Yancheng

Yancheng
—  Prefecture-level city  —
Chinese transcription(s)
- Chinese	盐城市
- Pinyin	Yánchéng Shì
Yancheng is highlighted on this map
Yancheng Location in China
Coordinates: 33°23′N 120°7′E / 33.383°N 120.117°E / 33.383; 120.117
Country	China
Province	Jiangsu
Government
- Mayor	Zhao Peng (赵鹏)
Area
- Prefecture-level city	16,920.83 km2 (6,533.2 sq mi)
- Urban	1,720 km2 (664.1 sq mi)
Population (2008)[1]
- Prefecture-level city	8,117,000
- Urban	3,630,000
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Postal code	224000 (Urban center) 224100-224700 (Other areas)
Area code(s)	515
GDP	¥162.3 billion (2008)
GDP per capita	¥21,000 (2008)
Major Nationalities	Han
County-level divisions	9
Township-level divisions	144
License Plate Prefix	苏J
Website	http://www.yancheng.gov.cn

Yancheng (simplified Chinese: 盐城; traditional Chinese: 鹽城; pinyin: Yánchéng; literated "Salt City") is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. The city with the largest jurisdiction area in Jiangsu, Yancheng borders Lianyungang to the north, Huai'an to the west, Yangzhou and Taizhou to the southwest, Nantong to the south, and looks out to the Yellow Sea to the east.

Yancheng, literally "Salt City", is named after the many sea salt harvest fields around the city. According to historical records, collection and production of sea salt in the region began as early as 119 BC during the Western Han Dynasty, when the settlement on the current location of Yancheng was named Yandu County (盐都县).

Administration

The prefecture-level city of Yancheng administers 9 county-level divisions, including 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 5 counties.

• Yandu District (盐都区)
• Tinghu District (亭湖区)
• Dongtai City (东台市)
• Dafeng City (大丰市)
• Xiangshui County (响水县)
• Binhai County (滨海县)
• Funing County (阜宁县)
• Jianhu County (建湖县)
• Sheyang County (射阳县)

History

Yancheng has a history of 2,100 years since the first canton was founded here in Han Dynasty at year 119 BC. It was named for the salt reserves in rivers around the area, its name literally meaning "Salt City". Yancheng was in the limelight during the Chinese Civil War from the 1930s to 1940s. The New Fourth Army (N4A) led by the Communist Party of China was reestablished in Yancheng after being ambushed and battered by the enemy. After the revival, the N4A played a very important role in the war and finally the foundation of the People's Republic of China. Many monuments in honor of N4A heroes can still be found around Yancheng.

Geography and climate

Yancheng is a preferred habitat of several endangered species, including the Red-crowned Crane. It inhabits the Yancheng Coastal Wetlands.

Transportation

With the development of transportation infrastructure in Northern Jiangsu in recent years, transportation has become a lot more convenient. Yancheng train station opened in 2006, connecting Yancheng with Beijing by overnight train T156. Yancheng is also the endpoint of the Ningjingyan Expressway as well as a major stop on the Coastal Expressway, connecting it with Shanghai.

Transportation by bus is available on a flowing basis to Lianyungang as well as neighboring counties Funing, Sheyang, Binhai, and Xiangshui.

Economy

Yancheng's financial income used to rely heavily on agricultural industry. Recently, Yancheng's economy has been boosted by the automobile industry. The joint venture between local Yueda Corporation and the multinational company Kia has set up car factories in Yancheng. Up to today three models including two saloons and one MPV have been released and the production is going to reach 50,000 units/year soon.

Moreover, the Yueda group is constructing a new production facility in the Western development district of Yancheng. When this facility is complete in late 2007, it will produce an additional 200,000 units per year.

Education

The city hosts numerous higher learning institutions, including Yancheng Teacher's College, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng Nursing College,Yancheng Textile Vocational College and Yancheng Transport Technology College.

Yancheng Radio and Television University is a branch of this national educational giant in the city.

Yancheng Middle School (盐中）, founded by the Kuomintang, is recognized as one of the best in Jiangsu province, currently ranked the 4th best Middle School in the province.

The city has well instituted compulsory primary education system. The secondary schools including high schools achieves significant graduate rate. Its adult vocational education system has brought diverse programs to its labor forces.

Tourism

Outdoor activities include the Yangcheng Wetlands and Salt marshes, home of some unique and endangered species, including Père David's Deer and the Red-crowned Crane.

Notable people

A number of notable people were born in Yancheng. Qiao Guanhua (1913-1983) was the Chinese Foreign Minister during the 1970s and he was the first top Chinese diplomat at the UN after the legitimate position of China was restored during the Cold War. Hu Qiaomu (1912-1992) served as a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Party Literature Research Centre of the Central Committee, Director of the Party History Research Centre of the Central Committee and President of the Chinese Academy of Social Science in the 1980s. Two of them are always referred to "Two Qiao" of Yancheng.

Sister cities

Yancheng is twinned with the following domestic and foreign cities.

Domestic

• Turpan, Xinjiang
• Taiyuan, Shanxi
• Yanbei Prefecture, Shanxi
• Qinzhou, Guangxi
• Wuxi, Jiangsu
• Xicheng District, Beijing
• Zhuhai, Guangdong
• Qinhuangdao, Hebei
• Xianyang, Shaanxi
• Jilin, Jilin
• Yan'an, Shaanxi
• Yangjia, Shanxi
• Huaibei, Anhui
• Haikou, Hainan
• Dachuan, Sichuan
• Panjin, Liaoning
• Changning District, Shanghai
• Lhasa, Tibet
• Dandong, Liaoning
• Xuhui District, Shanghai

International

• Chieti, Italy (since October 1, 1992)
• Namwon, South Korea (June 13, 1998)
• Deva, Romania (November 12, 1998)
• Kashima, Japan (November 8, 2002)
• San Diego, U.S. (October 20, 2003)

Formal paper to be signed

• Hagen, Italy
• Petrograd, Russia
• Brescia, Italy

In addition, the county-level city of Dafeng, administered by Yancheng, is also twinned with Ascoli Piceno, Italy (September 2001) and Guri, South Korea (February 20, 2003) respectively.

References

1. ^ 中国·盐城

External links

• Government website of Yancheng (available in Chinese and English)
• Yancheng comprehensive guide with open directory (Jiangsu.NET)
• Yancheng Tourism Board (in Simplified Chinese)

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