Panjin (盘锦)

1. Introduction

Panjin City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China, located in the central-southern part of Liaoning, at the lower reaches of the Liao River. The city borders Jinzhou City to the west and north, Anshan City to the east, Yingkou City to the southeast, and faces the Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Sea to the south. It is the northernmost coastal prefecture-level city in China. The municipal people's government is located in Dawa District.

Panjin City is one of the important petroleum and industrial cities in Liaoning Province and the entire Northeast China region. Established in 1984 with the approval of the State Council, it is home to China's third-largest oil field, the Liaohe Oil Field, and the emerging China Petrochemical Corporation's top 500 enterprise, Huajin Chemical Group. The jurisdiction hosts numerous oil extraction plants, such as the Shuguang Oil Extraction Plant, Xinglongtai Oil Extraction Plant, and Gaosheng Oil Extraction Plant. Additionally, the city contains the second-largest marsh area in Northeast China, covering an area of 15,000 mu.

2. Origin of the Name

The name "Panjin" originated from the Panjin Reed Farm established by the Ministry of Light Industry in 1950 at the border of Panshan County and Jin County. One account suggests that "Panjin" in Panjin Reed Farm came from the nearby Panjin River, while another explanation is that it was formed by combining the first characters of Panshan County and Jin County, indicating that the reed farm was situated between the two counties.

Today, Panjin City is also known as the "Oil City" and the "Crane Homeland."

3. History

The area under the jurisdiction of Panjin City was part of the territory of the State of Yan during the Warring States period and belonged to Liaoxi Commandery in the late Han Dynasty. During the Jin Dynasty and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it was occupied by Goguryeo.

After the Tang Dynasty conquered Goguryeo, a Protectorate was established, later renamed Xianning Prefecture. During the Yuan Dynasty, it fell under Guangning Prefecture.

In the Ming Dynasty, it became Guangning Guard, with post stations such as Gaopingyi and Panshanyi within its territory, making it a crucial frontier area and a key military transportation route.

During the early Qing Dynasty, migration from inside Shanhaiguan to the northeast—one of the largest population movements in Chinese history—led to large-scale human activity in the Panjin area.

In the Qing Dynasty, it belonged to Guangning County. In the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign (1906), Pansheyi (formerly Panshanyi, now within Beizhen) was established, and by the late Qing Dynasty, it was renamed Panshan Ting.

According to the Panshan County Annals, in 1908, following a joint petition from gentry and merchants of Shuangtaizi, the Panshan Ting office moved from Pansheyi to Shuangtaizi, described as "a place with convenient transportation, bounded by the Jian River (i.e., Shuangtaizi River) in front, close to the railway station and river port, with favorable terrain and natural advantages, making it a natural major town."

In the second year of the Republic of China (1913), the Ting was changed to a county, named Panshan County.

In 1932, Manchukuo renamed Liaoning Province to Fengtian Province, which included the Panjin area.

In 1934, Jinzhou Province was established, governing Panshan County.

In December 1937, the sixth district of Haicheng County and the seventh district of Yingkou County, both located west of the Daliao River, were placed under the jurisdiction of Panshan County.

In 1945, after the "August 15th" restoration, the Panshan County Democratic Government led by the Chinese Communist Party was established in October of that year, under the Liaoxi Prefectural Committee. In December of the same year, the Panshan County Government led by the Chinese Nationalist Party was established, and the Panshan County Democratic Government moved to Tianzhuangtai.

In February 1948, the Chinese People's Liberation Army entered the entire Panjin area and established the Panshan County People's Government, subordinate to Liaoxi Province. In 1949, the Panshan Farm was established in what is now Dawa County, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Northeast Administrative Committee. In 1950, Panshan Farm was renamed the Liaoxi Province Panshan First Rice Farm. In February 1953, the Panshan First Rice Farm was renamed Panshan Mechanized Farm. In 1954, Liaoxi Province and Liaodong Province merged, and the area was placed under Liaoning Province. In 1955, it was renamed the Liaoning Province Panjin State Farm Administration Bureau. In November 1956, the Panjin State Farm Administration Bureau was renamed the Panjin Land Reclamation Bureau, directly under the Ministry of Land Reclamation. In April 1961, the Panjin District People's Committee was established in the area under the jurisdiction of the Panjin Land Reclamation Bureau, led by Yingkou City. In April 1962, the reed fields on the east bank of the Daliao River under the Liaobin Reed Farm were allocated to Yingkou County and Haicheng County. In January 1966, Panshan County and the Panjin Land Reclamation Bureau merged to form the Panjin Reclamation Area, trialing the integration of administration and farm management, directly under Liaoning Province.

In January 1970, the county-level Panshan District and Dawa District were established within the Panjin Reclamation Area. On July 15, 1970, the Panjin Reclamation Area was renamed the Panjin Prefecture, governing Panshan District and Dawa District, directly under Liaoning Province. In November 1975, Panjin Prefecture merged with Yingkou City, and the former Panshan District and Dawa District were renamed Panshan County and Dawa County. At the same time, Tai'an County was placed under Anshan City. In 1978, the former Hebei Street of Yingkou City was separated from the Liaobin Reed Farm and placed under the jurisdiction of Yingkou City's Xishi District.

On June 5, 1984, the State Council approved the establishment of the prefecture-level Panjin City in Liaoning Province (Document No. 89, State Letter [84]), placing it under the jurisdiction of Liaoning Province. The administrative area of the former Panshan County was divided into three districts: Panshan, Xinglongtai, and Suburban. Dawa County was placed under the jurisdiction of Panjin City. [4] In September, the Panjin City Preparatory Leading Group was established. In March 1985, the Shishan Breeding Farm was placed under Panjin City. In November 1986, the Suburban District of Panjin City was abolished, and Panshan County was restored, with the administrative area of the former Suburban District of Panjin City becoming the administrative area of Panshan County. The former Panshan District of Panjin City was renamed Shuangtaizi District.

In March 2016, the State Council approved the abolition of Dawa County and the establishment of the Dawa District of Panjin City, with the administrative area of the former Dawa County becoming the administrative area of Dawa District. The People's Government of Dawa District is located at No. 66 Honghaitan Street, Dawa Town.

4. Geography

4.1 Physical Geography

Panjin is a wetland city, with the Liaohe River Estuary Wetland located within its boundaries, earning it the title "Capital of Wetlands." Panjin is situated in the Liaohe River Delta at the southernmost tip of the Liaohe River alluvial plain. It belongs to a regressive marine alluvial plain, characterized by flat and low-lying terrain with no mountains throughout the area. The average elevation is only 4 meters. Panjin holds the northernmost coastline within China's territory. The Liaohe River (Shuangtaizi River) flows through the central part of the city, with the Hunhe River (Great Liaohe River) along its southeastern edge and the Daling River along its western edge, both emptying into the Liaodong Bay within Panjin.

Panjin is a Cenozoic sedimentary basin formed since the Yanshan Movement. Over long periods of river alluviation, diluviation, marine sedimentation, and aeolian accumulation, it has been continuously covered with thick, loose Quaternary sediments with high saline-alkali content. The pre-Cenozoic rock strata in the region belong to the North China Stratigraphic Region. Since the Cenozoic Era, sedimentation has dominated the stratigraphy. The upper Neogene sediments in the area mainly consist of silty clay, silty clay, clay, silt, fine sand, and fine sand. The foundation bearing capacity generally ranges from 50 to 150 kPa, and it is under-consolidated, which can easily cause building foundation settlement.

4.2 Natural Landscape

Panjin is often called the "Hometown of Cranes" because the Liaohe River Delta within its territory serves as a breeding ground for many endangered bird species, such as the red-crowned crane and the Saunders's gull. Spotted seals are also distributed in the area. Panjin is also the world's largest reed production base. Before reclamation, much of Panjin's urban area consisted of vast reed fields and wasteland, now primarily located in the Dawa District. The wetlands of the Liaohe River Delta are abundant in seepweed. As it matures, large expanses of seepweed grasslands turn red, forming Panjin's most famous landscape, the "Red Beach."

5. Administrative Divisions

Panjin City currently administers 3 municipal districts and 1 county.

• Municipal Districts: Shuangtaizi District, Xinglongtai District, Dawa District
• County: Panshan County

In addition to the formal administrative divisions, Panjin City has established the following economic functional zones: Liaodong Bay New Area, Panjin Economic Development Zone, Liaohekou Ecological Economic Development Zone, and Red Beach Wetland Tourism Resort.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | |---------------|---------------|----------------|------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------|-------------|--------------|-------| | 211100 | Panjin City | Panjin Shi | 4,065.40 | 1,389,691 | Dawa District | 124000 | 27 | 21 | | 211102 | Shuangtaizi District | Shuangtaizi Qu | 112.83 | 214,290 | Jianshe Subdistrict | 124000 | 6 | 2 | | 211103 | Xinglongtai District | Xinglongtai Qu | 888.07 | 529,394 | Chuangxin Subdistrict | 124000 | 12 | | | 211104 | Dawa District | Dawa Qu | 1,723.70 | 422,797 | Dawa Subdistrict | 124200 | 6 | 10 | | 211122 | Panshan County | Panshan Xian | 1,340.79 | 223,210 | Taiping Subdistrict | 124100 | 3 | 9 |

6. Economy

Saudi Aramco, in collaboration with Norinco Group and Panjin Xincheng Industrial Group, is constructing a large-scale integrated refining and chemical complex in Panjin City. The project commenced construction in the second quarter of 2023 and is scheduled to become operational in 2026.

6.1 Specialties

• Reeds: Can be used for papermaking.
• Freshwater Crab Farming: Renowned as the "Northern Hairy Crab," Panjin river crabs, Panjin river pufferfish, and Panjin loach are all China Geographical Indication products.
• Panjin Rice: A China Geographical Indication product. Particularly famous is the rice from Qingshui Township, Dawa County. "Panjin Rice" holds the dual honors of being a China Famous Brand and a China Well-known Trademark. In 2011, it was awarded both "Top Ten Geographical Grain Brands on China's Grain and Oil List" and "Most Influential Regional Public Brand for Chinese Agricultural Products." In September 2012, Panjin was granted the title "Hometown of Ecological Rice" by the China Grain Industry Association.
• Panjin Beiyao Grapes: The grapes from Beiyao, Tangjia Town, Dawa County are widely celebrated.
• Alkaline Land Persimmons (Tomatoes): Refers to Panjin saline-alkali land tomatoes, a China Geographical Indication product. It is a fruit-type tomato grown in saline-alkali soil conditions.

7. Transportation

• Within Panjin City, there are two railway stations, namely Panjin Station and Panjin North Station, which also serve as high-speed rail stations.
• National Highways 228 and 305 pass through the area.

8. Education

8.1 Higher Education

• Dalian University of Technology Panjin Campus
• Liaohe Petroleum Vocational and Technical College (Science and Engineering Institution)
• Panjin Vocational and Technical College (Comprehensive Institution)

8.2 Secondary Education

• Liaoning Province Experimental High School Liaodong Bay Branch
• Panjin Senior High School
• Liaohe Oilfield No. 1 Senior High School
• Liaohe Oilfield No. 2 Senior High School
• Liaohe Oilfield No. 3 Senior High School

9. Population

As of the end of 2022, Panjin City had a registered population of 1.293 million. Throughout the year, there were 6,332 births, with a birth rate of 4.9‰; 6,021 deaths, with a mortality rate of 4.7‰; resulting in a natural population growth rate of 0.2‰. Among the city's registered population, the 0–17 age group comprised 173,000 people, accounting for 13.4%; the 18–34 age group comprised 236,000 people, accounting for 18.3%; the 35–59 age group comprised 558,000 people, accounting for 43.1%; and the population aged 60 and above comprised 326,000 people, accounting for 25.2%.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 1,389,691. Compared with the 1,392,493 people from the Sixth National Population Census, this represents a decrease of 2,802 people over ten years, a decline of 0.2%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.02%. Among them, the male population was 692,330, accounting for 49.82% of the total population; the female population was 697,361, accounting for 50.18% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 99.28. The population aged 0–14 was 166,985, accounting for 12.02% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 907,698, accounting for 65.32% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 315,008, accounting for 22.67% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 218,588, accounting for 15.73% of the total population. The urban population was 1,075,688, accounting for 77.4% of the total population; the rural population was 314,003, accounting for 22.6% of the total population.

9.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group comprised 1,316,741 people, accounting for 94.75%; ethnic minorities comprised 72,950 people, accounting for 5.25%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 22,598 people, a decline of 1.69%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 1.43 percentage points; the ethnic minority population increased by 19,796 people, a growth of 37.24%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 1.43 percentage points. Among them, the Manchu population increased by 15,790 people, a growth of 48.29%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 1.14 percentage points; the Korean ethnic population decreased by 1,056 people, a decline of 10.65%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 0.07 percentage points; the Mongolian ethnic population increased by 3,221 people, a growth of 60.75%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.23 percentage points.

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10. Sister Cities

• Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan (April 25, 1991)
• Yalova Province, Yalova, Turkey (July 24, 1993)

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Dawa District

Xinglongtai District

Han Chinese account for 94.75% of the population; ethnic minorities make up 5.25%.

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