Zhāngxiàn

Zhang County lies in the mountain valleys of southern Gansu, where the Zhang River runs east toward the Wei. Its older name was written with a character meaning a barrier, reflecting its place on the western frontier. At Yanjing, salt springs and wells gave the district a valuable product; brine was boiled to make salt, and the settlement remained a centre of trade long after the county seat moved elsewhere.

The region was also the home of Wang Shixian, who submitted to the Mongols in 1235 and rose through military service to govern a wide area around Gongchang. His descendants continued to hold high offices under the Yuan. In the Ming the county took the name Zhang, associated with the river that winds through its fields. Salt production at Yanjing continued under the Ming and Qing, giving the mountain district connections with markets beyond its valleys.