Ma'anshan

Ma'anshan
马鞍山
—  Prefecture-level city  —
马鞍山市
Ma'anshan
Location in China
Coordinates (Yushan District):
Country People's Republic of China
Province Anhui
County-level divisions 6
Township-level divisions 49
City seat Yushan District
Government
 • CPC Secretary Zheng Weiwen (郑为文)
 • Mayor Zhang Xiaolin (张晓麟)
Area
 • Prefecture-level city 4,042 km2 (1,560.6 sq mi)
 • Urban 434 km2 (167.6 sq mi)
 • Metro 4,042 km2 (1,560.6 sq mi)
Population (2010 census)
 • Prefecture-level city 1,366,302
 • Density 338/km2 (875.5/sq mi)
 • Urban 633,940
 • Urban density 1,460.7/km2 (3,783.2/sq mi)
 • Metro 1,366,302
 • Metro density 338/km2 (875.5/sq mi)
Time zone China Standard (UTC+8)
Area code(s) 555
GDP ¥63.6 billion (2008)
GDP per capita US$7,118 (2008)
License Plate Prefix 皖E

Ma'anshan (simplified Chinese: 马鞍山; traditional Chinese: 馬鞍山; pinyin: Mǎ'ānshān), also written as Maanshan, is a prefecture-level city in the east of Anhui province in Eastern China. An industrial city stretching across the Yangtze River, Ma'anshan borders Hefei to the west, Wuhu to the southwest, and Nanjing to the east. It is a core city of the Nanjing Metropolitan Circle.

Maanshan is home to 1,366,302 inhabitants at the 2010 census, all being part of built up area since Dangtu County is now linked to the 3 urban districts. After the August 2011 administrative re-regionalization of Anhui Province, its population becomes 2.283 million, and it administers 2 additional counties (He and Hanshan).

Contents

Administration

The prefecture-level city of Ma'anshan administers 6 county-level divisions, including 3 districts and 3 counties.

Name

The name of the city means "Horse Saddle Mountain". According to legend, the name came to be when the Western Chu hegemon Xiang Yu was fleeing from the Battle of Gaixia. Rather than be captured, the defeated general killed himself at the area now known as Ma'anshan after ensuring that his beloved horse would be ferried across the river to safety. Upon seeing his master die, the grief-stricken horse leapt into the river and was drowned. As a tribute, the boatman buried the horse's saddle on a nearby hill, giving Ma'anshan its name.

History

The south bank of the Yangtze River from Ma'anshan upstream for 240 km, has long been a mining area. The coming of a railroad and the opening of the Huai-nan coalfield in the 1930s made it possible for the Japanese to open an iron and steel works in 1938. Although destroyed at the end of the Second World War, the industries were restored to production in 1953, and Ma'anshan grew rapidly under the Communists' first and second Five-Year Plans. Ma'anshan also has sulfur and limestone mines, and chemical and cement factories. In 1954, Ma'anshan was elevated to town level and in Oct. 12, 1956, Ma'anshan City was declared to be founded.

Geography and climate

Surrounded by low hills (The name of the city means "horse saddle mountain"), it is not as polluted as other major Chinese steelmaking cities, thanks to the environmental policies taken by the local government that granted the city the recognition as one of the "Ten Green Cities of China".

Its climate is similar to other cities in the Yangtze River Delta, with lower humidity that makes its summers and winters less extreme. There are frequent showers during July and August.

Caishi Rock (采石磯), a famous ancient battlefield lying to the southwest of the city, is regarded as the best of three rocks that project over the Yangtze River. Taibai pavilion is one of four famous pavilions along the Yangtze river. Caishi scenic area is a national tourism spot, with a combination of natural and man-made scenery.

Climate data for Ma'anshan (1960–2003)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2)
4.7
(40.5)
9.2
(48.6)
15.5
(59.9)
20.9
(69.6)
24.8
(76.6)
28.3
(82.9)
27.7
(81.9)
23.1
(73.6)
17.6
(63.7)
11.3
(52.3)
5.2
(41.4)
15.93
(60.68)
Precipitation mm (inches) 37.6
(1.48)
50.4
(1.984)
86.8
(3.417)
93.1
(3.665)
106.8
(4.205)
167.0
(6.575)
182.5
(7.185)
123.2
(4.85)
67.0
(2.638)
61.0
(2.402)
53.8
(2.118)
29.2
(1.15)
1,058.4
(41.669)
Source: 马鞍山市气象局 马鞍山市气候变化分析

Economy

The main industry is the steel industry (MaGang) which employs much of the workforce of Ma'anshan. At present (2005) major expansions of the steel plant are underway to increase production drastically. With the advanced manufacturing infrastructure and fast transportation link, Ma'anshan has received much investment in many industries.

Ma'anshan city has an annual manufacture investment ranking No.1 in Anhui Province and her GDP ranks No.4 in Anhui Province after Hefei, Anqing and Wuhu. Ma'anshan's population ranks No.16 in the province and has a GDP per capita of US$7,118 which is No.1 in Anhui Province and near the average of Yangtze River Delta.

Communications have also help boost Ma'anshan economy and industry to well above the national average: the deep water river port of Ma'anshan, with custom offices ensures fast and inexpensive transportation to other cities both in the East coast, and the inner cities along the Yangtze River. Nanjing Lukou International Airport is 40 km from Ma'anshan, with direct flights to every corner of China and also daily flights to Europe. By road, Ma'anshan is connected with highways to Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Hefei and Wuhu.

Maanshan has been identified by the Economist Intelligence Unit in the November 2010 Access China White Paper as a member of the CHAMPS (Chongqing, Hefei, Anshan, Ma'anshan, Pingdingshan and Shenyang), an economic profile of the top 20 emerging cities in China.[1]

Culture

There is a memorial to the famous Chinese poet, Li Bai (a.k.a. Li Po c.700-762), just west of Ma'anshan. Li Bai is said to have drowned at Ma'anshan after attempting to embrace a reflection of the moon.

China's first poetry festival was to be held in Ma'anshan from October 25–30, 2005. The theme of the festival, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the Chinese Writers Association, and the Anhui provincial government, is "Poetic China, Harmonious China."

Education

Sister cities

References

External links