Tongling (铜陵)

1. Introduction

Tongling City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Anhui Province, People's Republic of China, located in the southern part of Anhui Province. The city borders Hefei City to the northwest, Wuhu City to the north and east, Chizhou City to the south, and Anqing City to the west. Situated in the transitional zone between the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain and the hilly areas of southern Anhui, the central part of the city consists of alluvial plains along the river, while the southeastern and northwestern parts are dominated by low mountains and hills. The Yangtze River flows from southwest to northeast, dividing the city into eastern and western parts, with sandbars such as Heyuezhou, Laozhou, and Xuba located within the river. To the west of the Yangtze River, there are lakes including Chenyao Lake, Baidang Lake, and Caizi Lake. The total area of the city is 2,991 square kilometers, with a total population of 1.608 million. Tongling is renowned worldwide for its copper production and is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese bronze culture. The history of copper mining and smelting dates back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties three thousand years ago, earning it the reputation of the "Ancient Copper Capital of China." Tongling is a hub for railways such as the Nanjing–Tongling, Tongling–Jiujiang, and Hefei–Tongling lines, serving as a significant port in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and a member of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. The People's Government of Tongling City is located at No. 666 Hudong Road, Tongguan District.

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2. History

• During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the government established the Tongguan Town here.
• In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, due to wars in the north, a large number of refugees from Shanxi migrated to this area, leading to the establishment of Dingling County as an administrative enclave.
• During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, specifically the Qi and Liang periods, the government set up copper mining institutions here and established state-run manual workshops.
• After the unification of the Sui Dynasty, Dingling County was merged into Nanling County.
• During the Tang Dynasty, copper mining expanded, and an official copper mine was established, known as the Tongguan Mine. In the late Tang Dynasty, five townships—Gongshan, Anding, Fengtai, Guihua, and Fengzi—were separated from Nanling to establish Yi'an County.
• In 888 AD, Yang Xingmi, the governor of Luzhou, led troops to attack Xuanzhou and camped at the foot of the mountain near the Tongguan Mine. This mountain was first recorded in historical texts as Tongguan Mountain.
• During the Southern Tang Dynasty, Tongguan Mountain was granted the title "Liguo Mountain." In the ninth year of the Baoda era, Yi'an County was renamed Tongling County, and the county seat was moved from Shun'an Town to Tongguan Town.
• In the early Qing Dynasty, the position of Tongguan Supervisor was established here.
• After the Opium War, imperialist powers established companies such as Anyu Company and Lunhua Company to plunder copper resources.
• In 1938, after Japan occupied Tongling, they established the Tongguanshan Mining Co., Ltd.
• On April 21, 1949, after the Crossing the Yangtze Campaign, Tongling became the first liberated city south of the Yangtze River.
• In November 1952, the People's Government established the Tongguanshan Mining Bureau here.
• On October 12, 1956, Tongguanshan City was established.
• On September 5, 1958, Tongguanshan City merged with Tongling County to form Tongling City. At the same time, its administrative jurisdiction was transferred from provincial to Anqing Prefecture.
• On April 3, 1959, the Tongling County administrative division was restored.
• On July 29, 1964, the government and enterprises were merged, and the area was renamed Tongling Special Zone.
• In 1965, Chizhou Prefecture was restored, with its administrative seat in Guichi County. It governed four counties originally under Anqing Prefecture: Guichi, Qingyang, Dongzhi, and Tongling. Shitai County was established from parts of Taiping and Guichi counties. Chizhou Prefecture governed five counties.
• In 1971, Chizhou Prefecture was abolished and replaced by Chizhou Region. Tongling County belonged to Chizhou Region. On December 11, Tongling Special Zone was renamed Tongling City, becoming a provincial-level municipality.
• On March 1, 1974, Tongling County was transferred from Chizhou Region to Tongling City.
• In 2015, with the approval of the State Council, Zongyang County under Anqing City was placed under the jurisdiction of Tongling City. Tongguanshan District and Shizishan District of Tongling City were abolished, and Tongguan District of Tongling City was established. Tongling County was abolished, and Yi'an District of Tongling City was established.

3. Geography

Belongs to a subtropical monsoon climate | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |--------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------|--------|--------|--------|-------|-------|-------|----------| | Record high °C | 21.4 | 28.2 | 32.4 | 33.5 | 35.1 | 38.2 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.5 | 33 | 28.8 | 22.1 | 40.1 | | Record high °F | 70.5 | 82.8 | 90.3 | 92.3 | 95.2 | 100.8 | 104.2 | 104.2 | 101.3 | 91.4 | 83.8 | 71.8 | 104.2 | | Average high °C | 7.3 | 9.8 | 14.5 | 21.2 | 26.6 | 29.3 | 32.8 | 32.2 | 27.9 | 22.7 | 16.4 | 10.1 | 20.9 | | Average high °F | 45.1 | 49.6 | 58.1 | 70.2 | -79.9 | 84.7 | 91 | 90 | 82.2 | 72.9 | 61.5 | 50.2 | 69.6 | | Daily mean °C | 3.6 | 5.9 | 10.1 | 16.4 | 21.8 | 25.2 | 28.6 | 27.9 | 23.6 | 18.1 | 11.9 | 6 | 16.6 | | Daily mean °F | 38.5 | 42.6 | 50.2 | 61.5 | 71.2 | 77.4 | 83.5 | 82.2 | 74.5 | 64.6 | 53.4 | 42.8 | 61.9 | | Average low °C | 0.9 | 2.9 | 6.8 | 12.7 | 18 | 21.8 | 25.4 | 24.7 | 20.3 | 14.7 | 8.4 | 3 | 13.3 | | Average low °F | 33.6 | 37.2 | 44.2 | 54.9 | 64.4 | 71.2 |77.7 | 76.5 |68.5 | 58.5 | 47.1 | 37.4 | 55.9 | | Record low °C | −7.8 | −8.9 | −3.1 | 3 | 9.2 | 13 | 19.1 | 16.7 | 12.8 | 4.6 | −3.8 | −8.2 | −8.9 | | Record low °F | 18 | 16 | 26.4 | 37.4 | 48.6 | 55.4 | 66.4 | 62.1 | 55 | 40.3 | 25.2 | 17.2 | 16 | | Average precipitation mm | 67.9 | 75.8 | 127.7 | 136.3 | 155.3 | 251.5 | 174 | 129.1 | 85.3 | 73.5 | 73.5 | 42.6 | 1,392.50 | | Average precipitation inches | 2.67 | 2.98 | 5.03 | 5.37 | 6.11 | 9.9 | 6.85 | 5.08 | 3.36 | 2.89 | 2.89 | 1.68 | 54.81 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 77 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 79 | 78 | 80 | 80 | 77 | 76 | 73 | 77 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Tongling City currently administers 3 municipal districts and 1 county.

• Municipal Districts: Tongguan District, Yi'an District, Suburban District
• County: Zongyang County In addition, Tongling City has established the following economic management zones: National-level Tongling Economic and Technological Development Zone, Tongling Bridge Economic Development Zone.

| Division Code | Division Name | Hanyu Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | | |-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|---| | 340700 | Tongling City | Tónglíng Shì | 2,990.66 | 1,311,726 | Tongguan District | 244000 | 5 | 27 | 7 | | | 340705 | Tongguan District | Tóngguān Qū | 88.54 | 450,949 | Wumushan Community | 244000 | 2 | 1 | | | | 340706 | Yi'an District | Yì'ān Qū | 845.33 | 227,493 | Shun'an Town | 244100 | 1 | 6 | 2 | | | 340711 | Suburban District | Jiāo Qū | 586.8 | 164,233 | Datong Town | 244000 | 2 | 5 | 1 | | | 340722 | Zongyang County | Zōngyáng Xiàn | 1,470.45 | 469,051 | Zongyang Town | 246700 | | 15 | 4 | |

5. Economy

5.1 Mineral Resources

Tongling is particularly renowned for its abundant natural resources, especially its rich and diverse mineral reserves. The main proven mineral deposits include copper, sulfur, iron, gold, silver, coal, limestone, among which the reserves of copper, gold, silver, iron sulfide, and limestone rank among the top in the province. There are also certain reserves of marble, limestone, bentonite, lead-zinc ore, perlite, potassium feldspar, and quartz. The "Eight Treasures of Tongling" are: gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, ginger, aged garlic, and hemp.

5.2 Industry

Industries include mining, chemical industry, machinery, coal, electric power, cement, and others.

6 Transportation

Tongling is located at the terminus of the Nanjing–Tongling Railway and the starting point of the Tongling–Jiujiang Railway. It is also traversed by the Nanjing–Anqing Passenger Dedicated Line and the Hefei–Fuzhou Passenger Dedicated Line. As of May 15, 2016, Tongling Station operates 36 pairs of passenger trains daily, while Tongling North Station operates 32 pairs daily. Tongling is the intersection of the G3 Beijing–Taipei Expressway (formerly the Hefei–Tongling–Huangshan Expressway, now integrated into the Beijing–Taipei Expressway) and the G50 Shanghai–Chongqing Expressway. National Highway 236 passes through the city. Tongling is approximately 200 kilometers east of Nanjing, about 300 kilometers west of Jiujiang and Mount Lu, roughly 80 kilometers south of Mount Jiuhua, about 120 kilometers south of Mount Huang, and approximately 130 kilometers north of Hefei. The Tongling Yangtze River Bridge was opened to traffic on December 26, 1995, and the Tongling Yangtze River Highway–Railway Bridge was opened on July 1, 2015.

Tongling is about 150 kilometers from Hefei Xinqiao International Airport, and flight tickets can be purchased within the city. It is approximately 20 kilometers from Chizhou Jiuhuashan Airport.

7. Education

• Primary Schools: Changjiang Road Primary School, Experimental Primary School, Huaihe Road Primary School, Yangjiashan Primary School, Tian Jiabing Primary School, etc.;
• Junior High Schools: Tongling No. 15 Middle School, Tongling No. 10 Middle School, Tongling No. 4 Middle School, Tongling No. 12 Middle School, etc.;
• Senior High Schools: There are six Anhui Provincial Exemplary Senior High Schools, including Tongling No. 1 Middle School, Tongling No. 3 Middle School, Tongling Middle School, Zongyang County Fushan Middle School, Anhui Zongyang Middle School, and Zongyang County Huigong Middle School;
• Higher Education Institutions: Tongling University, Tongling Polytechnic, Anhui Industrial Polytechnic.

8. Population

In 2022, the permanent resident population of Tongling City was 1.301 million, a decrease of 5,000 people compared to 2021.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 1,311,726. Compared with the 1,562,670 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a total decrease of 250,944 people over the ten-year period, a decline of 16.06%, with an average annual growth rate of -1.74%. Among them, the male population was 655,329, accounting for 49.96% of the total population; the female population was 656,397, accounting for 50.04% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 99.84. The population aged 0–14 was 188,432, accounting for 14.37% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 825,602, accounting for 62.94% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 297,692, accounting for 22.69% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 229,027, accounting for 17.46% of the total population. The urban population was 867,982, accounting for 66.17% of the total population; the rural population was 443,744, accounting for 33.83% of the total population.

8.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic population was 1,307,565, accounting for 99.68%; the total population of ethnic minorities was 4,161, accounting for 0.32%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic population decreased by 251,007 people, a decline of 16.1%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.05 percentage points; the total population of ethnic minorities increased by 63 people, a growth of 1.54%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.05 percentage points.

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9. Culture

Tongling City is located in the central-eastern part of Anhui Province, serving as a key city between Lu'an City and Huangshan City. It is renowned as the "Ancient Copper Capital of China" and the "Modern Copper Base," boasting a history of copper mining and smelting spanning over 3,000 years. As a nationally designated historical and cultural city, Tongling is not only the birthplace of China's copper industry but also carries a rich legacy of historical and cultural heritage, along with unique cultural charm.

9.1 Bronze Culture

Tongling's bronze culture has a long and profound history, representing one of its most distinctive cultural features. The origins of Tongling's copper culture can be traced back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties. During the Western Han Dynasty, the country's first copper official was established in Tongling to oversee copper smelting and casting. The Tongling Museum displays bronze artifacts from the Shang and Zhou dynasties through the Tang and Song dynasties, including ritual vessels, musical instruments, and wine vessels, all exquisitely crafted and rich in cultural significance. Additionally, Tongling hosts the International Bronze Culture Expo, further enhancing its reputation both domestically and internationally.

9.2 Folk Culture

Tongling's folk culture is diverse and vibrant, blending elements from the Central Plains, Wu-Yue, and Jing-Chu cultures. Folk activities such as the Tumei Festival, the Water Margin Heroes Temple Fair, and dragon boat races showcase the region's strong local characteristics. Moreover, traditional handicrafts like white ginger cultivation and processing, as well as Danpi (tree peony bark) processing, reflect Tongling's profound cultural heritage.

9.3 Natural and Cultural Landscapes

Situated in the mountainous region of southern Anhui, Tongling is rich in natural resources. It features scenic areas such as Longshan Park and Tongshan National Forest Park, as well as national 4A-level tourist attractions like Tianjing Lake and Fushan. The ancient town of Datong, representing the culture of the Yangtze River commercial ports, was once an important harbor for Huizhou merchants' shipping activities.

9.4 Modern Culture and Innovation

In recent years, Tongling has vigorously developed its copper culture industry, focusing on copper sculptures and artworks. It has established cultural spaces such as the International Copper Sculpture Art Park and the Cross-Strait Copper Sculpture Art Research Institute. Additionally, Tongling has developed several study tour routes through the "Copper Culture + Study Tour" model, allowing visitors to gain an in-depth understanding of copper culture through immersive experiences.

9.5 Cultural Heritage and Preservation

As of 2022, Tongling City has 46 municipal-level intangible cultural heritage items and 17 provincial-level intangible cultural heritage items. Ancient sites in Tongling, such as the Jinniudong Ancient Mining Site and the Fushan Cliff Carvings, provide important clues for the study of bronze culture and ancient mining techniques.

10. Sister Cities

Tongling has established sister city relationships with 4 cities in 4 countries:

Antofagasta, Chile Skellefteå Municipality, Sweden Halton, United Kingdom Leiria, Portugal

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Tongling is renowned worldwide for its copper production and is one of the important birthplaces of the Chinese nation's bronze culture.

Tongguan District

Zongyang County

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