Laishui County

Laishui County (simplified Chinese:涞水县; traditional Chinese:淶水縣; pinyin:Láishuǐ Xiàn) is a county in central Hebei province, China, bordering the Municipality of Beijing to the north and in the basin of the Juma River. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Baoding and contains its northernmost point; it has a population of 315,753 in 2020^[1] residing in an area of 1,666 km² (643 sq mi). It is served by China National Highway 112 and G5 Beijing–Kunming Expressway.

There are 7 towns, 7 townships, and 1 ethnic township under the county's administration.^[2]

Towns:

• Laishui (涞水镇), Yi'an (义安镇), Shiting (石亭镇), Zhaogezhuang (赵各庄镇), Yongyang (永阳镇), Sanpo (三坡镇), Jiulong (九龙镇)

Townships:

• Longmen Township (龙门乡), Qizhongkou Township (其中口乡), Songgezhuang Township (宋各庄乡), Hujiazhuang Township (胡家庄乡), Mingyi Township (明义乡), Wangcun Township (王村乡), Dongwenshan Township (东文山乡), Loucun Manchu Ethnic Township (娄村满族乡)

In mid-May 1900, the Laishui Incident, a significant event during the Boxer Rebellion, occurred.^[3]:105 After an attack by the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists (Boxers) on Chinese Christians in Laishui county, a force of 60 men commanded by Colonel Yang Futong clashed with the Boxers several times, beginning on 15 May.^[3]:105 On 22 May, Boxer forces ambushed the government forces and killed Yang.^[3]:105 The Laishui Incident inspired increased Boxer attacks (including on railways and the occupation of Zhuozhou).^[3]:105 It also strengthened the argument by some in the Qing court who thought the Boxer movement could harnessed against the foreign powers.^[3]:105