Baota District (), is a district in Yan'an, Shaanxi, China. The district has an area of , and a permanent population of 497,085 as of 2019. Baota District serves as Yan'an's administrative center, hosting the city's government offices. The district is Yan'an's urban core, as it is highly urbanized, with over 80% of its population living in urban areas. The majority of Baota District's economy is derived from its tertiary sector, though the district is home to other economic activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry, and petroleum extraction.
Etymology
The district's name () literally translates to pagoda.
History
Government sources believe that the Guifang established an independent state in the area circa the 16th century BCE. A few dozen ancient jade artifacts uncovered within the district indicate that the territory once belonged to the Shang dynasty.
During the Zhou dynasty, the area was inhabited by the Xianyun and Xirong tribes.
Later, the area was inhabited by the Baidi () clan of the Beidi groups. These people were predominantly nomads and hunters. In 627 CE, the Jin state defeated the local Baidi, captured their leader, and incorporated the territory into their lands. When the Jin state collapsed in 376 BCE, the area of present-day Baota District was incorporated into the Wei state.
In 328 BCE, the Qin took the land over from the Wei state. Under the rule of Emperor Qin Shihuang, the area was organized as Gaonu County within the Shang Commandery beginning in 221 BCE.
Han dynasty
Following the collapse of the Qin in 206 BCE, as part of Xiang Yu's attempted rebellion, Gaonu County briefly was held by rebel forces. However, this proved to be short lived, and forces loyal Emperor Gaozu of the newly created Han dynasty retook Gaonu County.
Xiongnu forces number approximately 30,000 invaded and looted Gaonu County in 158 BCE. News of this reached Chang'an, and Han troops were sent to reclaim Gaonu County, which they did after a month. In 117 BCE, as part of the Han–Xiongnu War, Han dynasty forces retook areas of Gaonu County which were previously occupied by Xiongnu forces.
An imperial edict from Emperor Wu in 120 BCE forced approximately 700,000 poor peasants to migrate to the Shaanbei region, resulting in a period of significant agricultural development. The Commentary on the Water Classic, written by Li Daoyuan, highlights observations made during this period that Gaonu County had certain flammable water, which would turn out to be petroleum.
A major earthquake afflicted the Shang Commandery in 32 BCE.
In 9 CE, Gaonu County was renamed to Pingli County (). Shortly afterwards, it was renamed Gaonu County.
Towards the end of the Eastern Han period, the Xiongnu retook control of the area.
Five Barbarians rule
During its incorporation into the Xiongnu confederacy, the Xiongnu people, the Qiang people, and a number of smaller ethnic groups inhabited the area. However, the Western Jin would then retake the land, until Liu Yuan, a Xiongnu noble, rose up and established the Han Zhao state in 304 CE.
After Liu Bobo established the Great Xia dynasty in 407 CE, he built the ancient city of Fenglin (), which was located in present-day Zhoujiawan Village () in the town of Liqu.
In 451 CE, the Northern Wei organized the area under the jurisdiction of Guangluo County (), located in present-day Ansai District. Guangluo County was ruled by the Jinming Commandery ().
In 559 CE, local Jihu leaders and fought against the Northern Zhou on behalf of the Northern Qi, but were defeated by Northern Zhou leader .
Sui dynasty
In 582 CE, a number of prominent Göktürk leaders, including Tardu Khagan, Apa Khaghan, and , led an army of approximately 400,000 Göktürks to invade the Sui dynasty. Sui forces in contemporary Baota District successfully repelled them.
, the zhou which governed the area during the early Sui dynasty, was abolished in 607 CE, and replaced with . Under both Yanzhou and Yan'an Commandery, the area of contemporary Baota District was governed as Fushi County ().
In 614 CE, general Liu Jia () attempted an uprising in the area, centered on nearby Fu County. The uprising quickly failed, and was crushed.
In February of 617 CE, rebel leader Liang Shidu captured the northern portions of Yan'an Commandery during his march southward.
Tang dynasty
In September of 619 CE, Liang Shidu and his army was expelled from the region by Tang dynasty general , who was appointed as the head of the Tang's Yanzhou armed forces.