Dandong (丹东)

1. Introduction

Dandong City, formerly known as Andong, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China. It is an important border port in Liaoning Province and a central city in the eastern Liaoning region. Located in the southeast of Liaoning Province at the confluence of the Yalu River and the Yellow Sea, its southwestern border adjoins Dalian City, its western border connects with Anshan City and Liaoyang City, its northern border reaches Benxi City, and it faces Sinuiju City, North Pyongan Province of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea across the river to the east. Situated in the eastern Liaoning mountainous and hilly area, the terrain is higher in the north and lower in the south. The Yalu River serves as the border river between China and North Korea, with the Shuifeng Reservoir and Taipingwan Reservoir built on its upper reaches. Tributaries of the Yalu River such as the Hun River and Ai River flow through the city's territory, and the Dayang River flows into the Yellow Sea in the south. The city's total area is 15,290 square kilometers. It administers 3 municipal districts, 2 county-level cities, and 1 autonomous county. The municipal people's government is located in Zhenxing District. As of the end of 2023, Dandong City had a permanent population of 2.092 million. Dandong is situated at the intersection of the Bohai Rim region and the Liaoning Coastal Economic Belt. It is China's largest border city, a key national pilot zone for development and opening-up along the border, and a coastal open city. It serves as the main land route connecting the Korean Peninsula with China and the Eurasian continent, and it marks the easternmost starting point of the Great Wall of China and the northernmost starting point of China's coastline. Dandong City is China's largest trade port city with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the largest distribution center for trade goods with North Korea, and a trade logistics hub. Trade with North Korea accounts for 40% of the city's total trade volume.

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2. History

2.1 Pre-Qin Period

Dandong and Sinuiju were originally areas inhabited by Dongyi tribes and were once part of Gija Joseon and Wiman Joseon.

2.2 Qin Dynasty to Ming and Qing Dynasties

• The Qin Dynasty (221 BC–206 BC) occupied this area, placing it under Liaodong Commandery. A large number of Dongyi people migrated south to the Korean Peninsula.
• During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–9 AD), Wuci County and Xi'anping County were established, both under Liaodong Commandery.
• During the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD), the area remained under Liaodong Commandery. It was later controlled by the warlord Gongsun Du during the reign of Emperor Xian.
• During the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD), it was part of Liaodong Commandery. In the second year of the Jingchu era (238 AD) under Emperor Ming of Cao Wei, the Cao Wei state eliminated Gongsun Yuan.
• During the Western Jin Dynasty (265–316 AD), it was part of Liaodong Commandery.
• During the Eastern Jin and Sixteen Kingdoms period (317–420 AD), the area of present-day Dandong City fell under the control of the Former Yan, Former Qin, and Later Yan states. Except for the eastern region, which was briefly occupied by Goguryeo, it remained under the administration of Liaodong Commandery. In the fifth year of the Yixi era (409 AD) under Emperor An of Eastern Jin, the entire area of present-day Dandong City was occupied by Goguryeo.
• During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Northern Wei, and Sui Dynasty (420–618 AD), the area was occupied by Goguryeo.
• During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), the area was initially part of Goguryeo. In the first year of the Zongzhang era (668 AD) under Emperor Gaozong, it was incorporated into Tang rule. The Tang implemented a system of circuits, prefectures, and counties in the Northeast. The Andong Protectorate was established in the area of present-day Dandong City. In the eighth year of the Kaiyuan era (720 AD), the Balhae kingdom, founded by the Mohe people, established the Yalu Prefecture covering half of present-day Dandong's urban area.
• During the Liao Dynasty (907–1125 AD), it was under the jurisdiction of the "Shu Jurchens." Yin Prefecture and Kai Prefecture were established in present-day Donggang and Fengcheng (under Dandong's administration), respectively. Laiyuan City was built at Jiuliancheng in the present-day suburbs of Dandong.
• During the Jin Dynasty (1115–1234 AD), the Posu Prefecture was established.
• During the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368 AD), it was part of Posu Prefecture, later changed to a Patrol and Inspection Office. The western part also included territory from Jian'an County of Gaizhou.
• During the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD), the Liaodong Regional Military Commission was established. In the 16th year of the Chenghua era (1480 AD) under Emperor Xianzong, Tangzhan Fort was built, and in the 17th year (1481 AD), Nuocheng was built. In the 47th year of the Wanli era (1619 AD) under Emperor Shenzong, the Ming fought the Later Jin in the Battle of Sarhu. Dandong subsequently fell under Later Jin control.
• During the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912 AD), it was under the jurisdiction of the Shengjing General. In the second year of the Guangxu era (1876 AD), Andong County was established under Fengtian Province. From this time, Dandong began to develop into a relatively populous town around the Shahe Town area in the present-day city center.

2.3 Modern and Contemporary Era

• December 1937: The puppet state of Manchukuo established Andong City, under Andong Province.
• June 1947: The Communist Party of China established the Andong City Democratic Government, under Andong Province.
• April 1949: The Andong Province administrative structure was abolished, and Liaodong Province was established with Andong City as its capital.
• 1945–1949: Dandong City was under the jurisdiction of Andong Province.
• 1954: Liaodong and Liaoxi Provinces merged to form Liaoning Province. Andong City became a province-administered city.
• 1959: Andong County (now Donggang City), Fengcheng County (now Fengcheng City), Xiuyan County, and Kuandian County were placed under the administration of Andong City.
• 1965: Approved by the State Council, the city was renamed Dandong City.
• December 1965: Zhuanghe County (now Zhuanghe City) and Huanren County were placed under the administration of Dandong City.
• December 1968: Zhuanghe County was transferred to Dalian City's jurisdiction, and Huanren County was transferred to Benxi City's jurisdiction.
• March 18, 1988: Dandong City was approved by the State Council of China as an open coastal city.
• September 7, 1989: Kuandian County was abolished, and Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County was established.
• 1991: Xiuyan County was transferred to Anshan City's jurisdiction.
• July 7, 1992: The State Council of China approved the Dandong Riverside Development Zone as a National Border Economic Cooperation Zone, one of 14 such zones in the country at the time.
• May 2005: The Border Cooperation Zone was renamed the Jiangwan Cooperation Zone.
• August 22, 2015: The Guomen Bay Sino-North Korean Border Residents' Mutual Trade Zone, with a total investment exceeding 1 billion yuan, covering 40,000 square meters, and integrating functions such as exhibition and trade, wholesale and retail, and warehousing and logistics, was officially inaugurated. The trade zone adopts an "Internet + Mutual Trade" operational model, aiming to establish a mutual trade e-commerce industrial park and create a "Mutual Trade Port" based domestically and radiating to Dandong and even Northeast Asia. Within the Guomen Bay Sino-North Korean Border Residents' Mutual Trade Zone in Dandong, border residents holding border resident certificates and living within 20 kilometers of the land border in the Dandong border area can enjoy a policy of exemption from import tariffs and import-related taxes on goods purchased in the trade zone, with a daily limit of 8,000 RMB per person. Simultaneously, border residents from both China and North Korea can also engage in equivalent exchange and barter trade within the mutual trade zone.

2.4 Major Historical Events

• 1621: The Great Victory of Zhenjiang, the First Sino-Japanese War (Battle of the Yalu River), the Russo-Japanese War, the Korean War.

3. Geography

3.1 Location

Dandong is situated at the confluence of the Yalu River and the Yellow Sea, in the southeastern part of the Liaodong Peninsula. It faces Sinuiju of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea across the river. Located between 123°22' to 125°41' east longitude and 39°43' to 41°09' north latitude, it has a 306-kilometer border line and a 125.8-kilometer coastline, comprising a 93.3-kilometer mainland coastline and a 32.5-kilometer island coastline. It neighbors Benxi, Anshan, Liaoyang, Dalian, and Tonghua in Jilin Province. The city spans approximately 196 kilometers from east to west and 165 kilometers from north to south, with a total area of 15,217 square kilometers. This includes an urban area of 563 square kilometers and a built-up area of 49.5 square kilometers.

3.2 Topography

Apart from most of the Donggang coastal plain, the Dandong region belongs to the Liaodong hilly area and is an extension of the Changbai Mountains. The terrain gradually slopes downward from the northeast to the southwest. The landform is predominantly mountainous and hilly. Based on elevation and topographic features, it can be divided into three geomorphic units: the northern mid-low mountain area, the southern hilly area, and the southern coastal plain area. Mountains and hills account for 72% of the total area, plains for 15%, water bodies for 9%, and other types for 4%. Off the coast lie islands such as Dalu Island and Zhang Island. Major river systems include the Yalu River, Hun River, Ai River, and Dayang River. The highest peak in the city is Huabo Mountain, with an elevation of 1,336.1 meters. There are also dormant volcanoes like Qingyi Mountain and Huangyi Mountain.

3.3 Climate

• Annual average temperature: 8.9°C.
• Average temperature of the coldest month (January): −7.4°C.
• Average temperature of the hottest month (August): 23.4°C.
• Extreme minimum temperature: −28.0°C (February 3, 1952).
• Extreme maximum temperature: 37.3°C (August 1, 2018).

Meteorological Data for Dandong City (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|------|------|------| | Record high °C (°F) | 8.3 (46.9) | 15.2 (59.4) | 19.6 (67.3) | 27.3 (81.1) | 30.3 (86.5) | 34.5 (94.1) | 35.3 (95.5) | 37.3 (99.1) | 32.0 (89.6) | 27.5 (81.5) | 20.5 (68.9) | 13.0 (55.4) | 37.3 (99.1) | | Average high °C (°F) | -2.4 (27.7) | 1.7 (35.1) | 7.4 (45.3) | 14.8 (58.6) | 20.4 (68.7) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.7 (80.1) | 28.0 (82.4) | 24.2 (75.6) | 17.3 (63.1) | 7.7 (45.9) | 0.0 (32.0) | 14.2 (57.5) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -7.3 (18.9) | -3.6 (25.5) | 2.1 (35.8) | 9.2 (48.6) | 15.2 (59.4) | 19.9 (67.8) | 23.1 (73.6) | 23.6 (74.5) | 18.6 (65.5) | 11.4 (52.5) | 2.8 (37.0) | -4.6 (23.7) | 9.2 (48.6) | | Average low °C (°F) | -11.4 (11.5) | -7.9 (17.8) | -2.1 (28.2) | 4.5 (40.1) | 10.8 (51.4) | 16.3 (61.3) | 20.4 (68.7) | 20.4 (68.7) | 14.3 (57.7) | 6.7 (44.1) | -1.2 (29.8) | -8.3 (17.1) | 5.2 (41.4) | | Record low °C (°F) | -27.8 (-18.0) | -28.0 (-18.4) | -25.2 (-13.4) | -7.0 (19.4) | 1.5 (34.7) | 5.3 (41.5) | 12.1 (53.8) | 9.5 (49.1) | 2.6 (36.7) | -5.8 (21.6) | -14.9 (5.2) | -23.8 (-10.8) | -28.0 (-18.4) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 7.9 (0.31) | 12.5 (0.49) | 22.5 (0.89) | 51.5 (2.03) | 78.5 (3.09) | 106.3 (4.19) | 266.0 (10.47) | 227.6 (8.96) | 98.7 (3.89) | 47.2 (1.86) | 29.2 (1.15) | 13.6 (0.54) | 961.5 (37.87) | | Average precipitation days (≥0.1 mm) | 3.8 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 8.2 | 9.8 | 11.7 | 15.6 | 12.0 | 7.9 | 6.8 | 6.2 | 3.9 | 94.5 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 56 | 55 | 60 | 66 | 73 | 81 | 88 | 85 | 78 | 69 | 63 | 59 | 69 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 195.0 | 199.7 | 228.4 | 234.0 | 243.4 | 212.9 | 159.3 | 199.5 | 225.5 | 215.5 | 171.7 | 174.0 | 2,458.9 | | Percentage of possible sunshine | 66 | 67 | 62 | 59 | 55 | 48 | 35 | 47 | 61 | 63 | 57 | 60 | 55 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Dandong City currently administers 3 municipal districts, 1 autonomous county, and manages 2 county-level cities on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Yuanbao District, Zhenxing District, Zhen'an District
• County-level Cities: Donggang City, Fengcheng City
• Autonomous County: Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County
• Fengcheng City enjoys policy treatment for ethnic minority regions.

Additionally, Dandong City has established the national-level Dandong Border Economic Cooperation Zone.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Of which: Ethnic Townships | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 210600 | Dandong City | Dandong Shi | 15,289.61 | 2,188,436 | Zhenxing District | 118000 | 21 | 59 | 5 | 3 | | 210602 | Yuanbao District | Yuanbao Qu | 91.10 | 202,325 | Badao Subdistrict | 118000 | 4 | 1 | | | | 210603 | Zhenxing District | Zhenxing Qu | 198.75 | 423,538 | Zhanqian Subdistrict | 118002 | 7 | 3 | | | | 210604 | Zhen'an District | Zhen'an Qu | 651.30 | 189,995 | Yalujiang Subdistrict | 118001 | 4 | 5 | | | | 210624 | Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County | Kuandian Manzu Zizhixian | 6,111.53 | 334,636 | Kuandian Town | 118200 | | 19 | 3 | 1 | | 210681 | Donggang City | Donggang Shi | 2,398.82 | 568,566 | Xinxing Subdistrict | 118300 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 1 | | 210682 | Fengcheng City | Fengcheng Shi | 5,515.23 | 469,376 | Fenghuangcheng Subdistrict | 118100 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 1 |

5. Economy

Dandong serves as a hub within the Northeast Asian Economic Circle, the Bohai Rim Economic Circle, and the Liaoning Coastal Economic Belt. The economy of Dandong is primarily composed of industry, agriculture, and foreign trade. The industrial sector is dominated by light industry, with a smaller presence of heavy industry. Key light industries include silk, newsprint, chemical fibers, and electronics. Heavy industry mainly consists of automobile manufacturing and axle production, with the well-known brand being the "Huanghai" bus. Agriculture focuses on the production of grains, fruits, and vegetables, supplemented by forestry, animal husbandry, tussah silkworm breeding, and fisheries. Foreign trade is primarily conducted with North Korea and South Korea, with a smaller volume of trade with Japan. In 2018, Dandong's regional GDP reached 81.67 billion yuan.

6. Transportation

6.1 Aviation

Dandong Langtou International Airport is located 13.7 kilometers from downtown Dandong. It officially commenced operations on April 29, 1985, and currently operates direct flights connecting Dandong with major and medium-sized cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Sanya, Harbin, and Chengdu.

• Langtou Airport
• Langtou Airport
• Dandong Railway Station
• Dandong Railway Station
• Dandong Passenger Transport Terminal
• Dandong Passenger Transport Terminal
• Sino-Korean Yalu River Boundary Highway Bridge
• Sino-Korean Yalu River Boundary Highway Bridge
• Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge
• Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge

6.2 Highways

Dandong City has a total of 1,102 highways at various levels, with a total ordinary highway mileage of 7,194 kilometers. This includes 2 national highways spanning 391 kilometers, 7 provincial highways spanning 718 kilometers, 33 county-level highways spanning 1,076 kilometers, 215 township-level highways spanning 2,230 kilometers, and 845 village-level highways spanning 2,779 kilometers. Three expressways—Heda Expressway, Danfu Expressway, and Danxi Expressway—pass through Dandong. Additionally, there are two national highways, G201 and G304, as well as the under-construction G228 and G331. The total number of bridges is 3,015, with a combined length of 84,447 meters. Access to Sinuiju, North Korea, is available via the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge and the under-construction New Yalu River Bridge.

6.3 Railway

Dandong has a railway network of 260 kilometers. The main conventional-speed railway lines include the Shen-Dan Line (Shenyang to Dandong), Feng-Shang Line (Fengcheng to Shanghekou), and Tong-Guan Line (Tonghua to Guanshui), all of which are part of the Eastern Northeast Railway Network. High-speed railways include the Shen-Dan Passenger Dedicated Line and the Dan-Da Intercity Railway. Dandong connects to the main railway trunk lines, the Beijing-Harbin Passenger Dedicated Line and the Beijing-Harbin Line, via the Shen-Dan Passenger Dedicated Line and the Shen-Dan Line. It also connects to the Eastern Northeast Urban Agglomeration via the Feng-Shang Line and the Tong-Guan Line. Dandong's railway system can connect to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, via the Yalu River Bridge. The international through train from Beijing to Pyongyang passes through Dandong Station for border crossing, making the Yalu River Bridge a landmark structure in Dandong. Dandong Railway Station is 277 kilometers from Shenyang, 220 kilometers from Pyongyang (North Korea), and 420 kilometers from Seoul (South Korea). It is an important component of the Trans-Asian Railway, connecting Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, and Russia.

6.4 Port

Dandong Port currently administers two port areas: Dadong (seaport) and Langtou (river port), with a total of 19 productive berths and an annual handling capacity of 40 million tons. It has a storage yard area of 5 million square meters and a channel depth of -9 meters. It has established routes for bulk cargo, containers, and passenger transport with over 50 countries, including Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia. Currently, passenger ships depart daily from Dadong Port to Incheon Port and Busan Port in South Korea. Tourists traveling to South Korea can take a ship from Dandong Dadong Port, with ticket prices varying from low to high. In 2009, Dandong Port began a comprehensive push into deep-water areas, starting construction on two large port basins and over 10 large berths. The Dadonggou No.1 100,000-ton port basin has been completed, and the embankment for the Dadonggou No.2 port basin is under rapid construction. Three 50,000-ton grain berths have been completed, while preliminary work for 50,000-ton container and multi-purpose berths, 100,000-ton ore, oil, and general-purpose berths, and 200,000-ton ore and oil berths is fully underway. The 150,000-ton channel project and turning basin dredging project are actively progressing. Supporting port projects, including a 5-million-square-meter freight yard, an international passenger terminal, production and living auxiliary areas, port railways, and highway transportation networks, are being fully implemented. Additionally, Dandong's shipbuilding and repair base continues to expand, forming the capability to build large vessels. The first phase of the 2-million-ton soybean oil processing base has been completed. Efforts are also being made to develop a comprehensive port service support system, establish a port integrated business center, and vigorously promote the construction of an electronic port, aiming to make Dandong Port an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and convenient port. The goal is to achieve a handling capacity of 60 million tons by 2010 and reach the scale of a modern large port with 150 million tons capacity before 2015.

6.5 Waterways

Dandong currently has 7 waterways, with a total length of 472 kilometers. This includes 292 kilometers of the Sino-Korean boundary river Yalu River waterway, 71 kilometers of the free navigation area waterway between China and North Korea, and 109 kilometers of local inland river waterways.

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7. Population

According to household registration statistics, the total population at the end of 2022 was 2.273 million, of which the urban population was 1.045 million. Within the total population, the male population was 1.129 million, and the female population was 1.143 million, resulting in a male-to-female ratio of 99:100. Throughout the year, the in-migration population was 5,000, and the out-migration population was 10,000. The annual number of births was 8,553, with a birth rate of 3.75‰; the number of deaths was 21,727, with a mortality rate of 9.52‰, leading to a natural population growth rate of -5.77‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 2,188,436. Compared with the 2,444,697 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a decrease of 256,261 people over the ten-year period, a decline of 10.48%, with an average annual growth rate of -1.1%. Among them, the male population was 1,088,067, accounting for 49.72% of the total population; the female population was 1,100,369, accounting for 50.28% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 98.88. The population aged 0–14 was 214,285, accounting for 9.79% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,338,580, accounting for 61.17% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 635,571, accounting for 29.04% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 437,576, accounting for 19.99% of the total population. The urban population was 1,507,471, accounting for 68.88% of the total population; the rural population was 680,965, accounting for 31.12% of the total population.

7.1 Ethnic Groups

Dandong City is home to 29 ethnic groups, including the Han, Manchu, Mongolian, Hui, Korean, and Xibe ethnicities. Among the ethnic minorities, the Manchu population is the largest, constituting 32% of the city's total population.

Among the city's resident population, the Han population was 1,413,438, accounting for 64.59%; the total population of ethnic minorities was 774,998, accounting for 35.41%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population decreased by 191,806, a decline of 11.95%, with its share of the total population decreasing by 1.08 percentage points; the total population of ethnic minorities decreased by 64,455, a decline of 7.68%, with its share of the total population increasing by 1.08 percentage points. Specifically, the Manchu population decreased by 62,765, a decline of 8.13%, with its share of the total population increasing by 0.83 percentage points; the Mongolian population decreased by 1,071, a decline of 4.13%, with its share of the total population increasing by 0.08 percentage points; the Korean population decreased by 115, a decline of 0.68%, with its share of the total population increasing by 0.08 percentage points.

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8. Culture

8.1 Dialects

The dialects of Dandong City, Donggang, and Kuandian belong to the Jiaoliao Mandarin group. This linguistic characteristic formed due to the warfare and famine in the Jiaodong Peninsula during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China era, which drove many refugees from inside the Shanhai Pass to venture into Northeast China (Chuang Guandong). They eventually settled on the Liaodong Peninsula, creating a small northeastern enclave of Jiaodong Mandarin. In contrast, the dialect of the Fengcheng area belongs to Northeastern Mandarin.

8.2 Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level

• Fenghuangshan Mountain Fortress
• Yalu River Broken Bridge
• Qianyang Cave Site
• Houwa Site
• Dongshan Large Stone Slab Tombs
• Xiahekou Highway Broken Bridge Site from the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea

9. Sister Cities

• Wilmington, North Carolina, USA (April 16, 1987)
• Doncaster, United Kingdom (October 1, 1991)
• Tokushima, Japan (October 1, 1991)
• Uijeongbu, South Korea (November 27, 1997)
• Astrakhan, Russia (July 14, 1993)

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Zhenxing District

Donggang City

The Han population accounts for 64.59%; ethnic minorities make up 35.41%.

Ginkgo

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