Banzhuang

Archeological artifacts found in the west of the town provide evidence that the area was part of the ancient Zhuqi Kingdom for thousands of years before Zhuqi became a vassal state of the Zhou dynasty. During the earlier Spring and Autumn period, Lu expanded to the west of Zhuqi up to the Banzhuang area.^{[citation needed]}

From the Qin to the Sui dynasty periods, Banzhuang was part of Zhuqi. The Zhuqi County seat was situated to the east of Gucheng, a big village to the west of Banzhuang. Following the Tang dynasty overthrow of the Sui dynasty, Zhuqi County was combined into Huairen County in the year 623. Banzhuang has continued to exist administratively as part of the western part of Ganyu (i.e. Huairen) County to the present day.^{[citation needed]}

At the end of the Qing dynasty, reforms were made to the local government system granting greater local autonomy. As part of these reforms, Jiagu City was founded near Guangxiao Town (光孝乡) in Ganyu County. Jiagu City was an amalgamation of four towns: Menlouhe Town, Xingning Town, Banlizhuang Town, and Huandun Town. The city government was based in Huandun Town.^[2]

After the national government in Nanjing overthrew the Beiyang authorities in Peking, it began to make further reforms to the local and central administrative system. Ganyu became a county of the 8th Administrative District (also called Donghai Administrative District) of Jiangsu Province. Jiagu City became the 4th district of Ganyu County.^{[citation needed]}

When the Japanese invaded and occupied Ganyu County, the local government was dismissed, and a new, pro-Japanese government was established. When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took the area from Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War, they set up a new administrative system. The fourth district of Ganyu County was divided further into smaller districts: Zhumeng District in the south and Guyang District in the north. In 1951, Guyang District was the 7th District of Ganyu County, covering 11 towns;^[3] Zhumeng District was the 9th District of Ganyu County, covering 9 towns.^[4]

During the Chinese Civil War between the CCP and Kuomintang, the CCP controlled all of Ganyu County. Zhumeng District broke away from Ganyu County for several months in 1947.^[5]

After the CCP occupied Nanjing, the capital of China at the time, Jiangsu Province was abolished and split up. Ganyu County was combined into Shandong Province up until Jiangsu Province was restored in 1953. In this same year, the 9th District of Ganyu County was abolished and combined into the 7th District of the county.^[3]

In 1955, the 7th District of Ganyu County was called Jiagushan District. In May 1958, Jiagushan District was divided into two towns: Jiagushan Town and Huandun Town.^[6] When the Campaign of People's Commune began, the two towns' names were changed to Jiagushan People's Commune and Huandun People's Commune, respectively.^{[citation needed]}

In 1958, construction of Shilianghe Reservoir began, triggering migrations out of the Banzhuang area. However, these migrations were poorly organized; many arrived at their new homes and found nothing prepared. The government did not reimburse migrants for losses related to their displacement until 50 years later. Some migrants eventually returned to their homes in the area.^{[citation needed]}

In 1961, Jiagushan People's Commune was divided into Banzhuang People's Commune and Jiashan People's Commune.^{[citation needed]}

In 1983, the People's Commune was abolished in Jiangsu Province. Huandun People's Commune was restored to its old name of Huandun Township; Banzhuang People's Commune was renamed Banzhuang Township, and Jiashan People's Commune became Jiashan Township. In 1985, Huandun Township became Huandun Town, while Banzhuang Township became a town in 2000.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001, Banzhuang Town and Jiashan Township were united into Banzhuang Town.^{[citation needed]}

On January 31, 2013, Jiangsu's provincial government decreed the merger of Huandun Township into Banzhuang Town.^[1]