Get to know Xi County
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- Administrative area
- County · 县
- Part of
- Xinyang
- Chinese name
- 息县
- Local areas
- County guide
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 1,836.00 km²
- Population · 2019
- 749,400
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Setting and landscape
The main stream of the Huai flows 75.4 km through the county. The county government contrasts the green country south of the river with the open plain to the north, summed up in the local phrase "strong wheat north of the Huai, fragrant rice south of it" (淮北小麦壮、淮南稻米香). Farmland is watered by the Dabie Mountains old-base Huai water-supply irrigation scheme and the Nanwan irrigation district.
History
This is the homeland of the ancient state of Xi (息国), known in the Shang as the Xi fang-state and in the Western Zhou as a marquisate. Its capital stood at Qinglong Temple (青龙寺), 6 km south-west of the present county town. In 682 BC Chu (楚) conquered Xi and made it a county, more than 400 years before Qin spread the commandery-county system. The county government says the name and seat have lasted since then and that scholars call it "China's first county" (中华第一县). The Western Han renamed it Xinxi (新息); the Jin set up Xi Prefecture (息州) in 1208 and moved the seat to the present town, and in 1371 the Ming reduced the prefecture to Xi County.
The Xi, Lai (赖) and Bai (白) surnames trace their origin here. Figures linked to the county include Lady Xi (息夫人), remembered for staying silent for three years; the Han general Ma Yuan (马援), Marquis of Xinxi, of "wrapped in a horse's hide" fame; and the upright Ming minister Li Ruoxing (李若星).
What to see
Qinglong Temple marks the site of the Xi capital, and the Qinlou site (秦楼遗址) preserves Neolithic remains.
Food and local products
Xi County fragrant-rice balls (息县香稻丸) and Xi pinellia (息半夏) are Chinese geographical-indication products.
Highlights
- Qinglong Temple 青龙寺: Site of the capital of the state of Xi, 6 km south-west of the county town.
- Qinlou site 秦楼遗址: Neolithic site in the county.
- Xi County fragrant-rice balls 息县香稻丸: Chinese geographical-indication product.
Sources for this guide
息县概况-息县人民政府 · Xi County People's Government
息县 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Original English written from the listed sources and checked sentence by sentence against quoted extracts by a separate reviewer. Updated 2026-09-24.
Explore Xi County
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Xi County is about 65 km in a straight line from central Xinyang. Search for 息县 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →More in Xinyang
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Some facts checked against 息县 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.