Lincang was previously called Baihuai during the Shang dynasty.
On December 26, 2003, the state council approved the cancellation of Lincang District and set up prefecture-level Lincang city.
Geography and climate
Lincang covers latitude 23° 05′-25° 02′ N and longitude 98° 40′-100° 33′ E, thus straddling the Tropic of Cancer in the southern part of its administrative area, or prefecture. It is situated on the middle to lower reaches of the Mekong, known as the Lancang in China, and the Salween, or the Nu. Bordering prefectures are Pu'er to the southeast, and Baoshan and Dali to the northwest. It also borders Burma's Shan State. Elevations within the prefecture range from 450 to 3,504 metres (1,476 to 11,496 ft).
Located at an altitude of above 1,450 m (4,760 ft) and within 30 arc minutes to the north of the Tropic of Cancer, Lincang has a mild subtropical highland climate (KöppenCwb), bordering on a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), with muddled distinction between the seasons and daytime temperatures remaining warm year-round. Highs peak in May before the core of the rainy season and reach a minimum in December; however, the warmest and coolest months are June and January respectively. June through September accounts for nearly 70% of the annual rainfall of 1,126 mm (44.3 in) and during this time, some rainfall occurs on most days, pushing relative humidity above 80% and there is a marked reduction in sunshine. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 24% in July to 75% in January, the city receives 2,227 hours of bright sunshine annually.
Climate data for Lincang, elevation 1,502 m (4,928 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)
Among the resident population, the Han population is 1,523,670, accounting for 62.72% of the total population; the ethnic minorities population is 905,835, accounting for 37.28% of the total population.
Ethnic Composition of Lincang City (November 2010)[6]
^临沧 - 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
^Yunnan Provincial Census Office, Yunnan Provincial Bureau of Statistics (September 2012). "Yunnan Provincial Census Data in 2010". China Statistics Press. ISBN978-7-5037-6548-3.