Qiqihar

Qiqihar
齐齐哈尔市
Prefecture-level city
Nickname(s): The Crane City (鹤城)

Qiqihar (red) in Heilongjiang (orange)
Qiqihar

Location of the city centre in Heilongjiang

Coordinates: 47°21′N 123°55′E / 47.350°N 123.917°ECoordinates: 47°21′N 123°55′E / 47.350°N 123.917°E
Country People's Republic of China
Province Heilongjiang
County-level divisions 16
towns and townships 156
villages 1361
Established 1125
Municipal seat Jianhua District
Government
 • Type Prefecture-level city
 • CPC Qiqihar Secretary Han Dongyan（韩冬炎）
 • Mayor Sun Zhe(孙喆)
Area
 • Prefecture-level city 42,205.82 km2 (16,295.76 sq mi)
 • Urban 4,039.3 km2 (1,559.6 sq mi)
 • Metro 970.3 km2 (374.6 sq mi)
Elevation 147 m (482 ft)
Population (2010)
 • Prefecture-level city 5,367,003
 • Density 130/km2 (330/sq mi)
 • Urban 1,481,637
 • Urban density 370/km2 (950/sq mi)
 • Metro 979,517
 • Metro density 1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Time zone China Standard (UTC+8)
Postal code 161000
Area code(s) 0452
GDP CNY 106.58billion
License Plate 黑B
Administrative division code 230200
ISO 3166-2 CN-23-02
Website http://www.qqhr.gov.cn/

Qiqihar (simplified Chinese: 齐齐哈尔; traditional Chinese: 齊齊哈爾; pinyin: Qíqíhāěr; Manchu: Cicigar ᠴᡳᠴᡳᡤᠠᡵ; formerly Tsitsihar) is one of the 13 Larger Municipalities in China, and the second largest city in the Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China. The built-up (or metro) area made up of Longsha, Tiefeng and Jianhua districts had 979,517 inhabitants, while the total population of the prefecture-level city was 5,367,003 at the 2010 census.[1] These are mainly Han Chinese, though the city is also home to thirty-four minorities including Manchu, Daur, and Mongolians.[2] Close to Qiqihar are numerous wetlands and the Zhalong Nature Reserve, famous in China for being home to numerous red-crowned cranes.

History

Early History

Gate of castle wall, Tsitsihar

Qiqihar is one of the oldest cities in the northeast of China. The region was originally settled by nomadic Daur and Tungus herdsmen. Qiqihar is a Daur word, which means border or natural pasture. [3] The city's original name was Bukui (卜奎), the Chinese transcription of a Daur word meaning "auspicious".[4] The city's oldest mosque, the Bukui Mosque, actually predates the foundation of the city itself by seven years.[5] As the Czarist Russian eastward advance to the Pacific coast, Qiqihar became a major garrison center in 1674. In 1691, a stronghold was constructed in Qiqihar because of the Qing government's campaigns against the Mongols.[6] Around 1700 it was a center for Russo-Chinese trade. A military depot with barracks and an arsenal was set up there, and many convicted criminals were exiled to the area. Heilongjiang Martial domiciled in Qiqihar City in 1699.[3] Despite the ban on Han Chinese settlement, Chinese immigrants mostly from Shandong and Hebei soon swamped the Manchus. The Qing government gradually opened up more and more land in the area to Han Chinese settlement after the territory north of the Amur River had been ceded to Czarist Russia according to the Aigun Treaty and Beijing Treaty in the 1860s. By the end of the 19th century, almost the entire part of Qiqihar's citizens were Han Chinese. In 1903, The completion of the Chinese Eastern Railway made Qiqihar a center for communications between China and Russia. A network of lines radiating from Qiqihar was extended into the northwestern part of Heilongjiang Province including Jiagedaqi and Manzhouli in the late 1920s.

Second Sino-Japanese War Period

General Ma Zhanshan

As the Japanese invasion of Manchuria began in 1931, General Ma Zhanshan was ordered to act as Governor and Military Commander-in-chief of Heilongjiang Province on October 10, 1931. General Ma declined a Japanese ultimatum to surrender Tsitsihar on November 15. However, after the loss of Jiangqiao Campaign, the Japanese began their occupation of Tsitsihar on November 19, 1931.[7]

Qiqihar was established as an administrative centre of the puppet Manchukuo government under pro-Japanese General Chang Chin-hui. Qiqihar was also established as the capital of Longjiang province, going by the name Tsitsihar. Tsitsihar became a major military base for the Japanese controlling northeastern China and its economic importance also grew rapidly. During the occupation, the Imperial Japanese Army established Unit 516 in Qiqihar for research into chemical warfare.[8] A major mustard gas tank left over from the Second Sino-Japanese War buried underground was accidentally damaged in August 2003, causing 43 injuries and one death.[9]

Modern Era

After the defeat of Japan, the Democratic Regime Qiqihar Municipal Government was established, under the administration of Nenjiang Province. Japanese troops were ordered to surrender to Kuomintang troops under the terms of the Japanese unconditional surrender dictated by the United States.[10] However, the Japanese surrendered to the Soviet Union in Manchuria where the Nationalist China had no forces.[11] Qiqihar was controlled by the Communist on April 24, 1946. Qiqihar was established as the capital of Heilongjiang Province after the foundation of People's Republic of China in 1949. However, since Songjiang Province was merged into Heilongjiang Province, the provincial capital was transferred to Harbin in 1954. During the first five-year plan of China from 1951 to 1956, many factories including Beiman Special Steel Co. and China First Heavy Industries were aid-constructed by the Soviet Union in Fularji District, making Qiqihar an important center of equipment manufacturing industry in Northeast China. In 1984, Qiqihar was designated to be one of the 13 Larger Municipalities in China by the General Office of the State Council.[12]

Geography

Qiqihar is located along the middle and lower reaches of the Nen River and the hinterland of Songnen Plain, which is adjacent to the Greater Khingan Range and Hulunbuir Prairie. Bordering prefecture cities are:

The city's metro area is located 359 km (223 mi) from the provincial capital of Harbin, 282 km (175 mi) from Baicheng, 139 km (86 mi) from Daqing, and 328 km (204 mi) from Suihua. The city's metro area is located at latitude 47° 00'−47° 52' N and longitude 123° 33'−124° 28' E. The total area under the city's jurisdiction is 42,289 km2 (16,328 sq mi). The region's elevation above sea level is generally between 200 m (660 ft) and 500 m (1,600 ft).[13]

Climate

Qiqihar has a cold, monsoon-influenced, humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa), with four distinct seasons. It has long, bitterly cold, but dry winters, with a 24-hour average in January of −18.6 °C (−1.5 °F). Spring and fall are mild, but short and quick transitions. Summers are very warm and humid, with a 24-hour average in July of 23.2 °C (73.8 °F). The average annual precipitation is 415 millimetres (16.3 in), with over two-thirds of it falling from June to August. The annual mean is 3.95 °C (39.1 °F). With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 56% in July to 73% in February, the city receives abundant sunshine, with 2,839 hours of bright sunshine annually. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −39.5 °C (−39 °F) to 42.1 °C (108 °F).[14]

Climate data for Qiqihar (1971−2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −12.4
(9.7)		 −6.5
(20.3)		 2.7
(36.9)		 13.1
(55.6)		 21.2
(70.2)		 26.2
(79.2)		 28.0
(82.4)		 26.3
(79.3)		 20.3
(68.5)		 11.1
(52)		 −1.1
(30)		 −10.1
(13.8)		 9.9
(49.8)
Average low °C (°F) −23.7
(−10.7)		 −19.3
(−2.7)		 −10.1
(13.8)		 −0.2
(31.6)		 8.0
(46.4)		 14.9
(58.8)		 18.5
(65.3)		 16.6
(61.9)		 9.1
(48.4)		 −0.2
(31.6)		 −11.3
(11.7)		 −20.4
(−4.7)		 −1.5
(29.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 1.5
(0.059)		 1.7
(0.067)		 5.6
(0.22)		 17.3
(0.681)		 29.6
(1.165)		 67.1
(2.642)		 128.8
(5.071)		 90.0
(3.543)		 45.5
(1.791)		 20.1
(0.791)		 4.4
(0.173)		 3.6
(0.142)		 415.2
(16.345)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 3.5 3.0 3.4 5.1 7.2 11.2 13.7 11.2 9.1 5.1 3.5 4.9 80.9
Average relative humidity (%) 67 58 47 46 46 62 73 73 66 57 60 67 60.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 190.6 208.6 260.4 248.5 282.7 282.2 269.4 271.7 247.3 227.6 185.4 164.9 2,839.3
Percent possible sunshine 70 73 71 61 61 60 56 62 66 68 66 63 64
Source: China Meteorological Administration[15]

Subdivisions

Qiqihar is divided into 16 divisions: 7 districts (区 qū), 8 counties (县 xiàn) and 1 county-level city (县级市 xiànjí shì).

# Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Population (2010 est.) Area (km²) Density (/km²)
1 Longsha District 龙沙区 Lóngshā Qū 354,987 283 1,254
2 Jianhua District 建华区 Jiànhuá Qū 292,579 81 3,612
3 Tiefeng District 铁锋区 Tiěfēng Qū 331,951 695 478
4 Ang'angxi District 昂昂溪区 Áng'ángxī Qū 80,109 623 129
5 Fularji District 富拉尔基区 Fùlā'ěrjī Qū 256,159 375 683
6 Nianzishan District 碾子山区 Niǎnzishān Qū 72,151 290 249
7 Meilisi Daur District 梅里斯达斡尔族区 Méilǐsī Dáwò'ěrzú Qū 165,852 1,948 85
8 Nehe City 讷河市 Nēhé Shì 625,892 6,664 94
9 Longjiang County 龙江县 Lóngjiāng Xiàn 572,764 6,197 92
10 Yi'an County 依安县 Yī'ān Xiàn 480,035 3,780 127
11 Tailai County 泰来县 Tàilái Xiàn 302,027 4,061 74
12 Gannan County 甘南县 Gānnán Xiàn 368,734 4,384 84
13 Fuyu County 富裕县 Fùyù Xiàn 276,537 4,335 64
14 Keshan County 克山县 Kèshān Xiàn 403,175 3,632 111
15 Kedong County 克东县 Kèdōng Xiàn 264,285 2,083 127
16 Baiquan County 拜泉县 Bàiquán Xiàn 519,766 3,569 146

Economy


In 2010, Qiqihar's GDP grew 18.5% from the previous year to RMB 85.26 billion, ranking third after Harbin and Daqing in the province.[16] Qiqihar is part of Harbin-Daqing-Qiqihar Industrial Corridor, which is a comprehensive industrial base with a focus on petrochemicals, energy, autos, electronics, medicine and food. Equipment manufacturing and food and beverages are the two pillar industries in the city. Animal husbandry is a pillar of Qiqihar's agricultural sector. Qiqihar is also a major corn production hub in Heilongjiang Province.[17] Qiqihar is home to Qiqihar Heavy CNC Equipment Co Ltd, Qiqihar No.2 Machine & Tool Works and Beidacang Group. Qiqihar Heavy CNC Equipment Co Ltd, formerly known as Qiqihar First Machine & Tool Works, was first established in 1950. It has an annual equipment manufacturing capacity of 1,500 units. Qiqihar No.2 Machine & Tool Works is a leading equipment manufacturer in China. Beidacang Group is a large distilled liquor producer in Heilongjiang Province. It was established in 1914 and converted into a private company in 1999.

Tourism

Sports

It has an indoor speed skating arena, Indoor Ice Rink, as one of four in China.

Qiqihar was previously home to an Asia League Ice Hockey team which used the snow leopard as a mascot. The team later became Changchun Fuao, relocating to Changchun, Jilin Province. Qiqihar played host to the 2007 IIHF World Championships Division I, Group A.

Education

Transport

Qiqihar has a domestic airport (Qiqihar Airport), a railway station, a bus network, and taxis. Qiqihar is a railway transportation hub in western Heilongjiang Province and northeastern Inner Mongolia. Trains from Qiqihar Railway Station connect the city with Harbin, Beijing, Dalian, Hangzhou, Xi'an and several other major cities in China. Qiqihar Airport, 13 km (8.1 mi) from Qiqihar's downtown area, operates daily flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and other major cities in China. In the district of Ang'angxi, the Harbin-Manzhouli Railway intersects with the Qiqihar-Bei'an Railway.

Gallery

Sister Cities

Notes

  1. ↑ 2010年齐齐哈尔市第六次全国人口普查主要数据公报（Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China）
  2. ↑ http://www.qqhr.gov.cn/EN/Overview.htm
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Survey of the City". Qiqihar Municipal Government. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "齐齐哈尔自然环境", Xinhua News, 2006-08-25, retrieved 2010-09-11
  5. ↑ "卜奎清真寺", Qiqihar News, 2005-06-27, retrieved 2010-09-11
  6. ↑ 齐锡鹏 (1989). 齐齐哈尔历史述略. 黑龙江人民出版社Heilongjiang People's Press. ISBN 978-7-207-01417-7.
  7. ↑ Matsuzaka, The Making of Japanese Manchuria, 1904-1932
  8. ↑ "Mustard Gas Victims Prepare Case Against Japan", China.org.cn, 2004-06-28, retrieved 2010-09-11
  9. ↑ "Diplomatic row over poison gas", The Guardian, 2003-08-13, retrieved 2010-09-11
  10. ↑ Zarrow, Peter Gue. [2005] (2005). China in War and Revolution, 1895–1949. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-36447-7. pg 338.
  11. ↑ LTC David M. Glantz, "August Storm: The Soviet 1945 Strategic Offensive in Manchuria". Leavenworth Papers No. 7, Combat Studies Institute, February 1983, Fort Leavenworth Kansas.
  12. ↑ "国务院关于批准唐山等市为“较大的市”的通知".
  13. ↑ "Geography and Topography". Qiqihaer Municipal Government. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "黑龙江省齐齐哈尔市地理位置及气候资源概况". 图骥网. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  15. ↑ 中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集（1971－2000年） (in Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
  16. ↑ Statistics Report on National Economy and Social Development of Qiqihar City in 2010
  17. ↑ Profiles of China Provinces, Cities and Industrial Parks

External links