Weifang
| Weifang 潍坊市 | |
|---|---|
| Prefecture-level city | |
|
Top: Panorama view of Zhucheng area, Middle left:Arch of Dongfengjie Bridge area, Middle right:Weifang Kite Museum, Bottom left:Stature of Lu Ban, nearby Weifang People's Park, Bottom right:Fangci historial heritage area | |
 Location of Weifang City jurisdiction in Shandong | |
  Weifang Location in China | |
| Coordinates: 36°43′N 119°06′E / 36.717°N 119.100°ECoordinates: 36°43′N 119°06′E / 36.717°N 119.100°E | |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Province | Shandong |
| Municipal seat | Kuiwen District |
| Subdivisions | |
| Government | |
| • Party Secretary | Du Changwen |
| • Mayor | Liu Shuguang |
| Area | |
| • Prefecture-level city | 16,143.14 km2 (6,232.90 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 2,646.1 km2 (1,021.7 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,746.6 km2 (1,446.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 32 m (106 ft) |
| Population (2010 census) | |
| • Prefecture-level city | 9,086,241 |
| • Density | 560/km2 (1,500/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 2,044,028 |
| • Urban density | 770/km2 (2,000/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 2,659,938 |
| • Metro density | 710/km2 (1,800/sq mi) |
| • Major nationalities | Han Chinese |
| Time zone | China Standard (UTC+8) |
| Postal code |
261000 (Urban center) 261300, 261500, 262100, 262200, 262400-262700 (Other areas) |
| Area code(s) | 536 |
| License plate prefixes | 鲁G &鲁V |
| GDP | CNY 478.67 billion (2014) |
| Coastline | 113 kilometres (70 mi) |
| Website | http://www.weifang.gov.cn/ |
- For the World War II civilian internment camp at Weifang see Weihsien Compound.
Weifang (simplified Chinese: 潍坊; traditional Chinese: 濰坊; pinyin: Wéifāng) is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders Dongying to the northwest, Zibo to the west, Linyi to the southwest, Rizhao to the south, Qingdao to the east, and looks out to the Laizhou Bay to the north. Its population was 9,086,241 at the 2010 census whom 2,659,938 in the built-up (or metro) area made up of 4 urban districts (Kuiwen, Weicheng, Hanting and Fangzi) and Changle County largely being urbanized.[1]
History
Weifang is a historical city with well-known figures. Emperor Shun of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period, the politician Yan Ying of the Spring and Autumn Period, the Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the agriculturist Jia Simiao of the Northern Wei Dynasty were all from Weifang. Kong Rong, Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Su Dongpo, Zheng Banqiao, et al. have worked in Weifang historically. In more recent years, revolutionists, writers and artists, such as Wang Jinmei, Chen Shaomin, Wang Yuanjian, Wang Tongzhao, Zang Kejia are well known in China.
Weifang also has numerous historical relics and other tourist sites, such as Shihu Garden (from the Late Ming and early Qing Dynasty), Fangong Pavilion (from the Song Dynasty), fossil sites (including dinosaur fossils, in Shanwang, Linqu), Mount Yi National Forest Park, Mount Qingyun and the Old Dragon Spring. Painted New Year woodcuts from Yangjiabu are also well known.
Administration
The prefecture-level city of Weifang administers 12 county-level divisions, including 4 districts, 6 county-level cities and 2 counties.
| Map | ||
|---|---|---|
| Subdivision | Chinese | Pinyin |
| Weicheng District | 潍城区 | Wéichéng Qū |
| Hanting District | 寒亭区 | Hántíng Qū |
| Fangzi District | 坊子区 | Fāngzǐ Qū |
| Kuiwen District | 奎文区 | Kuǐwén Qū |
| Linqu County | 临朐县 | Línqú Xiàn |
| Changle County | 昌乐县 | Chānglè Xiàn |
| Qingzhou | 青州市 | Qīngzhōu Shì |
| Zhucheng | 诸城市 | Zhūchéng Shì |
| Shouguang | 寿光市 | Shòuguāng Shì |
| Anqiu | 安丘市 | Ānqiū Shì |
| Gaomi | 高密市 | Gāomì Shì |
| Changyi | 昌邑市 | Chāngyì Shì |
Geography
Nearby major cities include Jinan and Zibo to the west, Yantai to the northeast and Qingdao to the southeast.
Weifang has a monsoon-influenced, four-season climate, on the very borderline between humid continental and humid subtropical (Köppen Dwa/Cwa, respectively), with hot, humid summers, and cold but dry winters. Monthly daily average temperatures range from −2.9 °C (26.8 °F) in January to 26.2 °C (79.2 °F) in July, and the annual mean is 12.49 °C (54.5 °F). More than 70% of the annual precipitation occurs from June to September, and sunshine is generally abundant year-round. A majority of the annual precipitation occurs in July and August alone. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 47% in July to 62% in April, the city receives 2,536 hours of bright sunshine annually, sunshine is abundant except during the summer months.
| Climate data for Weifang (1971–2000) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) |
5.8 (42.4) |
12.3 (54.1) |
20.2 (68.4) |
25.8 (78.4) |
30.1 (86.2) |
31.2 (88.2) |
30.1 (86.2) |
26.6 (79.9) |
20.7 (69.3) |
12.6 (54.7) |
5.7 (42.3) |
18.7 (65.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −7.3 (18.9) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
0.0 (32) |
6.9 (44.4) |
12.4 (54.3) |
18.1 (64.6) |
22.0 (71.6) |
21.1 (70) |
15.3 (59.5) |
8.9 (48) |
1.5 (34.7) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
7.4 (45.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 7.0 (0.276) |
11.6 (0.457) |
15.9 (0.626) |
25.8 (1.016) |
39.8 (1.567) |
76.5 (3.012) |
155.2 (6.11) |
127.1 (5.004) |
61.2 (2.409) |
39.1 (1.539) |
19.1 (0.752) |
10.0 (0.394) |
588.3 (23.162) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 12.5 | 10.2 | 6.8 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 75.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 63 | 61 | 58 | 58 | 62 | 66 | 80 | 81 | 73 | 69 | 67 | 64 | 66.8 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 176.4 | 176.1 | 215.6 | 241.9 | 267.7 | 241.8 | 208.8 | 221.1 | 222.9 | 211.5 | 179.6 | 172.9 | 2,536.3 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 58 | 58 | 58 | 62 | 61 | 55 | 47 | 53 | 60 | 61 | 59 | 58 | 57 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration | |||||||||||||
Economy
Established in August 1995, Weifang Binhai Economic & Technological Development Area (BEDA) is a national economic and technological development area approved by the State Council. Covering an area of 677 km2 (261 sq mi), BEDA has a population of 100,000. BEDA possesses a large state-owned industrial land for use with an area of 400 km2 (150 sq mi). The land can be transacted conveniently which would guarantee the demand of any project construction and provide broad development space for the enterprises in the area. Continuously, BEDA has been accredited as National Demonstration Zone invigorating the Sea by Science and Technology, National Innovation Base for Rejuvenating Trade through Science and Technology and National Demonstration Eco-Industry Park.
The city is home to the large diesel engine company and factory Weichai. The village of Yangjiabu in Hanting District is famous for folk wood-block print (nianhua) and kite production.
In the 1980s, a large sapphire mine was discovered in Changle (昌乐县). According to released information, billions of carats of sapphire are estimated to lie under the 450 km2 mine territory. It has become one of the top four sapphire mines in the world. The main feature of this sapphire is the dark blue or close to black color because of the high iron content.
Military
Weifang is headquarters of the 26th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army, one of the three group armies that comprise the Jinan Military Region responsible for defense of the Yellow River Plain.
Culture
Kite flying
Kite flying is a traditional custom among the people in Weifang in spring time. In 1984, the first international kite festival was held in Weifang. More than ten thousand kite fans attended the opening ceremony. People from eleven different countries and regions, including the United States and Canada, took part in the festival, flying kites. Since then, Weifang holds the Weifang International Kite Festival each year. It is held each April.[2]
Painting
Annual Board of Yangjiabu (杨家埠木版年画), one of the three most famous Chinese folk paintings in history, began from the end of the Ming Dynasty. It reached the peak of its development during the Qing Dynasty. People usually replace the old Annual Broads with the new ones on the eve of Spring Festival, which is the most important festival in China, in order to give blessings to the family and friends for the following year. The subjects of Annual Board of Yangjiabu are various, which include flowers, beauties, landscapes, characters from myths and legends. The architecture skills such as concise lines and bright colors reflect the distinctive characteristics of people in Weifang.
Papercutting
Papercutting, the art of cutting paper designs, has a long history in the city of Gaomi. This widespread handicraft has unique styles, such as strong contrast in color, straight and simple line and exaggerated outline. The characters mostly come from the dramatic stories, flowers and birds, as well as some fantastic symbols.
Cuisine
- Ji-Ya Hele ("鸡鸭和乐") Weifang Ji-Ya Hele is said to have originated in Shanxi Province, China. Later on, it was brought to Weifang, Shandong Province. The name "Hele" (和乐), a kind of noodle, was developed from the word "Helou" (河漏), a noodle name once used in history.
Weifang Ji-Ya Hele is cooked with various ingredients, stewed with chicken and duck soup. To make delicious "Hele" Noodles, we need to put the "Hele" noodles into the pot. After it is fully boiled, add chicken, duck, Sliced Meatball, salted vegetables and spicy oil in the noodles. In 1997, Ji-Ya Hele was honored as a "Chinese Famous Snack" by China Cuisine Association.
Notable people
- Zheng Xuan (127–200), Eastern Han Dynasty Confucian scholar
- Liu Yong (1719–1805), renowned Qing Dynasty bureaucrat
- Mo Yan (1955 - ）, real named Guan Moye, renowned writer, awarded Nobel Prize for Literature in 2012.
- Fei Fei Sun (1989), Fashion Model
References
- ↑ China: Administrative Division of Shāndōng / 山东省 (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) – Population Statistics in Maps and Charts. Citypopulation.de. Retrieved on 2015-11-26.
- ↑ Pictures of the 22nd Weifang Kite Festival Archived May 25, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weifang. |
- Government website of Weifang (in Simplified Chinese)
- Official website of the Weifang International Kite Festival (in Simplified Chinese)
- Yangjiabu Nianhua (in Simplified Chinese)
- Weifang Medical University students website (in Simplified Chinese)
- Weifang News (In Simplified Chinese)
- Weifang Information (In Simplified Chinese)
- Weifang Binhai (In Simplified Chinese)
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