Lianyungang

Lianyungang
—  Prefecture-level city  —
Chinese transcription(s)
- Chinese	连云港市
- Pinyin	Liányúngǎng Shì
Lianyungang is highlighted on this map
Lianyungang Location in China
Coordinates: 34°36′N 119°10′E / 34.6°N 119.167°E / 34.6; 119.167
Country	China
Province	Jiangsu
Government
- Mayor	Xiu Yiping (许一平)
Area
- Prefecture-level city	7,444 km2 (2,874.1 sq mi)
- Urban	880 km2 (339.8 sq mi)
Population (2008)
- Prefecture-level city	4,822,300
- Urban	715,600
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Postal code	222000 (Urban center) 222100-222300, 222500 (Other areas)
Area code(s)	518
GDP	¥75 billion (2008)
GDP per capita	¥16,808 (2008)
Major Nationalities	Han
County-level divisions	7
Township-level divisions
License Plate Prefix	苏G
Website	http://www.lyg.gov.cn/

Lianyungang (simplified Chinese: 连云港; traditional Chinese: 連雲港; pinyin: Liányúngǎng lit. "the port connected to the clouds") is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. It borders Yancheng to its southeast, Huai'an and Suqian to its south, Xuzhou to its southwest, and the province of Shandong to its north. Its name derives from Lian Island (formally Dongxilian Island) the largest island in Jiangsu Province which lies off its coastline, and Yuntai Mountain, the highest peak in Jiangsu Province, a few miles from its town center.

Lianyungang (as Yuntai Mountain) was one of the four original ports opened up for foreign trade in the 1680s by the Qing Dynasty Government. The others were Ningbo, Xiamen and Guangzhou.

Administration

The prefecture-level city of Lianyungang administers 7 county-level divisions, including 3 districts and 4 counties.

• Lianyun District (连云区)
• Xinpu District (新浦区)
• Haizhou District (海州区)
• Donghai County (东海县)
• Ganyu County (赣榆县)
• Guanyun County (灌云县)
• Guannan County (灌南县)

Geography

Lianyungang is situated between 118°24' and 119°48' east longitude and 34°11' and 35°07' north latitude. Lianyungang covers an area of 7,777 km².

Economy

Lianyungang is the eastern end of the New Eurasian Land Bridge and the proposed Northern East West Freight Corridor, is one of the first 14 Chinese coastal cities opening to the outside world, and is a rising centre of industry, foreign trade and tourism in east China.

This port is located in the center of the coast, linking eastern sea routes with western land routes. Both Japan and the Republic of Korea in the east can be reached economically and conveniently from Liangyungang, which is also part of the worldwide network of sea transport. As well as this, the New Eurasia Continental Landbridge and the railway networks in Western Europe continue by land, connecting Lianyungang with over 40 countries and regions in Europe, South Asia and the Middle East.

At present, the Chinese government has clearly stated its intention to build an economic belt along the New Eurasia Continental landbridge in "the 9th Five-Year Plan of National Economy and Social Development and the Long-range Goal for the Year 2010"; and on "China's 21st Century Agenda", Lianyungang is to be developed into an international seaport linking countries on the Pacific rim with those in Central Asia. In the "National Ocean Development Plan" it is listed as one of three special development zones.

Transport

Lianyungang has convenient transport including highway, railway, port, airport. Lianyungang Baitabu Airport (连云港白塔埠机场) provides schedule passenger service to major airports in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Xuzhou, Ningbo,Guilin,Dalian, Shenyang, Guilin,Shenzhen (2009.10.01).

The city serves as the designated starting point for the New Eurasian Land Bridge, a rail link from China to western Europe.

Tourism

Lianyungang is small, but is famous for its Huaguoshan Shuiliandong (花果山，水帘洞) attraction. Shuiliandong literally means the "Water Curtain Hole," since, according to legend, the hole was hidden behind a waterfall, therefore resembling a "curtain of water." The hole is famous because, according to legend, the home of Sun Wukong (孙悟空), also named Sunxingzhe (孙行者) and sometimes known as Monkey King. It was supposedly the place where his monkey subjects lived, while he became a god with Buddha and rejoiced in his title of the Qitiandasheng (齐天大圣) or the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Monkey King might not have existed, though Tang Seng (唐僧), whose name was Xuanzang did travel to India to receive holy scripts. When Tang Seng's adventure was rewritten, many mythical parts were added, which might of included Tang Seng's four disciples.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Lianyungang is twinned with:

• - Sakai, Japan (1983.12.03)
• - City of Greater Geelong, Australia (1991.11.09)
• - Mokpo, South Korea (1992.11.01)
• - Napier, New Zealand (1994.06.03)
• - Volzhsky, Russia (1997.12.18)
• - Saga, Japan (1998.11.21)

External links

• Government website of Lianyungang (available in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean)
• Lianyungang comprehensive guide with open directory (Jiangsu.NET)
• Tang Seng

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