Tengchong () is a county-level city of Baoshan City, western Yunnan province, People's Republic of China. It is well known for its volcanic activity. The city is named after the town of Tengchong which serves as its political center, previously known as Tengyue () in Chinese. English language sources of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries use names such as Teng-Chung, Tingyueh, Teng Yueh, Momein and Momien.
It borders with Myanmar in the northwest for . By road, it is west of the provincial capital, Kunming, and westward from Baoshan's urban area.
Tengchong marks the southwestern terminus of the Heihe–Tengchong Line, an imaginary line significant in geography that divides the area of China into two roughly equal parts.
History
Early history
Tengchong is one of the earliest developed regions in Southwest China. During the Western Han dynasty (206 BC – AD 24), it belonged to Yizhou Commandery. In the Sui (581–618) and Tang (618–907) dynasties, a contemporary prefecture governed by a local chieftain was set up. In the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), Tengyue Prefecture was instituted. In the following dynasties, different administrative offices were set up. In 1913, Tengchong was made a county. Historically, it occupied an important position on the Southwestern Silk Route. The Sichuan cloth and bamboo sticks available at the markets in Bactria (including Afghanistan and parts of India) were brought there from the ancient Bonan Route through Tengchong. From the Ming dynasty onwards, large numbers of Tengchong people went abroad to trade and seek a livelihood. The city grew wealthy from trade with Myanmar and South East Asia due to its proximity to Mandalay across the Burmese border.
Saophas
The Saopha of Mong Myen system began in 1385, with the first Saopha being a descendant of the Mäo Long migrating group. At present, it is the district of Mong Myen. Lahu Wa Autonomous Region Shuangjiang, Linchang Province, Yunnan State, China (in ancient times was the kingdom of the Tai Yai people), there are 25 Saophas in total as follows:
Saophas: Hkam Tai Hpa 1385-1421 Hso Hkan Mei 1421-1448 Hkam Kyeng Hpa 1448-1448 (6 months) Kan Lang Hpa (Hkam Hting) 1448-1477 Hkam Perd Hpa 1477-1499 Hkam Laing Hpa (Sao Hkam Laing) 1499-1528 Hkam Kyoum Hpa 1528-1547 Hkam Khin Hpa 1547-1575 Hkam Man Hpa 1575-1599 Hkam Ting Hpa 1599-1624 Hkam King Hpa 1624-1651 Hkam Kyaung Hpa 1651-1673 Hkam Baw Hpa 1673-1691 Hkam Sai Hpa 1691-1715 Hkam Hkoeng Hpa 1715-1745 Hkam Htord Hpa 1745-1769 Hkam Ku Hpa 1769-1801 Sao Kyaum Hkam 1801-1813 Hkam Kaw Hpa 1813-1842 Hkam Hkoeng Hpa 1842-1851 Hkam Tung Hpa 1851-1866 Hkam Oung Hpa 1866-1887 Hkam Hsawng Hpa 1887-1905 Hpa Lung Tai Pang 1905-1917 Hkam Hub Hpa 1917-1930 (the last saopha)
The British
In 1868, during a visit to Tengyue, British Army Major Sladen procured a woodblock printed edition of the Chinese history of the town, which was to be brought back to England and deposited at the British Museum. In the West the town is best known as the site of the murder of British diplomat Augustus Margary on February21, 1875, an event which led to the Chefoo Convention. It was also the base of the China Inland Mission missionary James Fraser during the majority of his time working with the Lisu people. At one point British forces in British-occupied Burma established a trading post in the town with hopes of generating wealth through trade with China. In the early 20th century, a thriving cross-border trade between British-controlled Burma and China was centered around Tengchong. In 1921, construction work began on the British consulate in Tengchong, with completion 10 years later.
World War II
During World War II, the area around Tengchong was the scene of fierce battles between the Japanese, invading from occupied Burma, and the combined Chinese forces of nationalists and communists aided by American fighter squadrons. After the Chinese government relocated to Sichuan after the fall of Nanjing, there were grave concerns that if Yunnan fell, Japanese access to Sichuan would become relatively easy, forcing a new and cumbersome relocation, hence large forces were deployed to stop the Japanese army.
Geography
The area of Tengchong is .
Situated at the southwestern end of the (transversely faulted) Hengduan Mountains, Tengchong topographically assumes the form of a horseshoe with the opening facing the south. The easternmost sources of the Irrawaddy River issue from the high mountains at the summit of Mount Danaozi of Gaoligong Mountain, above sea level and the lowest point, above sea level, is in the Suqingjiang valley. The elevation of the city seat is .