Yancheng

Yancheng 盐城市
Prefecture-level city
Yancheng
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; 120.117Coordinates: 33°23′N 120°7′E / 33.383°N 120.117°E / 33.383; 120.117
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Jiangsu
Government
• Type	Prefecture-level city
• CPC Yancheng Secretary	Zhu Kejiang (朱克江)
• Mayor	Dai Yuan (戴源)
Area
• Prefecture-level city	16,920.83 km2 (6,533.17 sq mi)
• Urban	1,914 km2 (739 sq mi)
Population (2010 Census)
• Prefecture-level city	7,260,240
• Density	430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
• Urban	1,615,717
• Metro	1,615,717
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Postal code	224000 (Urban center) 224100-224700 (Other areas)
Area code(s)	515
GDP	¥191.7 billion (2009)
GDP per capita	¥25,553 (2009)
Major Nationalities	Han
County-level divisions	9
Township-level divisions	144
License Plate Prefix	苏J
Website	http://www.yancheng.gov.cn

Yancheng (Chinese: 盐城; pinyin: Yánchéng) is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. As the city with the largest jurisdictional 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 the Yellow Sea to the east.

Yancheng, literally "Salt City", is named after the salt harvest fields surrounding 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 (鹽瀆縣). According to the 2010 Census, Yancheng has a registered population of 8,203,728 — with 7,260,240 permanent residents.^[1] Its built up area of Tinghu and Yandu Districts, was home to 1,615,717 inhabitants in 2010.

Administration

The prefecture-level city of Yancheng administers 9 county-level divisions, including 3 districts, 1 county-level city and 5 counties. The population information here presented uses 2010 census data of permanent residents.

Map	Subdivision	Hanzi	Pinyin	Population (2010)	Area (km2)	Density
Tinghu Yandu Dafeng Xiangshui County Binhai County Funing County Jianhu County Sheyang County Dongtai (city)
	City Proper
	Tinghu District	亭湖区（亭湖區）	Tínghú Qū	904,417	896	1,009
	Yandu District	盐都区（鹽都區）	Yándū Qū	711,300	1,018	699
	Dafeng District	大丰区（大豐區）	Dàfēng Qū	707,069	3,059	231
	Rural
	Xiangshui County	响水县（響水縣）	Xiǎngshuǐ Xiàn	509,524	1,461	349
	Binhai County	滨海县（濱海縣）	Bīnhǎi Xiàn	956,162	1,880	509
	Funing County	阜宁县（阜寧縣）	Fùníng Xiàn	843,275	1,439	586
	Jianhu County	建湖县（建湖縣）	Jiànhú Xiàn	741,646	1,154	643
	Sheyang County	射阳县（射陽縣）	Shèyáng Xiàn	896,639	2,855	314
	Satellite cities (County-level cities)
Dongtai	东台市（東台市）	Dōngtái Shì	990,208	2,340	423
Total			7,260,240	16,920	429

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". In later years, the city was the home of Fan Zhongyan, the 12th century statesman and Shi Nai'an, the reputed author of famous novels.^[2]

Yancheng was in the limelight during the Chinese Civil War from the 1930s to 1940s. The New Fourth Army led by the Communist Party of China was reestablished in Yancheng after being ambushed and battered by the enemy. After the revival, the Army played a very important role in the war and finally the foundation of the People's Republic of China. Many monuments in honor of these heroes can still be found around Yancheng.^[2]

Geography and climate

Yancheng occupies the flat coastal plains of Eastern Jiangsu. Those areas not cultivated are mainly marshlands, which are home to several endangered species, including the red-crowned crane and the Pere David's deer. Yancheng has a temperate climate with fairly mild winters and distinctly tropical late summers.

Transportation

Recent development of transportation infrastructure in Northern Jiangsu has directly impacted Yancheng, which is located on the Xinyi-Changxing Railway, completed in 2005. The Yancheng train station opened in 2006, and Yancheng now offers overnight train service (on Train T156) to Beijing. 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 neighbouring counties Funing, Sheyang, Binhai, and Xiangshui.

Yancheng's BRT (bus rapid transport) system uses a dedicated bus lane and allows daily unlimited ridership for 1 RMB per day.

Yancheng Nanyang International Airport now flies directly to Shanghai and Beijing, as well as flying directly to Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and so on.

Economy

Yancheng's financial income used to rely heavily on agricultural industry. In 2002, Yancheng's economy has been boosted by an initial joint venture between Kia Motors and Dongfeng Automotive Group, with the creation of the Yancheng Plant. The plant was expanded in 2007.^[3]

Education

The city hosts numerous higher learning institutions, including Yancheng Teachers' University, 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.

Jiangsu Yancheng Middle School (江苏省盐城中学), founded in 1927, is recognized as one of the top middle schools in Jiangsu province, currently ranked around Top 10 in the province. It has over 6000 students and the school offers a variety of subjects to choose from.

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. There is also a famous food street in east road springing up in recent years in which stands many restaurants in a style of Huizhou architecture.

Notable people

A number of notable people were born in Yancheng.

• Lu Xiufu (1236-1279), one of the "Three heroes of the late Song Dynasty", was born in modern-day Jianhu County in Yancheng. During the battle of Yamen against Mongols on March 19, 1279, He carried the eight-year-old Emperor Bing of Song on his back and jumped into the sea, symbolizing the end of Southern Song Dynasty.
• 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 referred to "Two Qiao" of Yancheng.^[2]
• Hau Pei-tsun (born 13 July 1919) was the Premier of the Republic of China from May 30, 1990 to February 10, 1993, and a four-star general in the ROC Army.

Twin cities

Yancheng is twinned with the following domestic and foreign cities.

Domestic

International

Formal paper to be signed

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

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yancheng.

• Government website of Yancheng (available in Chinese and English)
• Yancheng Local portal (in Simplified Chinese)
• Yancheng comprehensive guide with open directory (Jiangsu.NET)
• Yancheng Tourism Board (in Simplified Chinese)
• Yancheng Introduction (Yancheng Middle School) Extensive background on Yancheng history.