres (1,197 sq mi), Changting is the one of the largest counties in the province.[1] The majority of the population belongs to the Hakka people and speaks Changting dialect, a dialect of Hakka Chinese. The Changting dialect is mutually unintelligible with the Meixian dialect, which is another Hakka language spoken in Guangdong.
With the founding of the People's Republic of China, the prefecture was redesignated "Longyan" (龙岩地区) and its government was moved down to Xinluo. Changting has since been the name of a county only, within the municipal region of Longyan.
With the prosperity of road and railway transportation and more and more dams built along the river, Ting River gradually lost its advantage as a vital transportation means. Changting, once an important concentration place for travellers and goods, became isolated by big mountains. Changting lost its place as the center of western Fujian and became one of the poorest counties in Fujian province.
Today, the situation has improved a lot with first railroad in service in 2005 and first highway in service at the end of 2007.
Located in the southern end of the Wuyi Mountains (武夷山脉), Changting belongs to subtropical zone. The region enjoys abundant precipitation as the warm maritime air meets the cool air in the mountains, generating a large amount of rainfall.
Climate
Climate data for Changting, elevation 310 m (1,020 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)