Lianyungang

Lianyungang

Lianyungang
连云港
—  Prefecture-level city  —
连云港市
Lianyungang is highlighted on this map
Lianyungang is located in China
Lianyungang
Location in China
Coordinates: 34°36′N 119°10′E / 34.6°N 119.167°E / 34.6; 119.167Coordinates: 34°36′N 119°10′E / 34.6°N 119.167°E / 34.6; 119.167
Country China
Province Jiangsu
Government
 - Mayor Xiu Yiping (许一平)
Area
 - Prefecture-level city 7,444 km2 (2,874.1 sq mi)
 - Urban 880 km2 (339.8 sq mi)
Population (2008)
 - Prefecture-level city 4,822,300
 Urban 715,600
Time zone China Standard (UTC+8)
Postal code 222000
(Urban center)
222100-222300, 222500
(Other areas)
Area code(s) 518
GDP ¥94.1 billion (2009)
GDP per capita ¥21,144 (2009)
Major Nationalities Han
County-level divisions 7
Township-level divisions
License Plate Prefix 苏G
Website http://www.lyg.gov.cn/
Lianyungang
Simplified Chinese 连云港
Traditional Chinese 連雲港
Hanyu Pinyin Liányúngǎng
Literal meaning the port connected to the clouds

Lianyungang (simplified Chinese: 连云港; traditional Chinese: 連雲港; pinyin: Liányúngǎng) is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. It borders Yancheng to its southeast, Huai'an and Suqian to its south, Xuzhou to its southwest, and the province of Shandong to its north. Its name derives from Lian Island (formally Dongxilian Island) the largest island in Jiangsu Province which lies off its coastline, and Yuntai Mountain, the highest peak in Jiangsu Province, a few miles from its town center, and the fact that it is a port.

Lianyungang (as Yuntai Mountain) was one of the four original ports opened up for foreign trade in the 1680s by the Qing Dynasty Government. The others were Ningbo, Xiamen and Guangzhou.

Contents

Administration

The prefecture-level city of Lianyungang administers 7 county-level divisions, including 3 districts and 4 counties.

  • Lianyun District (连云区)
  • Xinpu District (新浦区)
  • Haizhou District (海州区)
  • Donghai County (东海县)
  • Ganyu County (赣榆县)
  • Guanyun County (灌云县)
  • Guannan County (灌南县)

Geography

Lianyungang is situated between 118°24' and 119°48' east longitude and 34°11' and 35°07' north latitude. Lianyungang covers an area of 7,777 km².

Economy

Lianyungang is the eastern end of the New Eurasian Land Bridge and the proposed Northern East West Freight Corridor, is one of the first 14 Chinese coastal cities opening to the outside world, and is a rising centre of industry, foreign trade and tourism in east China.

This port is located in the center of the coast, linking eastern sea routes with western land routes. Both Japan and the Republic of Korea in the east can be reached economically and conveniently from Liangyungang, which is also part of the worldwide network of sea transport. As well as this, the New Eurasia Continental Landbridge and the railway networks in Western Europe continue by land, connecting Lianyungang with over 40 countries and regions in Europe, South Asia and the Middle East.

At present, the Chinese government has clearly stated its intention to build an economic belt along the New Eurasia Continental landbridge in "the 9th Five-Year Plan of the National Economy and Social Development and the Long-range Goal for the Year 2010"; and on "China's 21st Century Agenda", Lianyungang is to be developed into an international seaport linking countries on the Pacific rim with those in Central Asia. In the "National Ocean Development Plan" it is listed as one of three special development zones.

Industry

  • Lianyungang Economic & Technological Development Zone

Lianyungang Economic & Technological Development Zone (LETDZ) was approved by the State Council as one of the first batch of state-level development zones in December 1984,it is located in the eastern new seashore urban area of Liangyungang City. Distance to nearest airport, Liangyungang Airport is 10–20 km and distance to nearest highway G310 is 10–20 km. Distance to nearest port, Lianyungang port is 20–50 km.

  • Lianyungang Export Processing Zone

Lianyungang Export Processing Zone is located in Lianyungang Economic & Technological Development Zone (LETDZ).

Transport

Lianyungang has convenient transport including highway, railway, port, airport. Lianyungang Baitabu Airport (连云港白塔埠机场) provides schedule passenger service to major airports in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Xuzhou, Ningbo, Guilin, Dalian, Shenyang, Guilin, Shenzhen (2009.10.01).

The city serves as the designated starting point for the New Eurasian Land Bridge, a rail link from China to western Europe.

Tourism

Lianyungang is small, but is famous for its Huaguoshan Shuiliandong (花果山, 水帘洞) attraction. Shuiliandong literally means the "Water Curtain Hole," since, according to legend, the hole was hidden behind a waterfall, therefore resembling a "curtain of water." The hole is famous because according to legend it is the home of Sun Wukong also commonly known as the Monkey King from the epic novel Journey to the West. In this hole, underneath the mountain is where he and his monkey subjects lived. After learning The Way, the Monkey King travelled back to the hole behind the waterfall so that he and his subjects could eat and play for eternity. Eventually, the Jade Emperor sent several heavenly armies to battle him at this very spot because of his misdeeds. While the Monkey King story is a work of fiction, Xuanzang the monk who he accompanies on the journey of the novel, was based on a historical person.

Family planning

In a nation with a male-to-female ratio that is skewed toward males, Lianyungang is a typical example. According to the China Family Planning Association, there are 133.5 boys for every 100 girls in the city, mainly due to females being aborted.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Lianyungang is twinned with:

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