Dongyang
| Dongyang 东阳 | |
|---|---|
| County-level city | |
  Dongyang | |
| Coordinates: 29°16′00″N 120°13′00″E / 29.26667°N 120.21667°ECoordinates: 29°16′00″N 120°13′00″E / 29.26667°N 120.21667°E | |
| Country |
 China |
| Province | Zhejiang |
| Prefecture-level city | Jinhua |
| City Incorporation | May 1988 |
| Government | |
| • CPC Secretary | Jiang Yongzhi (蒋永志) |
| • Mayor | Jiang Yuejin (江跃进) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,739 km2 (671 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 801,994 |
| Time zone | China Standard Time (UTC+8) |
| Regional Dialect | Dongyang dialect |
| Website | City of Dongyang |
Dongyang (help·info) (simplified Chinese: 东阳; traditional Chinese: 東陽; pinyin: Dōngyáng) is a Chinese city of about 800,000 people in Jinhua, a prefecture-level city in the middle of Zhejiang Province, about 200 kilometers south of Hangzhou, the provincial capital. Dongyang lies in the central area of Zhejiang Province, covering an area of 1739 square kilometers. It administrates eleven towns, one county, and six subdistrict offices, and it belongs to the Delta Economic Region of the Yangtze River. It has been ratified by the State Council as an open-up city and a famous cultural city with a long history in the central area of Zhejiang.
History
Dongyang county was first set up in AD 195 (2nd year of XinPing Reign of East Han Dynasty) and known as Wuning (吴宁). In AD 688, the name was changed to Dongyang (东阳). The name Dongyang means "Eastern Sun".In recent years Dongyang has set up sister city relations with Kokomo, Indiana, US.[1]
Economy
Dongyang is home to numerous construction companies, the primary one being Zhongtian. Dongyang also produces magnets, chemicals, plastics, garments and agriculture and wooden sculptures.
The reform and opening policies of the 1970s have accelerated economic growth, and the city ranks among the top 100 cities in China, and the first well-off counties (cities) in Zhejiang Province. In 2005, the city's GDP reached 15.984 billion RMB yuan, earning fiscal revenue of 1.38 billion RMB yuan. Per-capita disposable income for urban households totaled 13,349 RMB yuan, and per-capita net income for farmers amounted to 6,903 RMB yuan.
Industry is a major component of Dongyang's economy. The city boasts a wide range of industrial sectors, led by electronic, machine building, magnetic material producing, and medical and chemical industries. At present, Dongyang has become the largest magnetic material production and exportation base in China. It is also the third largest medical and pharmaceutical city in Zhejiang, and boasts a group of leading companies in this sphere, such as Hengdian Kangyu Pharmaceutical Co.Ltd, Zhejiang Garden Biological High-tech Co.,Ltd, and Zhejiang Hansheng Pharmaceutical Co.Ltd.
Dongyang is experiencing a period of great growth, comparable to other regions and cities in Eastern China. In the city square (called Holman Chen), many couples on pleasant evenings dance to traditional and Chinese pop songs.
In one of Dongyang's towns, Hengdian, there is a famous movie studio, where many films and TV shows about ancient China are made. Considered the Hollywood of the East, this vast movie set is a great day trip that is usually very quiet and empty. The movie set is home to a recreation of the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, an ancient Chinese Village and several small European Villages as well as a Pirate ship in a manmade lake. The movie Hero, starring Jet Li was filmed there, as well as the recent video game adaptation.
Culture
Dongyang also has Baiyun Cultural Park, a place for relaxation with several representations of Daoism and Buddhism including a 50 foot statue. A beautiful place to relax and enjoy this interesting city.
Dongyang Woodcarving (东阳木雕) has been reputed as one of the best folk handicrafts and a national treasure, as one of the four major schools of woodcarving in China. Dongyang has been honored as the hometown of woodcarving since ancient time. Dongyang Woodcarving came into being early in Tang Dynasty. In Song Dynasty, it reached a high state of the art. During the period of Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, Dongyang Woodcarving came into flourishing.
Traditions
A famous local tradition in Dongyang is the virgin boy egg (Chinese: 童子尿煮鸡蛋; pinyin: Tóngzǐ Niào Zhǔ Jīdàn[2]), an annual tradition in early spring time where the urine of prepubertal school boys preferably under 10 years is collected and boiled with eggs and then sold (for 1.50 yuan around twice the price of a regular boiled egg.[3]) and eaten, it is said "it tastes like spring".[4] In 2008, Dongyang recognized the eggs as "local intangible cultural heritage."[4]
Travel
Dongyang is approximately 5 hours by train from Shanghai, where it is also possible to catch a long-distance bus. Close to Dongyang is Yiwu, which is a 25 minute bus ride away. Hangzhou is approximately 2 hours travel from Dongyang.
Tourist Attractions
- Lu Residential Complex(卢宅) is one of the key historical and cultural sites under state-level protection in China. Located in downtown Dongyang, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, the great architectural complex has been the habitation for the Lu family since 800 years ago. It is well known as the Imperial Palace in South China. It is composed of six groups of buildings. The residential complex is ancient, delicate, and magnificent, and the buildings inside dating from Ming & Qing Dynasties feature the typical Ming-Qing architectural style.
- Hengdian World Studios(横店影视城) is the Hollywood in China. The magnificent and elaborately-designed bases and modernized studios there have attracted many directors both from home and abroad. More than 400 films were shot in Hengdian World Studios, including some popular films, such as Opium War, the Emperor and the Assassin, Hanwu the Great, Hero, the Promise, Curse of the Golden Flower, and the Forbidden Kingdom, etc.
References
- ↑ "Kokomo is China-bound". Kokomo Perspective Newspaper. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ (Chinese) "不懂!童子尿煮鸡蛋也能入选非物质文化遗产?(图)". BBS China News. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
- ↑ Vackerberg, Janneke (March 30, 2012). "Urine-cooked eggs a delicacy in China city: ‘Virgin boy eggs’ are spring tradition in Dongyang". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Boys’ urine-soaked eggs listed as local specialty, intangible cultural heritage | Ministry of Tofu 豆腐部". Ministryoftofu.com. March 11, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
External links
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