Tangshan (唐山)

1. Introduction

Tangshan City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province, People's Republic of China, serving as a provincial central city and a central city in the northeastern part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. It was designated as a "larger city" by the State Council in 1982. Located in the eastern part of Hebei Province, on the northeastern North China Plain, Tangshan lies at the heart of the Bohai Rim and is a vital transportation corridor to Northeast China. It borders the Bohai Sea to the south, leans against the Yanshan Mountains to the north, adjoins Chengde City to the north, faces Qinhuangdao City across the Luan River to the east, and is adjacent to Tianjin Municipality to the west. The Municipal People's Government is situated at No. 3 Xishan Road, Lubei District.

The name "Tangshan" is unrelated to the Chinese nickname for overseas Chinese communities ("Tangrenshan") but originates from Dacheng Mountain in the present city center. Dacheng Mountain was originally named Tangshan, and legend has it that Li Siyuan of the Later Tang dynasty once stationed troops here. Tangshan's rise began in the late 1870s during the Westernization Movement of the late Qing Dynasty with the establishment of the Kaiping Mining Bureau here. The Kaiping Mining Bureau was the largest and most successful among China's earliest batch of modern coal mines, achieving numerous "firsts" in China's modern industry, including the first standard-gauge railway, the earliest railway factory, the first steam locomotive, and the first cement plant. The mining activities at Kaiping also spurred the development of the local traditional ceramics industry, producing China's earliest architectural and sanitary ceramics. Consequently, Tangshan is hailed as the "Birthplace of China's Modern Industry" and the "Cradle of China's Modern Industry." On July 28, 1976, the Great Tangshan Earthquake devastated the entire city, which underwent over a decade of recovery and reconstruction.

Today, Tangshan is a nationally significant energy and raw materials base and a major heavy industrial city. It boasts a solid industrial foundation and a comprehensive industrial system, with well-developed sectors such as iron and steel, equipment manufacturing, energy (electric power, coal, crude oil), chemicals, building materials, and ceramics. It is known as the "Steel City," "Coal Capital," and "Northern Porcelain Capital." Simultaneously, Tangshan is an important coastal open city within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration and a national comprehensive transportation hub. Its territory features a dense network of railways and expressways, and the Port of Tangshan ranks among the top domestic ports in terms of cargo throughput. Blessed with favorable natural conditions and abundant resources, Tangshan enjoys the reputation of the "Treasure Land East of Beijing": the northern mountainous area is rich in dried and fresh fruits like chestnuts, walnuts, apples, and hawthorns, with "Jingdong Chestnuts" being renowned both domestically and internationally; the central plain is a major production area for grains and cash crops such as corn, wheat, rice, cotton, vegetables, and peanuts, earning it the title "Granary of Eastern Hebei"; the southern coastal region is abundant in fishery, salt, and oil and gas resources, forming a significant part of the Changlu Salt District, which has the largest sea salt output in China. Tangshan is also the birthplace of Pingju, one of China's "Five Major Operatic Forms," and the Eastern Qing Tombs in Zunhua City within its jurisdiction are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. Origin of the City's Name

Tangshan originally referred to a mountain name, specifically the present-day Dacheng Mountain (renamed in the 1930s for distinction) located within the Lubei district of the city proper, and is unrelated to the alternative name for China—Tangshan. Dacheng Mountain was originally named Tangshan, and it is generally believed that this name originated from the Later Tang period. According to the Guangxu 24th year (1898) edition of the Chronicles of Luanzhou, "Tangshan is located two li west of Liangjia Mountain, spanning several li in circumference, with overlapping ridges and layered hills. At its eastern foothills, the Dou River meanders like a belt, fed by more than ten streams. It is said that Li Siyuan of the Later Tang once stationed troops here, erecting a stone wall over two hundred zhang long, the foundation of which still remains. Additionally, General Jiang of the Later Tang, who meritoriously slew a flood dragon, was buried here, and later generations built a temple to honor him. The mountain's name 'Tang' is derived from this."

Furthermore, according to Volume 9, "Territory II: Tombs" of the same book: "The tomb of General Jiang of the Later Tang is located at the foot of Tangshan, 120 li west of the city. The epitaph for General Jiang of the Later Tang by Zhang Xu of the Yuan dynasty states: The stele of the General's Temple is located within the Dongzhen Temple at Tangshan in Shicheng County, Luanzhou. According to records, during the Qingtai period of the Later Tang, the General was ordered to hold the imperial tally and garrison the northern passes of Yuguan and Jieshi. There was a county named Shicheng and a mountain named Tangshan, with a stream called Tangxi at its foothills. The terrain was secluded and rugged, with forests and valleys stretching far and wide, connecting Gengyang to the north and the vast sea to the south, extending for a hundred li from east to west. The General built a city and resided there. In the waters of Tangxi, a flood dragon wreaked havoc, causing banks to collapse and cliffs to crumble, with turbulent waves distressing the residents. Enraged, the General drew his sword and slew the flood dragon in the stream, and the people revered him as a deity. After the General's death, he was buried on the mountain ridge. Later, the people of Tangxi, grateful for his deeds and virtues, built a temple beside the stream and regularly offered sacrifices. The General had two wives, seven sons, and seven daughters, all of whom were enshrined in the temple, and the worship grew increasingly grand. Every year on the Shangsi Festival, coinciding with the General's birthday, residents competed to offer sacrifices, naming the temple 'Shenqing.' Carriages and horses from near and far gathered, numbering no less than a thousand. The Taoist priest Xiangyun rallied righteous individuals, contributing efforts and resources to construct a hall east of the temple, complete with kitchens, halls, and various facilities. The Taoist priest Changchun inscribed it as 'Dongzhen Temple.' In the fourth year of the Zhiyuan era, the temple suddenly collapsed, and the Taoist priest Nizhen restored it, completing the work in the ninth year of the Zhiyuan era. While the temple's prominence or obscurity depends on the times, the General's merits endure eternally. My friend Wang Zizhong requested an inscription from me. As a fellow native, I recorded its origins and details, carving them into stone."

However, regarding the account on the stele of General Jiang's temple from the Later Tang, the Kangxi 50th year edition of the Chronicles of Yongping Prefecture already raised doubts: "General Jiang's Temple is located at the foot of Tangshan in western Luanzhou. The stele states: 'The General served during the Qingtai period of the Later Tang, garrisoning Shicheng at Jieshi. At that time, a flood dragon plagued the people, and the General slew it. The people, grateful for his benevolence, built a temple to honor him.' Since the early Tiancheng period of the Later Tang, this area had already belonged to the Khitan. How could it have been part of the Tang during the Qingtai period? This stele record is unreliable."

There is also a theory that the name Tangshan originated from Emperor Taizong of Tang's eastern campaigns against Goguryeo, during which he passed through the area of present-day Tangshan twice and stationed troops on Dacheng Mountain. However, this claim lacks definitive historical records and, despite widespread circulation over the years, remains difficult to substantiate. Emperor Taizong's eastern campaigns against Goguryeo left many folk legends and place names like Caofeidian in the Tangshan area, but there is a lack of historical evidence. Historians generally regard folk legends as insufficient for validation. However, the claim that the "Tangshan Bridge" was built during the Tang dynasty, as recorded in the Ming edition of the Chronicles of Yongping Prefecture, holds reference value. According to Volume 2, "Ferries and Bridges," of the Wanli edition of the Chronicles of Yongping Prefecture: "Tangshan Bridge is located 100 li west of the prefecture (referring to Luanzhou), built by Emperor Taizong of Tang."

The evolution of Tangshan from a mountain name to a place name in modern times is directly related to the establishment and development of the Kaiping Mining Bureau. In the fourth year of the Guangxu reign (1878), Tang Tingshu established the Kaiping Mining Bureau in Kaiping Town, Luanzhou (present-day Kaiping District, Tangshan City). Mining operations using Western methods were conducted south of Tangshan (present-day Dacheng Mountain), 20 li southwest of Kaiping. Later, railways were built, and factories were established, leading to population growth and commercial prosperity in the area (around Qiaojiatun at the southern foothills of Tangshan). Tangshan gradually came to refer to the industrial and mining settlement that emerged here. By the 24th year of the Guangxu reign (1898), the term "Tangshan Market" was already in use. According to Volume 8, "Territory I: Markets and Towns," of the aforementioned Guangxu edition of the Chronicles of Luanzhou: "Newly established: Tangshan Market. Located 120 li southwest of the city, with newly established coal mines and railways, attracting foreign merchants and bustling markets, holding markets on the fourth and ninth days of the lunar month." As for the exact time of the establishment of Tangshan Town, there appears to be no direct evidence. Researchers often rely on early municipal records: Qiaotun Town was established in the third year of the Guangxu reign (1877), and in the 24th year of the Guangxu reign (1898), Qiaotun Town was renamed Tangshan Town. However, according to the Tangshan Local Chronicles Office: Tangshan Town initially originated as Guangdong Village. With the mining operations of the Kaiping Coal Mine, Tang Tingshu recruited skilled workers from his native Guangdong, as well as Fujian, Shandong, and other regions, who began to settle near the mining area, gradually forming a sizable Guangdong Village. Affairs of Guangdong Village were directly administered by the Kaiping Mining Bureau. In the 18th year of the Guangxu reign (1892), after Tang Tingshu's death, the Kaiping Mining Bureau renamed Guangdong Village to Tangshan Town in commemoration of his contributions. In the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (1894), the Kaiping Mining Bureau established Fengluan Tangshan Town (governed jointly by Fengrun County and Luanzhou) on an expanded boundary, forming the embryonic administrative region of Tangshan City. The Comprehensive Dictionary of Chinese Ancient and Modern Place Names, published by the Commercial Press Hong Kong Branch in May 1931, also notes that "Tangshan Town was originally named Guangdong Village."

3. History

3.1 The Origin of the City

Tangshan prospered because of coal. As early as the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, there were records of private coal mining and utilization in the area of present-day Tangshan; by the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, traditional mining methods had become increasingly common. With the rise of the Westernization Movement in the late Qing Dynasty, to meet the coal demands of modern military industries and steamships, the Qing government approved Westernization advocates to trial-run new-style coal mines. In November of the second year of the Guangxu reign (1876), Tang Tingshu, the General Manager of the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company in Shanghai, dispatched by Li Hongzhang, the Viceroy of Zhili and Minister of Trade for the Northern Ports, accompanied by a British mining engineer, conducted a survey for coal and iron mines in Kaiping Town (present-day Kaiping District, Tangshan City), which was under the jurisdiction of Luanzhou, Yongping Prefecture, Zhili (present-day Luanzhou City, Hebei Province). After samples were sent to the Tongwen College in Beijing and to Britain for testing, confirming the excellent quality of the coal and iron, preparations began to establish the Kaiping Mining Administration. In July of the fourth year of Guangxu (1878), Tang Tingshu formally established the Kaiping Mining Administration (predecessor of the Kailuan Mining Administration, now the Kailuan Group) in Kaiping Town. Soon after, using Western methods, they began drilling shafts and mining coal near Qiaojiacun Village, south of Tangshan (present-day Dacheng Mountain), about twenty li southwest of Kaiping. This marked the beginning of Tangshan's development as a port. In the autumn of the seventh year of Guangxu (1881), the Kaiping Coal Mine officially began production. Its production capacity continuously increased thereafter, quickly capturing the "foreign coal" market in Tianjin. The government-supervised, merchant-operated Kaiping Mining Administration was the first joint-stock coal mining enterprise in modern China and the largest and most successful among the series of new-style coal mines established during the late Qing Westernization Movement. It was praised by the Chinese Catholic newspaper Yiwen Lu published in Shanghai as "China's best mine." To solve coal transportation issues, the Kaiping Mining Administration constructed a railway approximately twenty Chinese miles long from Tangshan to Xugezhuang, Fengrun (present-day Fengnan District, Tangshan City) in 1881, known as the famous Tangxu Railway, which was the first standard-gauge railway built by the Chinese themselves. Accompanying the birth of the Tangxu Railway were China's first steam locomotive—the "Rocket of China" locomotive (also known as the "Dragon" locomotive)—and the earliest railway workshop—the Xugezhuang Repair Works (predecessor of today's CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd.). In 1889, Tang Tingshu also established the Tangshan Fine Cotton Soil Factory (a phonetic translation of the English word "cement") at the southern foot of Tangshan (present-day Dacheng Mountain). This was the earliest cement production enterprise on the Chinese mainland, producing China's first barrel of cement in 1891. After several twists and turns, it developed into the famous national enterprise Qixin Cement Company during the Republican period. Additionally, the Kaiping Mining Administration established other subsidiary enterprises such as mechanical repair factories, brick and tile factories, coke plants, and quarries, and promoted the modern industrialization of the local traditional ceramics industry, producing China's earliest architectural ceramics (ceramic tiles, glazed tiles) and sanitary ceramics. Consequently, Tangshan became one of the birthplaces of modern Chinese industry, earning the reputation as the cradle of China's modern industry.

The establishment and development of the Kaiping Mining Administration led to population growth, the formation of industrial and mining settlements, and the prosperity of commerce and industry in the Qiaojiacun area of Tangshan, Kaiping Town (present-day Dacheng Mountain), becoming the origin of Tangshan City. Between 1880 and 1886, the Kaiping Mining Administration successively purchased 740 mu of land around Qiaojiacun, constructing workshop buildings, offices, residential buildings, and other facilities. As a new-style coal mine using Western mining methods, the Kaiping Coal Mine employed British machinery for drilling, excavation, drainage, ventilation, and hoisting. It also built facilities such as winch houses, steam boiler houses, and mechanical repair shops above ground, thus requiring skilled workers with experience in modern factory production. Initially, Qiaojiacun was a remote village with only 18 households, and few had exposure to modern machinery. Tang Tingshu therefore recruited the first batch of technical workers from his native Guangdong. With the expansion of the Kaiping Coal Mine's production scale, the completion of the Tangxu Railway, and the establishment of railway factories, more people from Guangdong and elsewhere, drawn by fellow villagers, successively came to the area, forming a relatively large Guangdong Village near the coal mine. Guangdong Village affairs were directly administered by the Kaiping Mining Administration. In the eighteenth year of Guangxu (1892), following Tang Tingshu's death, the Kaiping Mining Administration renamed Guangdong Village to Tangshan Town in commemoration of his contributions. In the twentieth year of Guangxu (1894), the Kaiping Mining Administration established Fengluan Tangshan Town (its jurisdiction divided between Fengrun County and Luanzhou) on the basis of expanded boundaries, forming the predecessor of the Tangshan City administrative area. By the end of the 19th century, the emerging industrial and mining settlement, combined with nearby villages, had a population of no less than 30,000. With Chinese and foreigners living together and immigrants gathering, "foreign merchants converged, and markets bustled," it had become a town of considerable size and the largest economic center in the Luanzhou and Fengrun regions. By the 1920s and 1930s, Tangshan had formed a modern industrial system centered on four major enterprises—the Kailuan Coal Mine, railway factories, Qixin Cement Company, and Huaxin Textile Mill—supported by several small and medium-sized enterprises. With crisscrossing roads and streets and thriving local commerce, it became a famous industrial and commercial city in northern China, known as "Little Tianjin."

3.2 Administrative Evolution

The area under present-day Tangshan's jurisdiction belonged to the Guzhu State during the Shang Dynasty. During the Spring and Autumn period, the eastern and northern parts were territories of the Shanrong, Feiru, and Lingzhi peoples, while the western part was land of the Yan State and Wuzhong. During the Warring States period, it was Yan territory. In the Qin Dynasty, it belonged to Liaoxi Commandery and Youbeiping Commandery. During the Western Han, it was part of Youbeiping Commandery and Liaoxi Commandery under You Province. In the Eastern Han, the eastern part comprised the three counties of Haiyang, Lingzhi, and Feiru in Liaoxi Commandery of You Province, while the western part comprised the four counties of Wuzhong, Xuwu, Junmi, and Tuyin in Youbeiping Commandery of You Province. The Western Jin changed Youbeiping Commandery to Beiping Commandery, with Xuwu as its seat, both under You Province along with Liaoxi Commandery. In 386 AD, the Xianbei people under Tuoba Gui established the Northern Wei, setting up Ping Province with its seat at Lingzhi (present-day Qian'an), governing Liaoxi and Beiping Commanderies. During the Sui Dynasty, it was divided between Lulong County of Beiping Commandery and Wuzhong County of Yuyang Commandery under Ji Province. In the Tang Dynasty, it was part of Ping Prefecture and Ji Prefecture under Hebei Circuit. During the Later Liang of the Five Dynasties, it fell to the Khitan, and under the Liao Dynasty, it belonged to Nanjing Circuit. Under the Jin Dynasty, it was divided between Ping Prefecture, Luan Prefecture, and Ji Prefecture of Zhongdu Circuit. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was part of the directly administered "Fuli" (referring to the area around the capital Dadu) under the Central Secretariat, within the jurisdictions of Ji Prefecture of Dadu Circuit and Yongping Circuit. In the Ming Dynasty, it belonged to Ji Prefecture of Shuntian Prefecture and Yongping Prefecture under the Capital (Northern Zhili). In the Qing Dynasty, it was part of Yongping Prefecture and Zunhua Directly Administered Subprefecture under Zhili Province.

During the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, in the area around Qiaojiacun Village south of Tangshan (present-day Dacheng Mountain), about 20 li southwest of Kaiping Town, Luanzhou, Yongping Prefecture, Zhili, a new industrial and mining settlement gradually formed with the mining of the Kaiping Coal Mine and the completion of the Tangxu Railway. In the eighteenth year of Guangxu (1892), the Kaiping Mining Administration renamed Guangdong Village (a settlement of Kaiping coal miners, named for the early technical workers who were mostly from Guangdong) to Tangshan Town, marking the beginning of the formal name Tangshan City. In February of the second year of the Republic of China (1913), Luanzhou was changed to Luan County, and Tangshan Town was placed under the Eighth District of Luan County. In June of the fourteenth year of the Republic of China (1925), the Beijing Provisional Government ordered the implementation of the "Municipal Autonomy System" in some towns of Zhili Province starting in July, establishing Tangshan City (Note: of an autonomous nature, not a level of government) "with Tangshan Town as its area," while simultaneously restoring the old name Yaoshan County to the Tangshan County in Xingtai. However, the establishment of Tangshan City was not implemented for various reasons. In June of the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (1928), Zhili Province was renamed Hebei Province. In the twentieth year of the Republic of China (1931), with the approval of the Hebei Provincial Government, 12 villages including Qiaotun in Luan County and Laoxiezhuang in Fengrun County were formally designated as the jurisdiction of the Tangshan Special Public Security Bureau, called Fengluan Tangshan Town, although educational and tax administration rights remained with the two counties. In January 1938, considering Tangshan's special economic and political status, the East Hebei Anti-Communist Autonomous Government established Tangshan City. Tangshan became the central city of the East Hebei region. In August 1945, after Japan's surrender, the Nationalist army took over Tangshan. In April 1946, the Hebei Provincial Government Committee officially ordered the establishment of Tangshan City. On December 12, 1948, the People's Liberation Army occupied Tangshan and promptly established a Military Control Committee. In June 1949, the Tangshan City Military Control Committee's Municipal Affairs Office was reorganized into the Tangshan City People's Government.

When the People's Republic of China was founded in October 1949, Tangshan City was a city under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province, comprising Districts 1 through 12. In March 1955, the Tangshan City People's Government was renamed the Tangshan City People's Committee. In April 1958, Tangshan City was placed under the leadership of the Tangshan Special District, downgraded to a city under the special district; in August of the same year, the seat of the Tangshan Special District Commissioner's Office was moved from Changli County to Tangshan City. In June 1959, by decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Tangshan City was designated as one of the 45 open cities in the country; Hebei Province decided to combine the Tangshan Special District Commissioner's Office and the Tangshan City People's Committee. In April 1960, the State Council of the People's Republic of China officially approved the abolition of the Tangshan Special District, with its cities and counties placed under the leadership of Tangshan City, and Tangshan City became a provincial-level city again. In May 1961, the State Council approved the restoration of the Tangshan Special District structure, separating the special district and the city, and Tangshan City once again became a city under the special district. In January 1968, the Tangshan Special District was renamed the Tangshan Prefecture, and Tangshan City became a city under the prefecture; the Tangshan City People's Committee was renamed the Tangshan City Revolutionary Committee. (In December 1967, during the Cultural Revolution, Chen Boda, a close associate of Mao Zedong and a top CCP leader, initiated a purge in Tangshan. Cadres and party members including Yang Yuan, the First Secretary of the Tangshan Municipal Party Committee, were persecuted as Nationalists and traitors. Over 80,000 cadres and masses were persecuted, with nearly 3,000 deaths.)In March 1978, Tangshan was reinstated as a city directly under the provincial administration. In October 1982, the Tangshan Revolutionary Committee was abolished and reverted to the Tangshan Municipal People's Government. Tangshan governed the Lunan District, Lubei District, Dongkuang District, Kaiping District, and Xinqu District. In March 1983, the State Council approved the abolition of the Tangshan Prefecture, implementing a city-administering-county system. The nine counties originally under Tangshan Prefecture—Fengrun, Fengnan, Luan County, Luannan, Zunhua, Qian'an, Qianxi, Yutian, and Tanghai—were transferred to Tangshan City, while the four counties of Funing, Changli, Lulong, and Leting were transferred to Qinhuangdao City. In May of the same year, the State Council approved the transfer of Leting County from Qinhuangdao City back to Tangshan City. In December 1984, the State Council approved Tangshan as one of the 13 "larger cities" in the country. In February 1992, Zunhua County was abolished and established as the county-level Zunhua City, administered by Tangshan City. In April 1994, Fengnan County was abolished and established as the county-level Fengnan City, administered by Tangshan City. In January 1995, Dongkuang District was renamed Guye District. In October 1996, Qian'an County was abolished and established as the county-level Qian'an City, administered by Tangshan City. In February 2002, the county-level Fengnan City was abolished and established as Tangshan's Fengnan District; Fengrun County and Tangshan's Xinqu District were merged to establish Tangshan's Fengrun District. In July 2012, Tanghai County was abolished and established as Tangshan's Caofeidian District. In September 2018, Luan County was abolished and established as the county-level Luanzhou City, administered by Tangshan City.

3.3 Modern Era

On July 28, 1976, the Tangshan earthquake struck, devastating the entire city. Post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction took a decade.

Since the 1990s, Tangshan has experienced rapid economic and social development, becoming an important industrial city in the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan economic region of North China.

In 1991, Tangshan hosted the Second National City Games of the People's Republic of China.

In 2016, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the earthquake resistance, Tangshan hosted the World Horticultural Exposition, the Third China-Central and Eastern European Countries Local Leaders' Meeting, the 25th China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, and the 10th China-Latin America Entrepreneurs Summit.

4. Geography

4.1 Location Coordinates

Tangshan is situated in the northeastern part of the North China Plain and the central region of the Bohai Rim. It borders the Bohai Sea to the south, leans against the Yanshan Mountains to the north, faces Qinhuangdao City across the Luan River to the east, and is adjacent to Tianjin Municipality to the west. It lies between longitudes 117°30' E and 119°19' E, and latitudes 38°55' N and 40°20' N. The area spans approximately 130 kilometers from east to west and 150 kilometers from north to south, with a total area of 14,341.47 square kilometers. The city's central urban area is located in the central-western part of the territory, approximately 125 kilometers east to Qinhuangdao, 40 kilometers south to the Bohai Sea, 108 kilometers southwest to Tianjin, 366 kilometers to Shijiazhuang, and 154 kilometers northwest to Beijing.

4.2 Topography and Landforms

The northern part of the Tangshan region belongs to the Yanshan Subsidence Zone, while the southern part is part of the North China Depression Zone. Based on geomorphological units, it can be divided into the northern low mountain and hilly area, the central piedmont alluvial-proluvial plain area, and the southern coastal plain area. The overall terrain is higher in the north and lower in the south, sloping from northwest to southeast. The northern mountainous area generally has elevations between 50 and 600 meters, with the highest point being Bamian Peak in northern Qianxi County, at 842 meters. The central piedmont alluvial-proluvial plain lies below 50 meters in elevation, featuring flat terrain. The southern and southwestern parts consist of coastal saline-alkali land and low-lying marshland, with elevations ranging from 1.5 to 10 meters.

4.3 River Systems

There are 70 rivers flowing through Tangshan, primarily belonging to three major water systems: the Luan River, the Eastern Hebei Coastal Rivers, and the North Three Rivers. The Luan River system mainly includes the Luan River, Qinglong River, Che River, Chang River, Heng River, and Qing River. The Eastern Hebei Coastal Rivers system primarily consists of the Dou River and Sha River, with rivers like the Su River, Xiaoqinglong River, and Shuanglong River flowing independently into the sea within Tangshan. The North Three Rivers system is mainly composed of the North Canal, Ji Canal, and Chaobai River. The multi-year average runoff depth for the entire territory is 108.5 mm, with 178.5 mm in mountainous areas and 65.5 mm in plain areas.

4.4 Climate Type

Tangshan has a warm temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate, characterized by four distinct seasons and a mild climate. Spring is windy with little rain, high evaporation, dry air, and rapid warming. Summer features prevalent southeasterly winds, hot and rainy weather. Autumn sees many clear days with rapid cooling and low wind speeds. Winter is dominated by northwesterly winds, bringing cold and dry conditions. The annual average temperature is around 12°C. Precipitation is concentrated from June to August, often with heavy rain; the multi-year average rainfall is 660 mm. The first frost generally occurs in mid-October, with the last frost lasting until April of the following year. The frost-free period ranges from 158 to 205 days. | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------| | Record High °C | 12.1 | 19.5 | 23.5 | 32.5 | 36.1 | 39.6 | 39.6 | 36.0 | 33.1 | 31.4 | 22.7 | 13.2 | 39.6 | | Record High °F | 53.8 | 67.1 | 74.3 | 90.5 | 97.0 | 103.3 | 103.3 | 96.8 | 91.6 | 88.5 | 72.9 | 55.8 | 103.3 | | Avg. High °C | 0.9 | 4.1 | 10.7 | 19.6 | 25.2 | 29.1 | 30.2 | 29.4 | 25.9 | 19.1 | 9.8 | 3.0 | 17.3 | | Avg. High °F | 33.6 | 39.4 | 51.3 | 67.3 | 77.4 | 84.4 | 86.4 | 84.9 | 78.6 | 66.4 | 49.6 | 37.4 | 63.1 | | Daily Mean °C | -5.1 | -2.0 | 4.6 | 13.1 | 19.0 | 23.4 | 25.7 | 24.7 | 20.0 | 12.8 | 4.0 | -2.5 | 11.5 | | Daily Mean °F | 22.8 | 28.4 | 40.3 | 55.6 | 66.2 | 74.1 | 78.3 | 76.5 | 68.0 | 55.0 | 39.2 | 27.5 | 52.7 | | Avg. Low °C | -10.2 | -7.0 | -0.8 | 7.1 | 13.0 | 18.2 | 21.7 | 20.5 | 14.6 | 7.5 | -0.7 | -7.0 | 6.4 | | Avg. Low °F | 13.6 | 19.4 | 30.6 | 44.8 | 55.4 | 64.8 | 71.1 | 68.9 | 58.3 | 45.5 | 30.7 | 19.4 | 43.5 | | Record Low °C | -22.7 | -19.8 | -14.6 | -4.7 | 3.5 | 9.4 | 14.6 | 11.2 | 4.7 | -5.6 | -14.5 | -17.0 | -22.7 | | Record Low °F | -8.9 | -3.6 | 5.7 | 23.5 | 38.3 | 48.9 | 58.3 | 52.2 | 40.5 | 21.9 | 5.9 | 1.4 | -8.9 | | Avg. Precipitation mm | 4.3 | 4.4 | 9.6 | 21.3 | 42.7 | 86.6 | 192.8 | 162.5 | 48.2 | 23.5 | 9.9 | 4.5 | 610.3 | | Average precipitation inches | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.38 | 0.84 | 1.68 | 3.41 | 7.59 | 6.40 | 1.90 | 0.93 | 0.39 | 0.18 | 24.04 | | Average precipitation days | 2.4 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 6.6 | 9.0 | 12.9 | 10.7 | 6.4 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 68.2 |

4.5 Natural Resources

Tangshan is rich in mineral resources, with main types including coal, iron, gold, limestone, dolomite, petroleum, and natural gas. Coal reserves are mainly distributed in districts and counties such as Guye, Kaiping, Fengnan, Lunan, Lubei, and Yutian. The Kailuan Coal Mine has a mining history of over a hundred years. Iron ore resources are primarily located in counties and cities like Qianxi, Qian'an, Zunhua, and Luanzhou, making it one of the seven major iron ore production areas in China. Gold deposits are mainly found in Qianxi County. Tangshan has a mainland coastline of nearly 230 kilometers, with abundant marine resources along the coast, including ports, islands, tidal flats, fisheries, salt production, oil, and gas. The city's forest coverage rate reached 37.2% in 2017, featuring 7 national and provincial forest parks. Tangshan also has relatively abundant water resources. The Luan River Diversion Project to Tianjin, constructed in the 1980s, channels water from the Panjiakou Reservoir and Daheiting Reservoir in the upper reaches of the Luan River into Tianjin, reversing the water shortage situation in Tianjin and ensuring water supply for millions of urban residents and industrial use in the city.

5. Administrative Divisions

Tangshan City currently administers 7 municipal districts, 4 counties, and manages 3 county-level cities on behalf of the province, totaling 14 county-level administrative divisions.

• Municipal Districts: Lu'nan District, Lubei District, Guye District, Kaiping District, Fengnan District, Fengrun District, Caofeidian District
• Counties: Luannan County, Leting County, Qianxi County, Yutian County
• County-level Cities: Zunhua City, Qian'an City, Luanzhou City

Additionally, there are 5+1 directly-administered functional zones:

• Tangshan High-tech Industrial Development Zone (established in 1992, upgraded to a national-level high-tech industrial development zone in 2010)
• Hebei Tangshan Haigang Economic Development Zone (established in 1993, provincial-level economic development zone)
• Hebei Tangshan Lutai Economic Development Zone (established in 2003, provincial-level economic development zone)
• Tangshan Hangu Management Area (established in 2003, county-level administrative management area)
• Tangshan International Tourism Island (established in 2011, rated as a provincial-level tourist resort in 2018)
• Beijing-Hebei Caofeidian Coordinated Development Demonstration Zone (formally incorporated into the management sequence of the Tangshan Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government in May 2020) | Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|---------------------|----------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 130200 | Tangshan City | Tángshān Shì | 14,341.47 | 7,717,983 | Lubei District | 063000 | 54 | 132 | 45 | 3 | | 130202 | Lu'nan District | Lùnán Qū | 60.84 | 334,204 | Xueyuan South Road Subdistrict | 063000 | 9 | 1 | 1 | | | 130203 | Lubei District | Lùběi Qū | 123.95 | 914,396 | Qiaotun Subdistrict | 063000 | 12 | 2 | | | | 130204 | Guye District | Gǔyě Qū | 248.37 | 317,932 | Jinghua Subdistrict | 063100 | 5 | 2 | 3 | | | 130205 | Kaiping District| Kāipíng Qū | 237.91 | 279,432 | Kaiping Subdistrict | 063000 | 5 | 6 | | | | 130207 | Fengnan District| Fēngnán Qū | 1,591.70 | 648,840 | Qingnian Road Subdistrict | 063300 | 3 | 14 | 3 | | | 130208 | Fengrun District| Fēngrùn Qū | 1,309.56 | 840,934 | Taiping Road Subdistrict | 064000 | 3 | 19 | 3 | | | 130209 | Caofeidian District| Cáofēidiàn Qū | 1,280.64 | 352,069 | Tanghai Town | 063300 | 3 | 5 | | | | 130224 | Luannan County | Luánnán Xiàn | 1,426.57 | 508,538 | Youyi Road Subdistrict | 063500 | 1 | 16 | | | | 130225 | Leting County | Lètíng Xiàn | 1,607.08 | 487,416 | Le'an Subdistrict | 063500 | 1 | 11 | 3 | | | 130227 | Qianxi County | Qiānxī Xiàn | 1,460.67 | 365,615 | Lixiang Subdistrict | 064300 | 1 | 9 | 8 | | | 130229 | Yutian County | Yùtián Xiàn | 1,170.17 | 664,906 | Wuzhong Subdistrict | 064100 | 1 | 16 | 4 | | | 130281 | Zunhua City | Zūnhuà Shì | 1,513.63 | 707,047 | Wenhua Road Subdistrict | 064200 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 3 | | 130283 | Qian'an City | Qiān'ān Shì | 1,227.19 | 776,752 | Yongshun Subdistrict | 064400 | 4 | 10 | 7 | | | 130284 | Luanzhou City | Luánzhōu Shì | 1,027.21 | 520,102 | Luanhe Subdistrict | 063700 | 4 | 10 | | |

6. Economy

Tangshan is an industrial city with a history of over a hundred years and one of the birthplaces of China's modern industry. It is hailed as the "Cradle of China's Modern Industry" and the "Northern Porcelain Capital." In 1877, China's first railway, the Tangxu Railway (from Tangshan to Xugezhuang), and its supporting facility, the Xugezhuang Repair Depot (now Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co., Ltd.), were built in Tangshan. This was followed by the first modern coal mine, the Kailuan Coal Mine; the first refractory materials plant; and the first, and in the 20th century China's largest, cement plant. Tangshan is the Northern Porcelain Capital of China and currently the largest production base for sanitary ceramics and industrial ceramics in the country. The Kailuan Coal Mine is the largest coking coal producer.

To this day, Tangshan has established pillar industries including steel, energy, building materials, chemicals, machinery, and ceramics, making it a crucial energy and raw materials base in China.

In 2010, during an inspection tour in Tangshan, Xi Jinping proposed the "Three Endeavors to Build" goal for the city: to endeavor to build Tangshan into a window city for economic cooperation in Northeast Asia, a new-type industrialization base in the Bohai Rim region, and an important pivot in the Capital Economic Circle.

In 2011, the city's regional GDP reached 544.241 billion yuan, ranking first in the province, with a year-on-year growth of 11.7%. Total fiscal revenue was 55.55 billion yuan, of which general public budget revenue was 25.56 billion yuan, increasing by 26.6% and 30.5% respectively. The per capita disposable income of urban residents and the per capita net income of farmers reached 21,785 yuan and 9,460 yuan, growing by 11.4% and 13.8% respectively, both ranking first in Hebei Province. The added values of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries were 48.653 billion yuan, 326.989 billion yuan, and 168.600 billion yuan respectively. The per capita GDP was 71,626 yuan, equivalent to 11,090 USD, more than double the average of Hebei Province.

6.1 Industry

Tangshan's civilian industry originated during the late Qing Dynasty's "Westernization Movement," pioneering China's industrialization. Following the defeat in the Second Opium War, some Westernization-minded officials of the Qing Dynasty recognized the power of the British and French forces' advanced warships and artillery, thus initiating the Westernization Movement guided by the principles of "learning from foreigners to counter foreigners" and "Chinese learning as the foundation, Western learning for practical use." The movement primarily focused on learning and introducing Western advanced technology, establishing military industries to produce new weapons, and forming modern armies. Subsequently, to address the raw material, funding, and transportation issues of the military industries, civilian industries, mining, and transportation were developed to achieve the goals of "seeking strength," "seeking wealth," and resisting the invasion of Western powers. In 1876, during the mid-period of the Westernization Movement, Li Hongzhang, the Viceroy of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang, dispatched Tang Tingshu, the General Manager of the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company in Shanghai, to survey coal and iron resources in the Kaiping area of eastern Hebei. In 1878, with Li Hongzhang's petition approved by the Qing court, Tang Tingshu established the Kaiping Mining Administration and began selecting a site to build the mine. In 1881, the Tangshan Coal Mine of the Kaiping Mining Administration officially commenced production (after merging with the later-established Luanzhou Official Mining Company, it became known as the Kailuan Mining Administration). The establishment of the Kaiping Mining Administration spurred the development of transportation, cement and ceramics, textile machinery, commerce, and trade. In Tangshan, many "firsts" of China's modern industry were born, such as the first modern coal mine, the first standard-gauge railway, the first steam locomotive, the first barrel of machine-made cement, and the first piece of sanitary ceramic, earning it the title "Cradle of China's Modern Industry." It transformed Tangshan from a remote village cluster into a burgeoning industrial city. Notably, the Tangxu Railway was extended eastward through Guye and Shanhaiguan to Fengtian (Shenyang) and westward to Beiping (Beijing), completing the entire Jingfeng (Beijing-Fengtian) Railway, which became a major artery connecting regions inside and outside the Shanhai Pass, significantly promoting China's railway development and socio-economic progress. By the mid-1930s, Tangshan's industry had reached considerable scale, with corresponding growth in commerce and trade. However, due to frequent warfare, by the eve of the founding of the People's Republic, Tangshan's industrial and mining enterprises also faced numerous operational difficulties. Worker movements led by the Chinese Communist Party surged, with strikes such as the Jingfeng Railway Strike and the Kailuan Five Mines Alliance Strike shocking China and the world. Chairman Mao Zedong highly praised the workers of the Kailuan Coal Mine and the Jingfeng Railway for being "exceptionally combative."

On December 13, 1948, following the orders of the Northeast Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the Tangshan Military Control Commission announced the imposition of military control over large factories and mines like Kailuan, while simultaneously nationalizing all bureaucrat-capitalist enterprises. Enterprises such as the Tangshan Power Plant, the Tangshan Branch of the Jibei Electric Power Company, the Tangshan Railway Factory, and the Tangshan Bauxite Mine, which belonged to bureaucrat-capital, were nationalized. For the Huaxin Textile Mill, which contained bureaucrat-capital shares, its bureaucrat-capital was confiscated, and the enterprise was turned into a joint public-private operation under the People's Government and national capitalists. The Sino-British joint venture Kailuan Coal Mine was placed under military control, with military representatives dispatched to supervise production. In May 1952, at the request of the capitalist general manager, it was placed under the trusteeship of the People's Government. Simultaneously, 12 smaller industrial and mining enterprises, including the Hebao Armory Repair Shop, the provincially-run Guanghua Paper Mill, and the Tangshan Cotton Ginning Mill, were taken over and became state-owned enterprises. On April 22, 1954, Chairman Mao Zedong personally inspected the Qixin Cement Plant, facilitating its transition to a joint public-private enterprise, which encouraged and promoted the process of the "Three Major Transformations" in Tangshan and nationwide. By January 1956, all 1,629 factories and enterprises across 60 industrial and commercial sectors in Tangshan had completed the transition to joint public-private ownership.

In September 1956, the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China made the significant decision to shift the focus of national work to economic construction. Given that the state-assigned capital construction tasks for Tangshan were six times greater than those in 1955, Tangshan's industry extensively launched movements for "increasing production and practicing economy" and recognizing "advanced producers," striving to increase the output of raw materials like coal, steel, electricity, and bauxite. From 1956 to 1957, cumulative capital construction investment reached 204 million yuan. Projects such as the reopening of the Kailuan Majiagou Mine and its ventilation shaft construction, the first-phase expansion of the Tangshan Power Plant, the construction of the Beijiadian Mine for the Qixin Cement Plant, the renovation of the steelmaking workshop at the Tangshan Steel Plant, and the completion of factory buildings for the Desheng Porcelain Factory and Tangshan Machinery Plant were successively finished and put into operation. By the end of 1957, the city's total industrial and agricultural output value reached 1.05 billion yuan, an increase of 55.95% compared to 1952. Industrial output value was 569 million yuan, a growth of 98.67%. Major industrial products saw substantial increases. Compared to 1952, steel output reached 245,000 tons, a 2.71-fold increase; rolled steel reached 113,000 tons, a 2.05-fold increase; raw coal output reached 8.387 million tons, a 49.1% increase; electricity generation reached 455 million kWh, a 47.57% increase; cement output reached 606,000 tons, a 89.38% increase; and daily-use ceramics reached 21.613 million pieces, a 76% increase. The overall labor productivity in state-owned industry was 5,686 yuan, 36.72 percentage points higher than the national average.

In the early stages of the "Cultural Revolution," national industrial production was severely affected, especially coal output, which declined sharply, leading to a serious supply shortage. After the establishment of the Kailuan Revolutionary Committee in early 1968, it organized cadres and workers to carry out movements like "In Industry, Learn from Daqing" and "Grasp Revolution, Promote Production," leading to an improving production situation. In 1968, coal output increased by 2.14 million tons compared to 1967, with total output accounting for one-sixth of the national total, providing precious energy for national construction and people's livelihoods. Premier Zhou Enlai fully affirmed Kailuan's outstanding contributions to the nation, praising it as an advanced unit that "exerted great effort, provided timely relief, and rendered meritorious service," a red banner. In 1970, Kailuan's raw coal output reached 16.642 million tons, exceeding the target by 2.533 million tons, setting the highest overfulfillment record since the mine's establishment and overfulfilling the Third Five-Year Plan. In December 1973, the front page of the People's Daily published an article titled "They Are Exceptionally Combative—Recording the Revolutionary Spirit of the Kailuan Coal Miners," publicizing Kailuan's efforts in striving to double output during the Fourth Five-Year Plan period and its consecutive years of significant coal production growth. During the Fourth Five-Year Plan period, Kailuan cumulatively produced 105 million tons of raw coal, exceeding the national plan by over 20 million tons in five years, making exceptional contributions to alleviating the national coal shortage. In February 1975, the People's Daily published a commentary titled "The Century-Old Mine—Kailuan Coal Mine Becomes an Advanced Model for the National Coal Industry." Subsequently, a movement to "Learn from Daqing, Catch Up with Kailuan" rapidly swept across the national industry, especially the coal sector. From 1968 to 1975, the city's total industrial output value increased at an average annual rate of 12%, reaching 2.8 billion yuan in 1975, a 1.68-fold increase.The massive earthquake in 1976 inflicted extremely severe losses on Tangshan's industry, particularly in the urban area. Approximately 70–80% of industrial buildings collapsed, production and transportation facilities and equipment were heavily damaged, and all enterprises ceased operations. With the strong support of the military and civilians nationwide, the broad workforce actively restored production and rebuilt their homes. The Jia'anzi Substation began receiving and supplying power just 15 hours after the earthquake, restored lighting on main streets within 38 hours, and started supplying power to the Kailuan mines within 72 hours. On August 7, the Kailuan Majiagou Mine produced the first load of coal after the earthquake. By March 1977, all Kailuan mines had fully resumed production. On August 25, Tangshan Iron and Steel Company produced its first furnace of steel, achieving full resumption of production by September 1977. Tangshan Power Plant was connected to the grid and began generating electricity on the 14th day after the earthquake, completed all emergency repairs by November 1976, and restored its power generation capacity to pre-earthquake levels. By March 1977, 666 out of 692 municipal (county, district) enterprises had resumed production. With the recovery and reconstruction of New Tangshan, alongside the construction of large public commercial facilities such as the new Jianguo Road commercial district, Workers' Hospital, City Library, and Tangshan Hotel, a number of large backbone enterprises were newly built or continued, including Jidong Cement Plant, Douhe Power Plant, and Kailuan Fangezhuang Coal Washery. In 1978, the city's total industrial and agricultural output value reached 3.787 billion yuan, an increase of 3.4% compared to 1975 before the earthquake. Industrial output value was 2.923 billion yuan, a growth of 4.5%. On the tenth anniversary of the earthquake relief in 1986, the city's gross regional product reached 6.744 billion yuan, with industrial output value at 2.806 billion yuan, accounting for 41.6%.

Over the forty years since the earthquake, Tangshan's industry has undergone ten years of reconstruction, ten years of revitalization, and over twenty years of rapid development, entering a new stage of optimizing structure, transformation, and upgrading. With the development and construction of Tangshan Port and Caofeidian, the layout of productive forces has advanced toward the coast. Simultaneously, active efforts have been made to transform and upgrade traditional industries, introduce high-tech and high-value-added projects, and strengthen forward-looking and strategic adjustments to the industrial structure. The city has resolutely eliminated outdated production capacities (especially in steel and cement), implemented technological and industrial innovation, and developed strategic emerging industries represented by equipment manufacturing, electronic information, new energy, new materials, and biopharmaceuticals. During this stage, industrial development accelerated. In 2005, the city's gross regional product reached 202.76 billion yuan, with a per capita figure of 28,500 yuan, and total fiscal revenue was 22.65 billion yuan, all ranking first in the province, making Tangshan the top economic powerhouse in Hebei Province. Industrial output value was 107.61 billion yuan, accounting for 53.1% of the city's gross regional product, a 43.3-fold increase compared to 1985. In 1978, per capita gross product was 1.4 times the national and provincial averages, rising to 2.0 times and 1.9 times, respectively, by 2007. In 2008, the gross regional product reached 353.75 billion yuan, entering the national "300-billion-yuan club" for urban economic development. Industrial economy played a pivotal role, further consolidating Tangshan's status as a national energy and raw materials industrial base. In 2015, Tangshan's economic output ranked 25th among Chinese cities and 10th among prefecture-level cities. In 2017, the city's gross regional product was 710.61 billion yuan, with total industrial added value at 377.26 billion yuan, accounting for 53.1%. Second, the scale expanded. In 2017, the city had 709 industrial enterprises with annual revenues exceeding 100 million yuan, including 46 with revenues over 5 billion yuan and 21 with revenues over 10 billion yuan. Fourteen enterprises were listed among China's Top 500 Manufacturing Enterprises. These included new-generation enterprises like Jidong Cement, Sanyou Alkali Industry, and Kaiyuan Electric, as well as century-old state-owned large enterprises like Kailuan Group, Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co., Ltd., and Tangshan Iron and Steel Group. By 2015, Kailuan had been listed among the Fortune Global 500 for four consecutive years. In 2006, Tangshan Iron and Steel Group entered the ranks of the world's top ten steel enterprises. In 2008, the "Harmony" high-speed EMU, with an operational speed of 350 km/h (reaching a maximum test speed of 487.3 km/h in 2011), successfully rolled off the production line at Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co., Ltd., achieving remarkable performance with "four world firsts" in operational speed, passenger capacity, energy efficiency and environmental protection, and comfort. Third, the structure was optimized. Significant progress was made in phasing out outdated products and developing high-end products. Strategic emerging industries such as advanced equipment manufacturing, electronic information, energy conservation and environmental protection, new energy, new materials, and biopharmaceuticals developed rapidly. High-tech, high-efficiency new products like high-speed EMUs, maglev trains, new energy vehicles, robots, graphene, automotive sheets, and Modal fiber emerged. Tangshan's industrial products have long enjoyed a high reputation in domestic and international markets. They have made important contributions to major projects such as the Beijing Olympic "Bird's Nest," the China Pavilion at the World Expo, the Three Gorges Project, West-East Electricity Transmission, South-to-North Water Diversion, and the new CCTV headquarters; over 40 world-renowned bridges like the Shanghai Lupu Bridge and the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge; key transportation hubs and arteries like Beijing Capital International Airport, the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, and the Guangzhou–Shenzhen Expressway; and aerospace, national defense, and military fields such as the Shenzhou V spacecraft, Chang'e-1 satellite, and special armored vehicles. Fourth, quality improved. In 2017, the city had 47 well-known trademarks, including Huida, Lanbei, and Sanyou. Industrial enterprises above designated size achieved profits of 70.77 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 75.1%.

6.2 Development Zones

6.3 National-Level Development Zones

• Tangshan Caofeidian Economic and Technological Development Zone
• Tangshan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone
• Caofeidian Comprehensive Bonded Zone

6.4 Provincial-Level Development Zones

• Hebei Fengnan Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Fengrun Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Laoting Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Luannan Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Luanzhou Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Qian'an High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Hebei Qian'an Eastern Economic Development Zone)
• Hebei Qian'an Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Qianxi Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Tangshan Chengnan Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Tangshan Guye Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Tangshan Haigang Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Tangshan Hangu Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Tangshan Kaiping High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Hebei Tangshan Kaiping Economic Development Zone)
• Hebei Tangshan Lutai Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Tangshan Nanpu Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Tangshan Western Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Yutian Economic Development Zone
• Hebei Zunhua Economic Development Zone

6.5 Well-Known Enterprises

• Kailuan Group
• HBIS Group Tangsteel Company
• Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.
• Shougang Qian'an Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.
• Jinxi Iron & Steel
• CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd.
• Jidong Development Group
• Jidong Oilfield
• Sanyou Chemical Industry
• Tangshan Port Group
• Huida Ceramics
• 22nd Metallurgical Construction Group
• Kaicheng Intelligent Equipment
• Yate Heavy Industry
• Panasonic Welding Systems (Tangshan) Co., Ltd.
• Pangda Automobile Trade
• Tangshan Department Store Building Group
• Tangshan Culture and Tourism Group

7. Transportation

Tangshan is situated along a vital transportation corridor connecting North China to Northeast China, making it one of the nation's comprehensive transportation hubs. Its territory is crisscrossed by an extensive network of railways and highways, with all counties now accessible via expressways and integrated into the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan one-hour economic circle. With the opening of the Tianjin-Qinhuangdao Passenger Dedicated Line and the commencement of the Beijing-Tangshan Intercity Railway, Tangshan will form a "half-hour" economic circle with Beijing and Tianjin. Tangshan Port, featuring "One Port with Three Areas" (Jingtang Port Area, Caofeidian Port Area, and Fengnan Port Area), is a significant regional port in Northern China, serving vast areas of North and Northwest China. Tangshan Sannühe Airport is the fourth officially operational civil aviation airport in Hebei Province. In the "National Logistics Hub Layout and Construction Plan" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport in December 2018, Tangshan was designated as a national logistics hub bearing city for port-type and production service-type hubs.

7.1 Railway

Tangshan is the birthplace of China's railway transportation. The Tangshan to Xugezhuang Railway (Tangxu Railway), approximately 20 Chinese miles long, built by the Kaiping Mining Bureau in 1881, was China's first self-built standard-gauge railway. Its primary operation at the time was to transport coal from the Kaiping Coal Mine (now the Kailuan Tangshan Mine), which became the starting point of China's railways. The Tangxu Railway was later extended westward to Tianjin and Beijing, and eastward to Shanhaiguan, becoming part of the Beijing-Shanhaiguan Railway. The character "路" (road/railway) in the names of Tangshan's Lunan and Lubei districts originally referred to the Beijing-Shanhaiguan Railway. Tangshan South Station, located in today's Lunan District, was originally the main passenger station of Tangshan, Tangshan Station. Its predecessor (commonly known as the Old Station, located east of the overpass on Jianguo Road at the old station crossing) was born with the Tangxu Railway and was China's first railway station. It was later relocated to its current site and began operation in 1907. In 1996, it was replaced by the new Tangshan Station due to the rerouting of the Beijing-Shanhaiguan Railway to avoid coal seams.

Major railways passing through Tangshan today include the Beijing-Harbin Railway, Tianjin-Shanhaiguan Railway, Daqin Railway, Tianjin-Qinhuangdao High-Speed Railway (Tianjin-Qinhuangdao Passenger Dedicated Line), Beijing-Tangshan Intercity Railway, Zhangjiakou-Tangshan Railway, Qian'an-Caofeidian Railway, Tangshan-Caofeidian Railway (under construction), Bohai Rim Intercity Railway (planned), Tangshan-Zunhua Intercity Railway (planned), and Tianjin-Chengde Intercity Railway (planned). Major railway stations within the urban area of Tangshan include Tangshan Station (located in Lubei District), Tangshan North Station (located in Fengrun District), Tangshan West Station (located in the High-tech Development Zone), Tangshan South Station (located in Lunan District), Caofeidian Port Station (located in Caofeidian District), and Caofeidian East Station (located in Caofeidian District).

7.2 Highway

Expressways: G1 Beijing-Harbin Expressway, G25 Changchun-Shenzhen Expressway, Beijing-Qinhuangdao Expressway, Tangshan-Tianjin Expressway, Chengde-Tangshan Expressway, Tangshan-Langfang Expressway, Tangshan Port Expressway, West Outer Ring Expressway, Tangshan-Caofeidian Expressway, Coastal Expressway, Qian'an-Caofeidian Expressway National Highways: National Highway 102, National Highway 112, National Highway 205

7.3 Port

Tangshan currently has a coastline of 229.7 kilometers. Sun Yat-sen visited Tangshan twice around the time of the 1911 Revolution for inspections. While writing "The International Development of China (Industrial Plan)" between 1918 and 1919, he proposed the grand vision of building a "Great Northern Port" in the Wangtan area of Laoting County along the Bohai coast. In the late 1980s, Tangshan began planning port construction. The Jingtang Port Area of Tangshan Port (initially named "Wangtan Port," renamed "Jingtang Port" in July 1993 after cooperation between Beijing and Tangshan in port construction) started construction in 1989 and officially opened to navigation in 1992. It is the earliest developed national Class I open port in Tangshan. The Caofeidian Port Area started construction in 2004 and began operation in 2005. Its ore terminal has two berths capable of accommodating 400,000-ton ore carriers. The Fengnan Port Area project commenced construction in 2016. Tangshan Port has now built 126 berths of various types for ore, coal, LNG, crude oil, containers, etc. Its shipping routes connect to over 150 ports in more than 70 countries and regions. It is the largest import iron ore unloading port and steel export port in China, ranking third in cargo throughput among Chinese ports in 2019. In recent years, Tangshan Port has established several inland ports in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and other regions, opening sea-rail intermodal transport block trains. In 2018, it launched the China-Mongolia international container direct block train and its first China-Europe block train from Jingtang Port to Antwerp.

7.4 Aviation

Tangshan Sannühe Airport is located within the High-tech Development Zone, 20 kilometers from the city center, and is a joint civil-military airport. Its predecessor was a military airport built in Lubei District in 1950. During the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, it was among the first to dispatch aircraft to report the disaster. Under unimaginably difficult conditions, it managed over 3,000 takeoffs and landings of relief aircraft, transporting a large number of severely injured victims and relief supplies without a single accident throughout the entire process, which was considered a miracle. Civil aviation services were briefly opened in 1985. Due to urban development needs, it was relocated to its current site in November 2004. In March 2007, Tangshan began preparations to build Tangshan Sannühe Airport. In December 2008, the State Council and the Central Military Commission approved the joint civil-military use and expansion of the Tangshan military airport. The airport project officially commenced in February 2009. Tangshan Sannühe Airport officially opened to air traffic in July 2010, becoming the fourth officially operational passenger airport in Hebei Province, following Shijiazhuang Zhengding, Handan, and Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan.

7.5 Public Transportation

By the end of 2019, the main urban area had 1,944 public transit vehicles in operation, including 541 new energy buses (electric, plug-in hybrid) and 1,403 clean energy buses. There were 141 public transit routes in operation. The Phoenix Tourist Bus Special Line was launched, and the Civic Center Bus Terminal was completed and put into use.

8. Education

8.1 Basic Education

• Tangshan No.1 Middle School (Tangshan Xiangyun Middle School)
• Tangshan No.2 Middle School (Tangshan No.2 Experimental School)
• Tangshan Kailuan No.1 Middle School
• Tangshan Kailuan No.2 Middle School
• Tangshan No.8 Middle School (Hebei Tangshan Foreign Language School)
• Tangshan No.10 Middle School
• Tangshan No.11 Middle School

8.2 Vocational Education

• Tangshan Vocational Education Center
• Tangshan Labor Technician College (Tangshan Labor Senior Technical School)
• Hebei Locomotive Technician College
• Tangshan Transportation Technical School
• Tangshan Art School
• Tangshan Sports School
• Kailuan Technician College (Kailuan Senior Technical School)
• Tangshan No.1 Vocational Secondary Specialized School (Tangshan Branch of Beijing Changping Vocational School)
• Tangshan Experimental Secondary Specialized School
• Tangshan Gangwan Information Engineering Secondary Vocational Technical School
• Hebei Energy Vocational and Technical College
• Tangshan Vocational and Technical College
• Tangshan Industrial Vocational and Technical College (Tangshan Technician College of Hebei Province)
• Tangshan Science and Technology Vocational College
• Tangshan Preschool Teachers College
• Caofeidian Vocational and Technical College
• Tangshan Maritime Vocational College (newly established in 2020)

8.3 Higher Education

Tangshan is the cradle of higher education in transportation engineering and mining/metallurgical engineering in China. Historically, Tangshan Jiaotong University (now Southwest Jiaotong University) enjoyed a prestigious reputation, with notable alumni including Mao Yisheng, Zhu Kezhen, Tung-Yen Lin, Yang Xingfo, Huang Wanli, among others. The university originated from the Shanhaiguan Beiyang Railway Official School established in 1896, which was one of the earliest modern universities founded by Chinese. It was suspended in 1900 due to the Boxer Rebellion. In 1905, it relocated and reopened in Tangshan, renamed as Tangshan Railway School. In 1906, a mining department was added, and it became the Tangshan Railway and Mining School. Subsequently, it underwent several name changes, including the Ministry of Communications Tangshan Railway School, Tangshan Industrial Specialized School, Jiaotong University Tangshan School, Ministry of Communications Tangshan University, Tangshan Jiaotong University, Ministry of Communications Second Jiaotong University, Jiaotong University Tangshan Engineering College, National Tangshan Engineering College, Tangshan Railway Institute, etc. In Tangshan, it was commonly referred to as Tangshan Jiaotong University. Due to the impact of mining activities at the Kailuan Coal Mine, there were plans to relocate the institute to Lanzhou, Gansu in the late 1950s. In 1964, following the central government's policy on constructing the "Third Front," the Ministry of Railways decided to move Tangshan Railway Institute to Emei, Sichuan. It was renamed Southwest Jiaotong University in 1972. In recent years, Tangshan has actively sought cooperation with Southwest Jiaotong University. In 2017, the Southwest Jiaotong University Tangshan Graduate School was officially established.

9. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 7,717,983. Compared with the 7,577,289 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 140,694 people over the past decade, representing a growth of 1.86% and an average annual growth rate of 0.18%. Among them, the male population was 3,921,523, accounting for 50.81% of the total population; the female population was 3,796,460, accounting for 49.19% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 103.29. The population aged 0–14 was 1,278,373, accounting for 16.56% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 4,678,975, accounting for 60.62% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 1,760,635, accounting for 22.81% of the total population, of which those aged 65 and above numbered 1,232,975, accounting for 15.98% of the total population. The urban population was 4,963,907, accounting for 64.32% of the total population; the rural population was 2,754,076, accounting for 35.68% of the total population.

At the end of 2019, the city's permanent resident population was 7.9642 million, of which the urban population was 5.1226 million and the rural population was 2.8416 million; the urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 64.32%. At the end of 2018, the total registered population was 7.5808 million, of which males numbered 3.8294 million, accounting for 50.51%, and females numbered 3.7514 million, accounting for 49.49%. The annual number of births was 76,800, with a birth rate of 10.15‰; the number of deaths was 30,700, with a mortality rate of 4.06‰; the natural population growth rate was 6.09‰. Among the city's migrant population, people from Northeast China constitute the majority.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

The city's population is predominantly Han Chinese, with 51 ethnic minorities totaling 359,900 people, accounting for 4.75% of the city's total population, ranking third in the province. It is one of the cities in Hebei Province with a relatively large scattered ethnic minority population. Among the ethnic minorities, the Manchu population is the largest, with 287,700 people, constituting the vast majority; followed by the Hui population, with over 30,000 people; then the Zhuang and Mongolian populations, each with over 10,000 people. These four groups together account for over 96% of the city's total ethnic minority population. Districts, counties, and county-level cities with ethnic minority populations exceeding 10,000 are: Zunhua City (114,500), Yutian County (47,800), Fengrun District (31,900), Qian'an City (29,900), Lubei District (23,800), Fengnan District (22,300), Luannan County (19,600), Qianxi County (15,300), and Luanzhou City (13,700). The city has three ethnic townships and two towns with ethnic minority majorities, all located within Zunhua City. They are Xixiaying Manchu Township, Tangquan Manchu Township, Dongling Manchu Township, Malanyu Town, and Shimen Town (the latter two towns are predominantly Manchu). Zunhua has the largest Manchu population, largely because the Qing Eastern Royal Tombs of the Qing Dynasty are located there. The city has 228 ethnic villages distributed across various districts, counties, and county-level cities, including 199 Manchu villages, 28 Hui villages, and one combined Manchu-Hui village.

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han population is 7,425,614, accounting for 96.21%; the Manchu population is 228,586, accounting for 2.96%; and other ethnic minority populations total 63,783, accounting for 0.83%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population increased by 98,893, a growth of 1.35%, but its proportion of the total population decreased by 0.48 percentage points. The total ethnic minority population increased by 41,801, a growth of 16.68%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.48 percentage points. Among them, the Manchu population increased by 29,239, a growth of 14.67%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.33 percentage points.

10. Religion

The main religions are Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism. In Lubei District, there is the Buddhist temple Da Tang Xing Guo Chan Temple and two Christian churches (located on Wujiazhuang Street and the West Outer Ring Road, respectively). Each urban district has several Catholic churches. In Lu’nan District (Heping Road) and Kaiping District, there are mosques. The renowned Taoist temple, Yuqing Temple, located in Kaiping District, was destroyed in the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. Later, Taoist priest Dong Chongwen invested 12 million yuan to rebuild it outside the north gate of old Kaiping city. Today, the Tangshan Taoist Association is situated here.

11. Culture

11.1 Folk Arts

Tangshan's folk culture encompasses various performance forms such as Yangge (rice sprout song), land boat dancing, and stilt walking. It also includes folk arts and crafts like clay sculpture, paper-cutting, and embroidery, as well as mass cultural activities like flower fairs and temple fairs. After Tangshan opened as a port, Yangge, Lianhualao (lotus falling), and Shulaibao (fast-talking clapper talk) became widely popular among the people. Lianhualao, adapted by playwrights like Cheng Zhaocai, evolved into Pingju Opera, which gained extensive influence in North and Northeast China and became a major national opera genre. Cheng Zhaocai created and adapted nearly a hundred Pingju Opera plays, with renowned works like The Flower as Matchmaker and Yang Sanjie Lodges a Complaint. In recent years, Tangshan has hosted the annual China Pingju Opera Art Festival. Qingping songs and Sanqu from Laoting later developed into Laoting Dagu (drum storytelling), and Laoting shadow puppetry, widely popular in eastern Hebei, came to be known as Tangshan shadow puppetry. Pingju Opera, shadow puppetry, and Laoting Dagu are hailed as the "Three Flowers of Eastern Hebei Folk Arts" and are all recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

11.2 Specialty Cuisine

Tangshan cuisine belongs to the typical northern Chinese culinary tradition. Signature dishes include Braised Sea Cucumber with Pork Knuckle, Soy Sauce Glazed Tile-Fish, and Braised Turtle Rim (the gelatinous substance around a sea turtle's shell, scraped off and dried). Local snacks include Honey Crisp Candy, Chess Piece Sesame Cake, and Peanut Brittle.

Stewed Pork Knuckle is a traditional dish in Tangshan's culinary market. Originating in the early 20th century, it was innovatively created by a "renowned chef from east of Beijing" by synthesizing various folk methods of preparing pork knuckle and considering people's taste preferences. It was introduced in 1937 when the Tangshan Hongyan Restaurant opened. Its characteristics are tender, non-greasy meat with a delightful texture that never tires the palate.

Wanlixiang Roast Chicken and Laoting's Liumei Roast Chicken are also traditional famous foods of Tangshan.

Ge Zha is a round, thin yellow pancake made from bean flour. It is typically cut into small pieces and used to make various Ge Zha dishes and foods, such as Sweet and Sour Ge Zha, Vinegar-Sautéed Ge Zha, Crispy Fried Ge Zha, Stir-fried Ge Zha with Meat, Braised Ge Zha, Fried Ge Zha Chips, etc. It is highly characteristic of Tangshan's local cuisine, to the extent that there's a saying, "If you haven't had a Ge Zha feast, you haven't truly been to Tangshan." It is said that there were records of "Ge Zha" in the imperial kitchen of the Qing Dynasty, and folklore attributes its name to a homophone from Empress Dowager Cixi's phrase "Ge zhe ba" (put it there).

Duck Egg Yolk with String Beans is a dish primarily made with salted duck egg yolk and string beans. It is a snack with eastern Hebei (Jingdong) flavor, characterized by being oily yet not greasy, crispy, and refreshing. Rich in nutrition and suitable for all ages, it is deeply loved by northerners.

11.3 Local Specialties

• Honey Crisp Candy (Fengmi Matang) – A traditional famous pastry of Tangshan. Made primarily from refined flour, sesame oil, peanut oil, honey, osmanthus flowers, and maltose, it undergoes processes like ingredient mixing, dough kneading, sheeting, frying, and glazing. Shaped like jade-carved clustered flowers with a bright, pale yellow color, it is soft, sweet, and fragrant upon entry. It is a nutritious pastry with a unique flavor. The most authentic and famous brand is the Xinxin Honey Crisp Candy from the time-honored Tangshan Xinxin Matang Factory.
• Chess Piece Sesame Cake (Qizi Shaobing) – A local specialty food as renowned as Honey Crisp Candy. Named for its shape resembling a small drum and its size similar to a chess piece. It uses a combination of lard and sesame oil for the pastry, filled with various stuffings like meat, sugar, assorted fillings, Chinese sausage, or ham. Baked until crispy throughout, golden in color, crispy outside and tender inside, with a savory meat filling that is palatable and non-greasy, and it stores well. The most famous is the Chess Piece Sesame Cake from the time-honored Jiumeizhai.
• Wanlixiang Roast Chicken – First created in the 1940s, it is a famous time-honored food of Tangshan. While maintaining traditional flavors, it incorporates strengths from various schools and blends northern and southern tastes. It features careful ingredient selection and strict craftsmanship. Its characteristics include a pipa-shaped form, reddish-brown color, fragrant tenderness, mellow sweetness, and pure flavor, making it highly popular among consumers.
• Peanut Brittle (Huasheng Sutang) – One of the most well-known traditional snacks of Tangshan, equally famous as Honey Crisp Candy in the "Phoenix City" (Tangshan's nickname). Made primarily from pure peanuts, maltose, and granulated sugar, handcrafted into golden bar shapes. It is crispy, sweet, and richly fragrant, melting in the mouth, suitable for all ages. Currently, the most authentic and famous is the Changji Peanut Brittle from Changgezhuang, Tangshan.
• Large Ge Zha (Da Ge Zha) – A unique food of Tangshan, a round thin pancake made from bean flour. It is generally cut into small pieces for making various Ge Zha dishes and foods, such as Sweet and Sour Ge Zha, Vinegar-Sautéed Ge Zha, Crispy Fried Ge Zha, Stir-fried Ge Zha with Meat, Braised Ge Zha, Fried Ge Zha Chips, etc. It is highly characteristic of Tangshan's local cuisine, with the saying, "If you haven't had a Ge Zha feast, you haven't truly been to Tangshan." There is also a smaller Ge Zha, slightly thicker and semi-transparent, compared to the large, thin but not translucent Ge Zha.
• Jingdong Chestnuts – Named for being produced in the Yanshan Mountain area east of Beijing. Within Tangshan, Qianxi County and Zunhua City are the main production areas with the best quality due to suitable climate and soil conditions. Jingdong chestnuts are large with thin shells; the kernels are golden yellow, highly fragrant, very glutinous, and have an excellent texture. Rich in various vitamins and trace elements like iron, zinc, and selenium, they are long renowned as the "King of Dried Fruits" and the "Oriental Edible Pearl" in domestic and international markets. In 2007, they were recognized as a National Geographical Indication Product by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
• Rouge Rice (Yanzhi Dao) – A unique red rice variety of Tangshan, originally produced in Yutian. It was a tribute rice for the imperial court during the Qing Dynasty, also called "Imperial Field Rouge Rice." Due to cultivation difficulties and low yield, it was nearly extinct for three hundred years. In recent years, with research and experimentation on new cultivation methods, this rare and unique Tangshan rice variety has been revived. Current main production areas are Yutian and Fengnan, with a small amount also grown in Caofeidian. Rouge Rice grains are long, slightly red, fragrant, and rich. When cooked, it turns red like rouge, with a particularly fresh, light aroma and extremely rich nutrition. Currently, its market price is relatively high, ranging from several dozen to several hundred yuan.
• Tangshan Ceramics – Tangshan is one of China's main ceramic production areas, long known as the "Northern Porcelain Capital." Products cover multiple series including domestic ceramics (tableware, tea sets, coffee sets, hotelware), architectural ceramics (wall tiles, floor tiles), sanitary ceramics (fixtures, toilets), and artistic display ceramics, with varieties numbering in the thousands. Famous brands include Red Rose, Haigelei, Longda, and HUIDA. Other well-known agricultural products from Tangshan include: Luanzhou peanuts, Luannan Baigezhuang rice, Yutian Chinese cabbage, Laoting honey peaches, Qianxi chestnut mushrooms, Zunhua shiitake mushrooms, Qian'an sweet potatoes, etc. Aquatic products include: prawns, shrimp, sea crabs, river crabs, clams, dried shrimp, and various fish. Other specialty foods and beverages include: Hongyan Restaurant Soy Sauce Pork Knuckle, Laoting Ganglu Sesame Cake, Liumei Roast Chicken, Luannan shrimp sauce and shrimp paste, Yutian aged wine, etc.

12. Sister Cities

• Malmö, Sweden (Agreement signed on September 18, 1987)
• Sakata, Japan (Agreement signed on July 26, 1990)
• Lincoln, United Kingdom (Agreement signed on October 22, 1992)
• Cedar Rapids, United States (Agreement signed on June 18, 1997)

nix

nix

nix

The large mountain within the city, originally named Tangshan, is now known as Dachengshan.

Lubei District

Lubei District

nix

Sophora japonica

Rose