Weifang (潍坊)

1. Introduction

Weifang City, abbreviated as Wei, historically known as Weizhou and Weixian County, and nicknamed the "Kite Capital," is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the central-eastern part of Shandong Province. The city borders Yantai City and Qingdao City to the east, Rizhao City and Linyi City to the south, Zibo City to the west, Dongying City to the northwest, and faces Laizhou Bay to the north. Situated in the central part of the Shandong Peninsula, its southern and southwestern regions are mountainous and hilly, the central area is a plain, and the northern part consists of coastal tidal flats. Rivers within its territory include the Wei River, Mi River, Bailang River, and Jiaolai River. Weifang serves as a crucial gateway connecting the inland hinterland of Shandong to the Jiaodong Peninsula. The Jiaozhou–Jinan Railway runs east-west across the city, making it the geographical center of the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration and the site of the famous Weixian Campaign during the Second Chinese Civil War. The People's Government of Weifang City is located at No. 99 Shengli East Street, Kuiwen District.

nix

2. History

The history can be traced back to the Neolithic Age over 7,000 years ago. During the Xia and Shang Dynasties, the Pang State was established within the region. In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the area was divided among states such as Qi, Lu, and Lai. Qingzhou, located within the region, was a historically significant town.

• During the Xia and Shang Dynasties, the present-day Weifang area contained feudal states such as Zhen'guan, Han, and Wangshou. In the early Zhou Dynasty, King Wu enfeoffed Taigong Wang (i.e., Jiang Ziya) with the state of Qi, with its capital at Yingqiu (within present-day Changle County).
• During the Spring and Autumn period, the area of present-day Weifang was divided among the states of Lu, Qi, Lai, Qi, and Ju. By the Warring States period, states like Lu and Lai were annexed by Qi, and the entire Weifang area came under the control of the state of Qi.
• During the Qin Dynasty, the eastern part of Weifang belonged to Jiaodong Commandery, where Gaomi County was established. The western part belonged to Linzi Commandery, and the southeastern part belonged to Langya Commandery.
• During the Han Dynasty, the entire Weifang area was under the jurisdiction of the Qingzhou and Xuzhou Inspectorates, divided among Beihai Commandery, Langya Commandery, Qi Commandery, and the feudal states of Zichuan, Gaomi, and Jiaodong.
• During the Three Kingdoms period, it belonged to Cao Wei.
• During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it belonged to Liu Song in the south and Yuan Wei in the north.
• During the Sui Dynasty, the Weifang area belonged to Beihai Commandery and Gaomi Commandery.
• During the Tang Dynasty, it was part of Henan Circuit, under the jurisdiction of Qingzhou and Mizhou.
• During the Yuan Dynasty, it was part of the Shandong East-West Circuit Pacification Commission under the Central Secretariat, governed by Yidu Route.
• During the Ming Dynasty, Qingzhou Prefecture and Laizhou Prefecture were established, under the jurisdiction of the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission.
• During the Qing Dynasty, Weixian County was established, governed by Qingzhou Prefecture and Laizhou Prefecture, and belonged to Shandong Province.
• During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Weifang was a renowned center for handicraft production. The saying "9,000 embroiderers and 3,000 coppersmiths and blacksmiths" described the flourishing state of Weifang's handicraft industry at that time, leading to the phrase "Suzhou in the south, Weixian in the north."
• During the Republic of China period, it was initially under the jurisdiction of Jiaodong Circuit, Laijiao Circuit, and Ziqing Circuit.
• In 1927, the National Government abolished circuits and established provinces, placing Weixian County under the jurisdiction of Shandong Province.
• During the War of Resistance against Japan. Weifang housed the Weixian Internment Camp, the largest internment camp in Asia established by the Japanese military during World War II. In retaliation against the United States and its allies, the Japanese specifically used this camp to imprison foreigners in China. Even Arthur W. Hummel Jr., who later served as the U.S. Ambassador to China, was detained here. On December 7, 1941, after the Japanese successfully attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States, in retaliation and as a preventive measure, forcibly interned over 60,000 Japanese legal residents near Los Angeles. The Japanese quickly responded. Starting from the end of 1941, the Japanese searched and arrested foreign missionaries, teachers, doctors, and merchants across China, intending to imprison them all in retaliation. This camp for foreign prisoners was selected at the Le Dao Yuan in Weixian County, Shandong. Originally the Shandong headquarters of the North American Presbyterian Mission, it was a beautiful European-style building located on the south bank of the Yu River, about three li southeast of the Dongguan Gate in Weixian at that time. Covering an area of over five hectares, Nobel Prize winner Pearl S. Buck and Henry Luce, founder of Time magazine, had lived here with their parents. The compound originally also had facilities such as a hospital and a school and was home to many Chinese people as well. On August 17, 1945, the American Flying Tigers stationed in Chongqing liberated the camp.
• In 1948, after Weixian was occupied by the People's Liberation Army, Weifang Special City was established, directly under Shandong Province.
• In June 1949, Weifang Special City was renamed Weifang City, still directly under Shandong Province.
• In 1950, Weifang City was abolished, and Changwei Special District was established.
• In 1951, Weifang City was reestablished as a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Changwei Special District.
• On March 13, 1967, Changwei Special District was renamed Changwei Prefecture.
• In July 1981, Changwei Prefecture was renamed Weifang Prefecture.
• In October 1983, the People's Republic of China abolished the prefecture system and established a province-administered (prefecture-level) city (referred to as a prefecture-level city), named Weifang City, implementing a city-administering-county system. It governed three districts (Weicheng, Fangzi, Hanting) and nine counties (Yidu, Zhucheng, Anqiu, Changyi, Shouguang, Linqu, Changle, Gaomi, Wulian).
• On March 30, 1987, Yidu County was abolished, and the county-level city of Qingzhou City was established.
• On April 20, 1987, Zhucheng County was abolished, and the county-level city of Zhucheng City was established.
• On December 7, 1992, Wulian County was transferred to the jurisdiction of Rizhao City.
• On June 1, 1993, Shouguang County was abolished, and the county-level city of Shouguang City was established.
• On January 18, 1994, Anqiu County was abolished, and the county-level city of Anqiu City was established.
• On May 18, 1994, Gaomi County was abolished, and the county-level city of Gaomi City was established.
• On June 10, 1994, Changyi County was abolished, and the county-level city of Changyi City was established.
• On May 23, 1994, Kuiwen District was established.

3. Geography

Weifang City is located in the central part of the Shandong Peninsula, with a terrain that is higher in the south and lower in the north, primarily consisting of three geomorphic units: hills, plains, and coastal areas. The northern part borders the Laizhou Bay of the Bohai Sea, with a coastline stretching 113 kilometers. The urban area is a plain with almost no undulating terrain. The total area of Weifang City is 16,000 square kilometers, accounting for approximately 10% of Shandong Province's total area, ranking second in the province.

3.1. Climate

The climate is classified as a warm temperate monsoon semi-humid continental climate.

Average Meteorological Data for Weifang City (1981-2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------| | Average High °C | 3.3 (37.9) | 6.6 (43.9) | 12.7 (54.9) | 20.4 (68.7) | 25.9 (78.6) | 30.2 (86.4) | 31.3 (88.3) | 30.2 (86.4) | 26.8 (80.2) | 21.1 (70.0) | 12.7 (54.9) | 5.6 (42.1) | 18.9 (66.0) | | Daily Mean °C | -2.8 (27.0) | 0.1 (32.2) | 5.8 (42.4) | 13.3 (55.9) | 19.2 (66.6) | 23.9 (75.0) | 26.3 (79.3) | 25.3 (77.5) | 20.8 (69.4) | 14.5 (58.1) | 6.4 (43.5) | -0.3 (31.5) | 12.7 (54.9) | | Average Low °C | -7.2 (19.0) | -4.8 (23.4) | 0.3 (32.5) | 7.0 (44.6) | 12.8 (55.0) | 18.2 (64.8) | 22.1 (71.8) | 21.2 (70.2) | 15.6 (60.1) | 9.2 (48.6) | 1.5 (34.7) | -4.7 (23.5) | 7.6 (45.7) | | Average Precipitation mm (inches) | 6.5 (0.26) | 9.9 (0.39) | 15.7 (0.62) | 22.1 (0.87) | 46.6 (1.83) | 75.9 (2.99) | 137.2 (5.40) | 133.7 (5.26) | 57.9 (2.28) | 31.0 (1.22) | 19.8 (0.78) | 8.9 (0.35) | 565.2 (22.25) | | Average Precipitation Days (≥0.1 mm) | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 12.5 | 10.2 | 6.8 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 75.6 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 63 | 60 | 58 | 58 | 64 | 66 | 78 | 81 | 74 | 68 | 67 | 64 | 67 | | Monthly Sunshine Hours | 176.4 | 176.1 | 215.6 | 241.9 | 267.7 | 241.8 | 208.8 | 221.1 | 222.9 | 211.5 | 179.6 | 172.9 | 2,536.3 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine | 58 | 58 | 58 | 62 | 61 | 55 | 47 | 53 | 60 | 61 | 59 | 58 | 57 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Weifang City currently administers 4 municipal districts and 2 counties, and oversees 6 county-level cities on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Weicheng District, Hanting District, Fangzi District, Kuiwen District
• County-level Cities: Qingzhou City, Zhucheng City, Shouguang City, Anqiu City, Gaomi City, Changyi City
• Counties: Linqu County, Changle County

In addition to the formal administrative divisions, Weifang City has also established the following economic functional zones: National-level Weifang High-tech Industrial Development Zone, National-level Weifang Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone, Weifang Economic Development Zone, and Xiashan Ecological Economic Development Zone.

Weifang Administrative Divisions

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | |----------|----------|----------|----------------|------------------|----------|----------|------------|----| | 370700 | Weifang City | Wéifāng Shì | 16,143.14 | 9,386,705 | Kuiwen District | 261041 | 56 | 62 | | 370702 | Weicheng District | Wéichéng Qū | 269.54 | 521,368 | Yuhe Subdistrict | 261021 | 6 | | | 370703 | Hanting District | Hántíng Qū | 1,243.89 | 471,117 | Hanting Subdistrict | 261100 | 7 | | | 370704 | Fangzi District | Fāngzǐ Qū | 895.44 | 521,025 | Fenghuang Subdistrict | 261200 | 7 | | | 370705 | Kuiwen District | Kuíwén Qū | 237.23 | 998,211 | Guangwen Subdistrict | 261031 | 10 | | | 370724 | Linqu County | Línqú Xiàn | 1,831.23 | 806,314 | Chengguan Subdistrict | 262600 | 2 | 8 | | 370725 | Changle County | Chānglè Xiàn | 1,100.51 | 583,799 | Baodu Subdistrict | 262400 | 4 | 4 | | 370781 | Qingzhou City | Qīngzhōu Shì | 1,561.26 | 960,882 | Wangfu Subdistrict | 262500 | 4 | 8 | | 370782 | Zhucheng City | Zhūchéng Shì | 2,151.36 | 1,078,178 | Mizhou Subdistrict | 262200 | 3 | 10 | | 370783 | Shouguang City | Shòuguāng Shì | 1,990.12 | 1,163,364 | Shengcheng Subdistrict | 262700 | 5 | 9 | | 370784 | Anqiu City | Ānqiū Shì | 1,711.60 | 840,553 | Xin'an Subdistrict | 262100 | 2 | 10 | | 370785 | Gaomi City | Gāomì Shì | 1,523.49 | 877,393 | Xingquan Subdistrict | 261500 | 3 | 7 | | 370786 | Changyi City | Chāngyì Shì | 1,627.47 | 564,501 | Kuiju Subdistrict | 261300 | 3 | 6 |

Note: The figures for Hanting District include 2 subdistricts under the jurisdiction of the Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone, covering an area of 678.38 sq km; the figures for Fangzi District include 2 subdistricts under the jurisdiction of the Xiashan Ecological Economic Development Zone, covering an area of 483.17 sq km; the figures for Kuiwen District include 2 subdistricts under the jurisdiction of the Weifang High-tech Industrial Development Zone (area 108.80 sq km), the Weifang Economic Development Zone (53.77 sq km), and the Weifang Export Processing Zone (17.06 sq km).

5. Economy

Weifang, historically known as Weixian, is a city famed for its handicraft industry. As early as the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was renowned nationwide for "two hundred red forges, three thousand coppersmiths, nine thousand embroiderers, and one hundred thousand looms," earning the reputation of "Suzhou in the south, Weixian in the north." It is also the largest production and distribution center for kites and woodblock New Year pictures in Chinese history. Yangjiabu in Weifang, along with Yangliuqing in Tianjin and Taohuawu in Suzhou, is celebrated as one of China's three major hubs for New Year pictures. Additionally, Weifang's traditional crafts such as silver-inlaid lacquerware, nut carving, and cloth toys enjoy high acclaim both domestically and internationally. During the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, counterfeit Shang and Zhou dynasty bronze vessels from Weixian gained popularity for their exquisite craftsmanship, nearly indistinguishable from the originals.

Since the 1980s, events like the Weifang International Kite Festival, the Shandong-Taiwan Economic and Trade Fair, the Shouguang Vegetable Expo, and the Linqu Red Leaf Festival have promoted Weifang's opening-up to the outside world.

Entering the 21st century, Weifang's large population has brought pressure to economic development. The tertiary industry has grown rapidly, and urban development continues internally, with a trend of shifting eastward from the old city center. Numerous high-rise residential buildings, shopping malls, and supermarkets have been constructed.

In 2016, Weifang's GDP reached 574.6 billion yuan, ranking 4th among prefecture-level cities in Shandong and 32nd nationally. In 2014, it was ranked 46th in China's comprehensive urban economic competitiveness.

5.1. Notable Enterprises

• Weichai Power Co., Ltd.
• Goertek Inc.
• Weichai Lovol Heavy Industry Co., Ltd.
• Shandong Weifang Department Store Group Co., Ltd.
• Shandong Marine Chemical Group
• Xinlang Group Corporation
• Juli Group
• Shandong Delisi Group
• Shandong Qingzhou Cigarette Group
• Shandong Mining Machinery Group Co., Ltd.
• Shandong Hailong Group Co., Ltd.

5.2. Administrative Development Zones

• Weifang High-tech Industrial Development Zone
• Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone
• Weifang Comprehensive Bonded Zone
• Xiashan Ecological Development Zone

6. Transportation

6.1. Railway

National railways including the Jiaozhou–Jinan Railway (including the Fangzi Branch Line), Jiaozhou–Jinan Passenger Dedicated Line, Jiaozhou–Xinyi Railway, Haiyang–Qingzhou Railway, and Dezhou–Dongying Railway, as well as local railways such as the Dajia–Lailong Railway, Yiyang Railway, Qingzhou–Linqu Railway, Caoxian–Shouguang Railway, and the Huanghua–Dongying Railway of the National Energy Group pass through Weifang. Weifang Station is the largest intermediate station on the Jiaozhou–Jinan Railway. Five high-speed railways converge at Weifang North Station, making it a new high-speed railway hub on the Shandong Peninsula. In the near-term plan, all counties, cities, and districts except Linqu will have high-speed railway stations.

List of EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) Stations in the City | Administrative Division | Station | High-Speed Railway | |----------------|--------------------------------| ------------------------------| | Weifang Urban Area | Weifang Station | Jiaozhou–Jinan Passenger Dedicated Line | | | Weifang North Station | Jinan–Qingdao High-Speed Railway | | | | Weifang–Laixi High-Speed Railway | | | | Weifang–Yantai High-Speed Railway | | | | Tianjin–Weifang High-Speed Railway | | | | Weifang–Suzhou High-Speed Railway | | Changyi | Changyi Station | Laixi–Rongcheng High-Speed Railway | | | | Weifang–Yantai High-Speed Railway | | Gaomi | Gaomi Station | Jiaozhou–Jinan Passenger Dedicated Line | | | Gaomi North Station | Jinan–Qingdao High-Speed Railway | | Zhucheng | Zhucheng West Station | Weifang–Suzhou High-Speed Railway | | | Zhucheng South Station | Qingdao Connecting Line of Weifang–Suzhou High-Speed Railway | | Anqiu | Anqiu Station | Weifang–Suzhou High-Speed Railway | | Changle | Changle Station | Jiaozhou–Jinan Passenger Dedicated Line | | Qingzhou | Qingzhoushi Station | Jiaozhou–Jinan Passenger Dedicated Line | | | Qingzhoushi North Station | Jinan–Qingdao High-Speed Railway | | Shouguang | Shouguang East Station | Tianjin–Weifang High-Speed Railway | | Linqu | (Long-term Plan) | |

6.2. Highway

Weifang City has achieved the goal of "dual expressways connecting every county". By the end of 2023, the total expressway mileage in the city was 867.8 kilometers, the total highway mileage was 29,500 kilometers, and the highway density was 182.9 kilometers per hundred square kilometers. As of June 2017, Weifang had 2.05 million motor vehicles, ranking 23rd nationally and 2nd in Shandong Province, second only to Qingdao.

List of Passing Expressways | Direction | Expressway Name | Served Administrative Divisions | |----------------|--------------------------------| ------------------------------| | East-West | G18 Rongcheng–Wuhai Expressway | Shouguang, Hanting, Changyi | | | G20 Qingdao–Yinchuan Expressway | Qingzhou, Changle, Weicheng, Kuiwen, Hanting, Fangzi, Changyi, Gaomi | | | S16 Rongcheng–Weifang Expressway | Changyi, Hanting, Fangzi, Kuiwen (passes through), Changle | | | S6 Jinan–Weifang Expressway | Changyi, Fangzi, Changle, Linqu, Qingzhou | | | S24 Qingdao–Shangqiu Expressway | Gaomi, Fangzi (passes through), Anqiu | | | G22 Qingdao–Lanzhou Expressway | Zhucheng | | North-South | S21 Xintai–Dongying Expressway | Changyi (passes through), Gaomi, Zhucheng | | | S7301 Weifang Port Access Expressway (Under Construction) | Hanting, Shouguang | | | G1815 Weifang–Rizhao Expressway | Hanting, Shouguang, Weicheng, Changle, Anqiu, Zhucheng | | | G25 Changchun–Shenzhen Expressway | Qingzhou, Linqu |

National Highways 206, 233, 308, 309, 341, and 516 pass through the area.

6.3. Ports

One national Class I open port: Weifang Port. One national Class II open port: Yangkou Port.

6.4 Aviation

Weifang Airport has currently opened routes to multiple cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Haikou, Harbin, and Changchun. In 2022, the passenger throughput was 134,749.

nix

7. Population

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 9.418 million, a year-on-year increase of 0.2%. Among them, the urban population was 6.184 million, and the rural population was 3.234 million. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 65.7%, an increase of 0.5 percentage points from the end of the previous year. The annual number of births was 54,000, with a sex ratio at birth of 108.8, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points year-on-year.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 9,386,705. Compared with the 9,086,241 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 300,464 people over the ten-year period, representing a growth of 3.31%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.33%. Among them, the male population was 4,772,791, accounting for 50.85% of the total population; the female population was 4,613,914, accounting for 49.15% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 103.44. The population aged 0–14 was 1,630,039, accounting for 17.37% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 5,713,595, accounting for 60.87% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 2,043,071, accounting for 21.77% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 1,483,602, accounting for 15.81% of the total population. The population residing in urban areas was 6,046,086, accounting for 64.41% of the total population; the population residing in rural areas was 3,340,619, accounting for 35.59% of the total population.

7.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group population was 9,324,676, accounting for 99.34%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 62,029, accounting for 0.66%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han ethnic group population increased by 273,135, a growth of 3.02%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.28 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 27,329, a growth of 78.76%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.28 percentage points.

nix

8. Culture and Society

8.1. Kites

Weifang is known as the "Kite Capital of the World" and is also called the "City of Kites." It is the headquarters location of the International Kite Federation and the permanent host site for the "International Kite Festival" celebrations. The craft of kite-making here has a long history and exquisite craftsmanship. Weifang kites are traditional Han Chinese handicraft treasures from Weifang, Shandong, and are recognized as an intangible cultural heritage. They primarily consist of a bamboo frame, high-quality silk covering, and hand-painted designs. The combination of craftsmanship and artistry reflects the kite's recreational and aesthetic value. With increasing international kite exchanges, Weifang kites have gradually gained worldwide fame. The famous Weifang International Kite Festival is held annually on the third Saturday of April in Weifang, attracting participants from over 30 countries and regions worldwide. It is one of China's earliest large-scale local festivals recognized by the international community.

8.2. Dialects

Weifang lies on the boundary between the Jiaoliao Mandarin and Jilu Mandarin dialect areas. The dialects spoken in the western regions—Shouguang, Changle, and Weifang (Weifang dialect, including Weicheng District, Kuiwen District, and Fangzi District)—belong to a branch of Jilu Mandarin. The eastern regions—Gaomi, Changyi, Hanting, Qingzhou, Changle, Linqu, Anqiu, and Zhucheng—fall within the Jiaoliao Mandarin area.

8.3. Cuisine

8.3.1. Three Major Snacks

Weifang's three famous snacks:

• Rou Huoshao (Meat-Filled Baked Cake): Chenghuangmiao Rou Huoshao
• Chaotian Guo (Heaven-Pot): Weixian Chaotian Guo
• Hele (Noodles): Jiya Hele, Nangong Hele

8.3.2. Weixian Huoshao (Baked Cakes)

Weifang offers a wide variety of huoshao (baked cakes). Besides the most famous Chenghuangmiao Rou Huoshao, other well-known types include:

• Gangzitou
• Zhilasu Huoshao
• Kan Huoshao
• Boji Huoshao
• Suo Huoshao

8.3.3. Other Snacks

• Meatball Noodles
• Hanrou (Stewed Pork)
• Mazhi Zaban (Sesame Sauce Mixed Dish)
• Crispy Fish
• Braised Lotus Root
• Misandao (Honey Tri-Cut Pastry): Qingzhou Misandao
• Chicken Cartilage (or Chicken Ribs)
• Meat Sesame Cake
• Weixian Steamed Chicken
• Qingdong Fried Chicken
• Pork Trotter Aspic
• Large-Filling Dumplings
• Sugar Triangle (Steamed Bun)
• Five-Spice Pork Belly
• Datou Wanzi (Big Head Meatballs)
• Sixi Wanzi (Four Happiness Meatballs)
• Salty Sticky Porridge
• Crispy Fried Pork
• Mustard Chicken: Fuguzhuang Mustard Whole Chicken
• Red-Braised Pork Knuckle
• Zhihe Donkey Meat
• Han Laosan Braised Chicken
• Pan-Fried Buns (Shuijianbao)
• Linqu Whole Lamb Banquet
• Linqu Mountain Scorpion
• Jingzhi Golden Thread Noodles
• Zhucheng Spicy Shredded Vegetables
• Zhibing (Lard Cake)
• Mung Bean Cake: Anqiu Jingzhi Mung Bean Cake
• Tofu Box ("Treasure in a Box")
• Masong Bing (Pancake)
• Three-Layer Pancake: Jingzhi Three-Layer Pancake
• Stir-Fried Pork Slices
• Mung Bean Bagu
• Braised Soft-Shelled Turtle in Brown Sauce

8.3.4. Weixian Radish

There's a saying: "Yantai apples, Laiyang pears, are not as good as Weifang radish peel." Weifang's specialty green radish, known as a "fruit radish," is sweet and not spicy.

8.3.5. Pickles

Weifang is famous for its concentration of pickles, partly because the groundwater in its northern part is briny, leading to a preference for strong flavors among locals. Pickles often serve as a main dish with meals. There are many varieties.

• Dihuan (Chinese Artichoke): A specialty pickle that has become extremely rare and expensive in recent years.
• Lageda: Pickles made from root mustard.

9. Sister Cities

• Hyuga, Japan (February 25, 1986)
• Freising District, Germany (October 18, 1987)
• Pueblo, USA (March 30, 1991)
• Anyang, South Korea (April 20, 1995)
• East Gippsland Shire, Australia (April 20, 1997)
• Orange, France (December 12, 2008)
• Chiang Rai Province, Thailand (October 30, 2014)
• Guaranda, Ecuador (September 11, 2020)

nix

nix

nix

Formed by combining the first characters of Weicheng and Fangzi.

Kuiwen District

Shouguang City

nix

Sophora japonica

Roses, Chrysanthemums