Liaocheng (聊城)

1. Introduction

Liaocheng City, abbreviated as Liao, historically known as Dongchang Prefecture, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Shandong Province, People's Republic of China, located in the western part of Shandong Province. The city borders Dezhou to the northeast, Jinan and Tai'an to the southeast, Puyang City in Henan Province to the southwest, and Handan and Xingtai in Hebei Province to the west and northwest, respectively. Situated at the intersection of Shandong, Henan, and Hebei provinces on the Yellow River alluvial plain, the city is where the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Yellow River converge, and it is also home to rivers such as the Jindi River, Tuhai River, Majia River, and Wei Canal. The People's Government of Liaocheng is located at No. 24 Dongchang West Road, Dongchangfu District.

Liaocheng is predominantly flat and is a typical agricultural production area, where the Yellow River culture, representing agricultural civilization, and the canal culture, representing commercial civilization, shine together. The city boasts over 400 cultural relics and historical sites, with six heritage sites and two canal sections included in the UNESCO World Heritage List of the Grand Canal. It is also a National Historical and Cultural City.

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2. History

During the Spring and Autumn period, it was the city of Liaocheng in the state of Qi. The Strategies of the Warring States: Qi Wen records: "The Yan general attacked and captured Liaocheng." The Commentary of Zuo also notes: "The two cities of Liao and She were the western frontier of Qi." The present city is named after ancient Liaocheng. During the Qin dynasty, Liaocheng County was established under Dong Commandery, and this arrangement continued through the Western and Eastern Han dynasties. In the third year of the Huangchu era of the Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period (222 AD), it was transferred to the Pingyuan Kingdom, later changed to Pingyuan Commandery, and this was maintained during the Jin dynasty. In the twenty-third year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei dynasty (499 AD), the administrative seat was moved to Wangcheng, northeast of the present urban area, which became the seat of Pingyuan Commandery.

In the third year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui dynasty (583 AD), Pingyuan Commandery was abolished. In the sixteenth year (596 AD), Bo Prefecture was established, but it was abolished during the Daye era, and Liaocheng County was transferred to Wuyang Commandery. In the first year of the Wude era of the Tang dynasty (618 AD), Liaocheng County was under Weizhou in Hebei Circuit. In the fourth year of Wude (621 AD), Bo Prefecture was re-established. In the third year of the Tianyou era (906 AD), it was renamed Liaoyi County, but during the Five Dynasties period, it was restored to Liaocheng County. In the third year of the Chunhua era of the Northern Song dynasty (992 AD), the seat of Liaocheng County was moved to the present urban area. In the fourth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan dynasty (1267 AD), Bozhou Route was established, with its seat at Liaocheng County. In the thirteenth year of Zhiyuan (1276 AD), it was renamed Dongchang Route. In the early Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, it was changed to Dongchang Prefecture, with its seat at Liaocheng County. This arrangement continued through the Qing dynasty, under the Jidong Taiwu Lin Circuit.

In the second year of the Republic of China (1913 AD), the prefecture system was abolished, and Liaocheng County was placed under Jixi Circuit. The following year, it was transferred to Donglin Circuit. In 1925, it was placed under Dongchang Circuit. After the Nationalist Government abolished the circuit system in 1928, it was part of the Sixth Administrative Inspection District of Shandong Province in 1936. In November 1938, Liaocheng was captured by the Japanese army. After the Japanese army withdrew, the Nationalist forces recaptured Liaocheng. In December 1946, the People's Liberation Army attacked Liaocheng, and the Nationalist forces retreated. Subsequently, Liaocheng County was placed under the Sixth Special Administrative Office of Hebei-Shandong-Henan.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the counties within the present territory were divided among Liaocheng Special District and Puyang Special District of Pingyuan Province, as well as Handan Special District of Hebei Province. In 1952, Pingyuan Province was abolished, and Liaocheng Special District was transferred to Shandong Province. In December 1958, Liaocheng County was upgraded to Liaocheng City, directly administered by Shandong Province. In March 1963, the city was downgraded back to a county under Liaocheng Special District, which was renamed Liaocheng Prefecture in 1967. In August 1983, Liaocheng County was re-established as Liaocheng City (county-level). In March 1998, Liaocheng Prefecture was abolished and replaced by the prefecture-level Liaocheng City; the former county-level Liaocheng City became Dongchangfu District. In June 2019, the State Council approved the abolition of Chiping County and the establishment of Chiping District.

3. Geography

The city is situated on an alluvial plain formed by the Yellow River, with terrain slightly sloping from southwest to northeast. Major rivers include the Yellow River, Jindi River, Tuhai River, Majia River, Wei Canal, and Xiao Canal, belonging to the Yellow River and Hai River systems. Natural vegetation is sparse, with most being artificial forests. The climate is a temperate semi-humid continental monsoon type, with an annual average temperature of 13.5°C and an annual average precipitation of 540.4 mm. Mineral resources mainly include coal, petroleum, natural gas, gypsum, limestone, among others. The area is a major production site for the famous medicinal material, Ejiao. Dong'e Ejiao is a product protected under China's National Geographical Indication. Average Meteorological Data for Liaocheng City, 1981–2010 | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|------|------|------| | Average high °C (°F) | 3.9 (39) | 7.7 (45.9) | 13.6 (56.5) | 21 ( 69.8) | 26.1 (79.0) | 31.2 (88.2)| 31.4 (88.5) | 30.2 (86.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 21.1 (70.0) | 12.6 (54.7) | 5.6 (42.1) | 19.3 (66.7) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -1.9 (28.6) | 1.6 (34.9) | 7.5 (45.5) | 14.7 (58.5) | 20.1 (68.2) | 25.1 (77.2) | 26.7 (80.1) | 25.4 (77.7) | 20.6 (69.1) | 14.5 (58.1) | 6.5 (43.7) | 0.1 (32.2) | 13.4 (56.2) | | Average low °C (°F) | -6.2 (20.8) | -3.1 (26.4) | 2.4 (36.3) | 9.2 (48.6) | 14.5 (58.1) | 19.7 (67.5) | 22.7 (72.9) | 21.6 (70.9) | 15.9 (60.6) | 9.4 (48.9) | 1.6 (34.9) | -4.2 (24.4) | 8.6 (47.5) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 4.1 (0.16) | 7.0 (0.28) | 13.5 (0.53) | 25.3 (1.00) | 51.2 (2.02) | 71.7 (2.82) | 157.7 (6.21) | 121.8 (4.80) | 57.8 (2.28) | 34.7 (1.37) | 13.0 (0.51) | 5.1 (0.20) | 562.9 (22.18) | | Average relative humidity (%) | 64 | 60 | 58 | 61 | 68 | 65 | 80 | 83 | 78 | 71 | 69 | 68 | 69 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Liaocheng City currently administers 2 municipal districts and 5 counties, and also governs 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Dongchangfu District, Chiping District
• County-level City: Linqing City
• Counties: Yanggu County, Shen County, Dong'e County, Guan County, Gaotang County

Additionally, Liaocheng City has established the following economic management zones: National-level Liaocheng Economic and Technological Development Zone, Liaocheng High-tech Industrial Development Zone, and Liaocheng Jiangbei Water City Tourism Resort.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------| | 371500 | Liaocheng City | Liáochéng Shì | 8,628.01 | 5,952,128 | Dongchangfu District | 252000 | 32 | 95 | 8 | | 371502 | Dongchangfu District | Dōngchāngfǔ Qū | 1,443.21 | 1,488,905 | Liuyuan Subdistrict | 252000 | 10 | 11 | 2 | | 371503 | Chiping District | Chípíng Qū | 1,003.37 | 517,641 | Zhenxing Subdistrict | 252100 | 3 | 10 | 1 | | 371521 | Yanggu County | Yánggǔ Xiàn | 1,007.70 | 700,083 | Qiaorun Subdistrict | 252300 | 3 | 14 | 1 | | 371522 | Shen County | Shēn Xiàn | 1,387.71 | 930,370 | Yanta Subdistrict | 252400 | 4 | 20 | | | 371524 | Dong'e County | Dōng'ē Xiàn | 726.63 | 346,053 | Tongcheng Subdistrict | 252200 | 2 | 8 | | | 371525 | Guan County | Guàn Xiàn | 1,161.23 | 719,354 | Qingquan Subdistrict | 252500 | 3 | 11 | 4 | | 371526 | Gaotang County | Gāotáng Xiàn | 947.38 | 455,193 | Yuqiuhu Subdistrict | 252800 | 3 | 9 | | | 371581 | Linqing City | Línqīng Shì | 950.78 | 794,529 | Qingnianlu Subdistrict | 252600 | 4 | 12 | |

Note: The figures for Dongchangfu District include 3 subdistricts and 1 town under the jurisdiction of the Liaocheng Economic and Technological Development Zone, 3 towns under the Liaocheng High-tech Industrial Development Zone, and 2 subdistricts and 2 towns under the Liaocheng Jiangbei Water City Tourism Resort.

5. Economy

Liaocheng's economy is primarily based on agriculture, agricultural and sideline product processing, non-ferrous metals, chemicals, new energy vehicles, and tourism.

In 2001, Liaocheng shifted its development strategy by leveraging the Dongchang Lake within the city to promote tourism, creating the brand of "China's Water City North of the Yangtze River." In recent years, driven by tourism and related industries, Liaocheng's economic level has continuously improved. In 2011, Liaocheng achieved a regional GDP of 190.5 billion yuan, with local fiscal revenue reaching 9.66 billion yuan.

6. Transportation

• National Highway 309 and National Highway 240 pass through the area.

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7. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 5,952,128. Compared with the 5,789,863 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 162,265 people over the ten-year period, a growth of 2.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.28%. Among them, the male population was 3,013,374, accounting for 50.63% of the total population; the female population was 2,938,754, accounting for 49.37% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 102.54. The population aged 0–14 was 1,397,180, accounting for 23.47% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 3,426,459, accounting for 57.57% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 1,128,489, accounting for 18.96% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 831,288, accounting for 13.97% of the total population. The urban population was 3,152,954, accounting for 52.97% of the total population; the rural population was 2,799,174, accounting for 47.03% of the total population.

7.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 5,891,060, accounting for 98.97%; ethnic minorities numbered 61,068, accounting for 1.03%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 156,664, a growth of 2.73%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.07 percentage points; the ethnic minority population increased by 5,601, a growth of 10.1%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.07 percentage points.

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8. Sister Cities

• Serov, Russia (December 1993)
• Uiryeong County, South Korea (June 7, 2001)
• Blacktown, Australia (October 14, 2003)
• Gwangmyeong, South Korea (May 3, 2005)
• Offenbach, Germany (August 2007)
• Vava'u Islands, Tonga (November 2021)
• Port Vila, Vanuatu (January 2023)

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Named after the ancient Liaoshui River within its territory.

Dongchangfu District

Dongchangfu District

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Sophora japonica

Lotus, Rose