SHAO-YANG

formerly Pao-ch'ing, Pinyin Shaoyang, or Baoching, city in central Hunan sheng (province), China. It lies in the middle basin of the Tzu River. A county named Chao-ling was established at Shao-yang in the 2nd century BC. In the mid-3rd century AD it became the seat of a commandery called Shao-ling, and in 589 it reverted to the status of a county under its modern name Shao-yang. Under the T'ang dynasty (618907) it became the seat of a prefecture, Shao Chou, and, under the Sung dynasties (9601279), was promoted in 1225 to be a superior prefecture, Pao-ch'ing. It retained this name until 1912, when it reverted to a county under the name Shao-yang, though for some years thereafter it was still known as Pao-ch'ing. The city is at the centre of an extensive highway network covering central Hunan, has a rail connection to Chu-chou and Ch'ang-sha, and has good river transport to Lake Tung-t'ing and to the Yangtze River. It is the chief collecting point for grain, beans, cotton, and other agricultural products from the surrounding plain and for timber and forestry products from both the upper valley of the Tzu River and the Hseh-feng Mountains to the west. Shao-yang has traditionally been a centre for handicrafts, making iron pots, fine bamboo carvings, writing brushes, and paper. Since 1949 there has been some modern industrial development. There is a large hydroelectric plant at Chen-ch'i to the northwest. Shao-yang has a large paper mill, produces coal, and has factories making automobile accessories and other products. Pop. (1990) 247,227.