From the 8th century BC to the 5th century BC, the domain of present Zunyi was governed by several kingdoms of local ethnic groups. It was in the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD) that the court established county around present Zunyi city proper. Bozhou, the old name of Zunyi had been used for 962 years since the year of 639 in early Tang Dynasty (618-907). Three years later, Luomeng County under Bozhou was changed to Zunyi County. This is the first time the name 'Zunyi' occurred. Zunyi lies in the east of the slope where the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau stretches toward Sichuan and Hunan. The Dalou Mountains zigzags southwest-northeast through the city and divides the city into the southern part with basins, low mountains and hills as the main landforms and the northern area covered by medium mountains and valleys.