Liaoyuan (辽源)

1. Introduction

Liaoyuan City, formerly known as Xi'an, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Jilin Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the southern part of Jilin Province and derives its name from its position at the source of the East Liao River. The city borders Siping City and Jilin City to the north, Tonghua City to the east, Fushun City of Liaoning Province to the south, and Tieling City of Liaoning Province to the west. It lies at the convergence zone of the southern section of the Jilin Hada Ridge of the Changbai Mountains and the Songnen Plain. The East Liao River originates within its territory and flows westward across the city. The Lian River and Mei River, left-bank tributaries of the Huifa River, flow through the southern part. During the Qing Dynasty, it served as the imperial "Shengjing Hunting Ground". After the ban was lifted in 1902, Xi'an County was established. It was designated as a city in 1948, renamed Liaoyuan City in 1952, and elevated to a prefecture-level city in 1983. The People's Government of Liaoyuan City is located at No. 1485, Renmin Street, Longshan District.

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2. History

In ancient times, this area was part of the Sushen territory. During the Goguryeo period, it served as a frontier town. In the Qing Dynasty, it was designated as the Shengjing Imperial Hunting Ground, making it a restricted zone.

By the late Qing Dynasty, frontier restrictions had relaxed, leading to a large influx of people from inside the Shanhai Pass into Northeast China. A settlement with a population of four to five thousand emerged at the site of present-day Liaoyuan city, then known as Ancheng. In the 28th year of the Guangxu reign (1902), Dongping and Xi'an counties were established under the Hailong Prefecture of Fengtian Province. Simultaneously, Liaoyuan Prefecture was established at the location of present-day Shuangliao, under Changtu Prefecture. In the second year of the Republic of China (1912), Xi'an County and Dongping County were placed under the Liaoshen Circuit of Fengtian Province. Subsequently, Dongping County was renamed Dongfeng County.

During the Manchukuo period (1931–1945), Xi'an County was initially under the jurisdiction of Fengtian Province. In 1941 (the 7th year of the Kangde era), it was transferred to Siping Province. During this time, Xi'an became the second-largest coal production base in Manchukuo after Fushun, with an annual output of raw coal reaching one million tons. Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright, Commander of U.S. Forces in the Philippines, was secretly imprisoned in Xi'an County for three years after being captured by Japanese forces in the early stages of the Pacific War.

Xi'an County was liberated by the Soviet Red Army in August 1945. Due to its proximity to the important railway hub of Siping City, the area became a focal point of contention between the Nationalists and Communists during the subsequent Chinese Civil War. The Northeast Democratic Allied Army permanently occupied Xi'an County in the summer of 1947. In October 1948, Xi'an City was carved out from Xi'an County and placed under Liaobei Province. In May 1949, it was transferred to Liaodong Province. In July, Xi'an City was placed under direct provincial administration. The county government of Xi'an County remained located within Xi'an City proper.

In April 1952, to avoid confusion with Xi'an City in Shaanxi Province, Xi'an City was renamed Liaoyuan City. In 1954, Xi'an County and Dongfeng County were transferred to the Tonghua Prefecture of Jilin Province, while Liaoyuan City remained under direct provincial administration. In August 1956, Xi'an County was renamed Dongliao County and placed under the jurisdiction of Huaide Prefecture.

In 1958, Dongliao County, Dongfeng County, and Liaoyuan City were placed under Siping Prefecture. In March 1959, Dongliao County was abolished and merged into Liaoyuan City, but it was restored in May 1962. In May 1969, Dongliao County was again merged into Liaoyuan City, only to be restored in January 1976. In January 1980, Dongliao County was merged into Liaoyuan City once more. In October 1983, Liaoyuan City was elevated to a prefecture-level city. Longshan District and Xi'an District were established, and Dongliao County was restored. Liaoyuan City thus governed Longshan District, Xi'an District, Dongliao County, and Dongfeng County.

3. Geography

The geographic coordinates range from 124°56′ to 125°50′ east longitude and 42°18′ to 43°15′ north latitude. It is a hilly region, with terrain sloping from east to west, serving as a transitional zone between the Changbai Mountain foothills and the Songliao Plain. It belongs to a low mountainous and hilly area, with an average elevation of 250 to 400 meters. The climate is a semi-humid temperate monsoon type, with an annual precipitation of 750 mm, an average annual temperature of 4.5°C, an average January temperature of -17.9°C, and an average July temperature of 22.8°C.

Average Meteorological Data for Liaoyuan City (1981-2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Average high °C (°F) | -7.8 (18.0) | -2.9 (26.8) | 4.8 (40.6) | 15.2 (59.2) | 21.7 (71.4) | 26.3 (79.7) | 27.8 (82.0) | 27.1 (80.8) | 22.0 (72.1) | 14.2 (57.9) | 2.8 (37.8) | -4.9 (23.2) | 12.3 (54.1) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -15.8 (3.6) | -10.5 (13.1) | -1.5 (29.3) | 8.4 (47.1) | 15.5 (59.9) | 20.7 (69.3) | 23.0 (73.4) | 21.7 (71.1) | 15.2 (59.4) | 7.2 (45.1) | -1.5 (26.8) | -11.7 (10.9) | 5.8 (42.4) | | Average low °C (°F) | -22.1 (-7.8) | -17.0 (1.4) | -7.4 (18.7) | 1.6 (35.2) | 8.9 (48.0) | 15.0 (59.0) | 18.5 (65.3) | 17.2 (62.6) | 9.1 (48.0) | 1.4 (34.2) | -8.1 (17.4) | -17.3 (0.9) | 0.9 (31.9) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 5.7 (0.22) | 6.7 (0.26) | 15.8 (0.62) | 33.3 (1.31) | 55.2 (2.17) | 89.1 (3.51) | 162.5 (6.40) | 152.2 (5.99) | 48.5 (1.91) | 30.0 (1.18) | 16.1 (0.63) | 7.5 (0.30) | 622.6 (24.5) | | Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 67 | 60 | 55 | 58 | 68 | 81 | 82 | 76 | 68 | 68 | 71 | 69 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Liaoyuan City currently administers 2 municipal districts and 2 counties.

• Municipal Districts: Longshan District, Xi'an District
• Counties: Dongliao County, Dongfeng County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 220400 | Liaoyuan City | Liaoyuan Shi | 5,140.45 | 996,903 | Longshan District | 136200 | 17 | 23 | 7 | 1 | | 220402 | Longshan District | Longshan Qu | 253.57 | 327,079 | Nankang Subdistrict | 136200 | 8 | 1 | 1 | | | 220403 | Xi'an District | Xi'an Qu | 178.80 | 136,337 | Xiancheng Subdistrict | 136200 | 6 | 1 | | | | 220421 | Dongfeng County | Dongfeng Xian | 2,523.68 | 307,302 | Jilu Subdistrict | 136300 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 1 | | 220422 | Dongliao County | Dongliao Xian | 2,184.40 | 226,185 | Baiquan Town | 136600 | | 9 | 4 | |

5. Economy

The industrial sector includes electricity, metallurgy, machinery, and light textiles. Among these, textiles such as silk, plush, and corduroy are particularly renowned. The city serves as a plastic industry base for Jilin Province. The city's steel pipe factory is the largest in its industry within the province.

Agricultural land covers 104,000 hectares, making it one of the province's major grain-producing areas. The main crops include corn, soybeans, sorghum, and millet.

6. Transportation

In 2018, Liaoyuan City officially launched the "Transportation Card" compliant with the unified technical standards of the Ministry of Transport. It is accepted in 220 cities across the country.

• National Highway 229 and National Highway 303 pass through the city.

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7. Population

By the end of 2022, the total registered population of the city was 1.1314 million. Classified by place of household registration, the urban population was 560,300, and the rural population was 571,100.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 996,903. Compared with the 1,176,239 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a decrease of 179,336 people over the ten years, a decline of 15.25%, with an average annual growth rate of -1.64%. Among them, the male population was 498,860, accounting for 50.04% of the total population; the female population was 498,043, accounting for 49.96% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 100.16. The population aged 0-14 was 106,721, accounting for 10.71% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 636,901, accounting for 63.89% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 253,281, accounting for 25.41% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 170,881, accounting for 17.14% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 575,248, accounting for 57.7% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 421,655, accounting for 42.3% of the total population.

7.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's resident population, the Han ethnic population was 917,406, accounting for 92.03%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 79,497, accounting for 7.97%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic population decreased by 178,345 people, a decline of 16.28%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 1.13 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities decreased by 991 people, a decline of 1.23%, but its proportion of the total population increased by 1.13 percentage points. Among them, the Manchu population decreased by 7,523 people, a decline of 10.51%, yet its proportion of the total population increased by 0.34 percentage points; the Korean ethnic population increased by 4,866 people, a growth of 107.61%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.56 percentage points.

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8. Sister Cities

• Ningbo, China
• Yingkou, China
• Cherepovets, Russia
• Zhuji, China
• Balsamo, Italy

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Named for its location at the source of the East Liao River.

Longshan District

Longshan District

Han Chinese account for 92.03% of the population; ethnic minorities account for 7.97%.

Five-pointed Maple

Canna