Tianmen

Prehistoric ancient settlements in the Tianmen area existed at least 7,000 to 8,000 years ago as evidenced by Shijiahe neolithic tribal ruins which include recent discoveries of stone (jade) devices, pottery, bone, mussels, as well as bronze articles and other artifacts, such as those in the original Tao Zu patrilineal cultural heritage period.^[3]

In January 2008, more than 100 persons and city officials in Tianmen came under investigation after the fatal beating of a 41-year-old man, Wei Wenhua, general manager of a construction company, who was using his cellphone to photograph a dispute between villagers and city inspectors.^[4]

As of the end of 2022, the permanent resident population of Tianmen City was 1,105,800 people.^[3]

According to the seventh national census in 2020, the permanent resident population of the city was 1,158,640 people. Compared with the 1,418,913 people from the sixth national census, there was a decrease of 260,273 people over ten years, a decline of 18.34%, with an average annual growth rate of -2.01%. Among them, the male population was 606,285 people, accounting for 52.33% of the total population; the female population was 552,355 people, accounting for 47.67% of the total population. The total population sex ratio (with females as 100) was 109.76. The population aged 0-14 years was 199,948 people, accounting for 17.26% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 years was 659,700 people, accounting for 56.94% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 298,992 people, accounting for 25.81% of the total population, among which those aged 65 and above were 208,068 people, accounting for 17.96% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 502,908 people, accounting for 43.41% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 655,732 people, accounting for 56.59% of the total population.

In 2024, Tianmen was noted for its relatively high birth rate.^[5]

Tianmen City is a famous qiaoxiang (hometown of overseas Chinese) in Hubei province and mainland China. More than 280,000 overseas Chinese of Tianmen descent live in Hong Kong, Macau, and more than 40 countries and regions across five continents. As of today, more than 500 diasporans are currently residing in Tianmen, and their relatives in total numbered 82,000.

The emigration of Tianmen overseas Chinese began at the end of the 18th century, going through several stages including moving northward (to Europe), moving southward (to Southeast Asia), and the new immigration period.^[6]

Tianmen is a renowned cultural hometown. World cultural figures such as the "Tea Saint" Lu Yu, Tang Dynasty poet Pi Rixiu, Ming Dynasty Jingling School literary representative figures Zhong Xing, Tan Yuanchun, and Qing Dynasty top scholar Jiang Liyong were born here. Since the restoration of gaokao (college entrance examination system), Tianmen has sent over 54,000 college students to the nation, earning the reputation of the "hometown of top scholars."

Tianmen is full of places of interest and historical sites. Within its territory is the Stone Age village site of Shijiahe, the largest Neolithic village site in the Yangtze River basin to date, the famous Buddhist temple Bai Long Temple built during the Southern Dynasties, and Lu Yu Pavilion, Wenxue Spring, Ancient Goose Bridge in memory of Lu Yu, as well as Zhong Xing's tomb, Tan Yuanchun's tomb, and the East Lake and West Lake scenic areas.

Hubei Province Tianmen Middle School is a nationally renowned provincial model high school, founded in 1912, located at the western end of the city's Jingling Zhong Xing Avenue. It is a garden-style school in Hubei Province, a provincial model high school, an advanced collective in the national education system, an advanced unit in the construction of spiritual civilization nationwide, with a history of more than one hundred years.

Hubei Province Tianmen Experimental High School is located on the north bank of East Lake in Tianmen. The school's history of education can be traced back to the Tianmen Normal Training Institute founded in the 32nd year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1906), which has evolved from the elementary, secondary, and tertiary education in the present, changing its name nine times and relocating eight times. In 2004, Tianmen Experimental High School ranked 28th on the comprehensive strength ranking of key middle schools in Hubei Province.^[7]

• Tianmen South Railway Station and Xiantao West Railway Station on the Wuhan–Yichang Railway.

• Lu Yu (陆羽; 733–804), tea master and writer, author of The Classic of Tea
• Pi Rixiu (皮日休; c. 834–883), poet
• Zhong Xing (鍾惺; 1574–1625), Ming Dynasty scholar
• Zhang Yesui (张业遂; born 1953), diplomat
• Zhang Lianmeng (张联盟; born 1955), engineer and professor
• Wan Weixing (万卫星; 1958–2020), space physicist
• Wei Juncheng (魏军城; born 1968), mathematician