Weihai is a city in eastern
Shandong' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
Province, People's Republic of China. It is the easternmost
prefecture-level cityA prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
of the province and a major seaport. Between 1898 and 1930, the town was a British colony known as
Weihaiwei or the
Weihai Garrison , and sometimes as
Port Edward. Weihai was not developed in the way that
Hong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, the other British colony in the region, was developed, because Shandong Province of which Weihaiwei was part of, was inside Germany's sphere of influence and had only been obtained as a counterbalance to the Russian presence at Port Arthur 130 kilometres across the sea in Manchuria. It was largely used as a naval station and a sanatorium. Weihai borders
YantaiYantai is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. Located on the southern coast of the Bohai Sea and the eastern coast of the Laizhou Bay, Yantai borders the cities of Qingdao and Weihai to the southwest and east respectively.The largest fishing...
to the west and the
Yellow SeaThe Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
to the east.
Its population is 2,804,800 at the 2010 census. 591,982 live in the built up area (
Huancui urban district). One can notice that
RongchengRongcheng is a county-level city in Weihai prefecture-level city, Shandong province, in eastern China.-History:According to historical records, the Emperor Qinshihuang had visited Rongcheng twice, building bridges and temples...
, a county level city, has a built up area with 1,006,795 inhabitants.
Administrative divisions
The
prefecture-level cityA prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
of Weihai administers four county-level divisions, including one district and three
county-level citiesA county-level city is a county-level administrative division of mainland China. County-level cities are usually governed by prefecture-level divisions, but a few are governed directly by province-level divisions....
.
- Huancui District
Huancui is a county-level district in Weihai, Shandong province, in eastern China.-External links:...
(环翠区)
- Wendeng
Wendeng is a county-level city in Weihai prefecture-level city, Shandong province, in North eastern China. Wendeng is primarily an industrial based city, with a large minority of citizens working as farmers.- Transport :* China National Highway 309...
City (文登市)
- Rongcheng City (荣成市)
- Rushan City (乳山市)
These are further divided into 66 township-level divisions, including 52 towns and 14
subdistrictSubdistrict is a low level administrative division of a country. In Thailand it may refer to the King Amphoe or to the Tambon. In England and Wales it was part of a Registration district....
s.
History
The port was once the base for the
Beiyang FleetThe Beiyang Fleet was one of the four modernised Chinese navies in the late Qing Dynasty. Among the four, the Beiyang Fleet was particularly sponsored by Li Hongzhang, one of the most trusted vassals of Empress Dowager Cixi and the principal patron of the "self-strengthening movement" in northern...
of China during the
Qing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. During 1895, the Japanese
captured it from the landward sideThe Battle of Weihaiwei was a 23 day siege with a major land and naval component during the First Sino-Japanese War. It took place between 20 January and 12 February 1895 in Weihai, Shandong Province, China) between the forces of Meiji Japan and Qing China...
. It was evacuated during 1898.
After
RussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
leased
Port ArthurLüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....
(on the opposite coast) from China for 25 years during March, 1898, the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
obtained a lease for Wei Hai Wei which was to exist for as long as the Russians leased Port Arthur. During 1905, when the
JapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese defeated the Russians in the Russo-Japan War the Japanese took over Port Arthur, the British lease extended as long as the Japanese occupied Port Arthur. Thus the city was part of a territory (c.285 sq mi/740 km²) called "Weihaiwei", which was leased by the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from 1898 until October 1, 1930. It was a summer station for the British
navalThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
China StationThe China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
and it was also used as a sanatorium. It became one of two major ports for ships of the
Royal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in the
Far EastThe Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
(the other being
Hong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in the south).
At the beginning of the lease the territory was administered by a Senior Naval Officer of the Royal Navy (Sir
Edward Hobart SeymourAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, GCB, OM, GCVO , was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief, China Station.- Early life :...
). During 1899, administration was transferred to a military and civil commissioner (Arthur Robert Ford Dorward 1899-1901 and John Dodson Daintree 1901-1902) appointed by the War Office in London. The territorial garrison consisted of 200 British troops and a specially constituted Chinese Regiment with British officers. During 1901, it was decided that this base should not be fortified, and administration was transferred to the U.K.'s Colonial Office. A Civil Commissioner was appointed during 1902 (the post was held by Sir
James Haldane Stewart LockhartSir James Haldane Stewart Lockhart KCMG, LLD was a British colonial official in Hong Kong and China for more than 40 years. Born in Ardsheal, Argyllshire, Scotland to Anna R. C...
until 1921) to manage the territory, and the Chinese Regiment was disbanded during 1903. In 1909, the Hong Kong governor Sir Frederick Lugard, raised the idea that the British would revert Weihai to Chinese rule, and receive perpetual rule of the 1898 leased territories of
Hong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in return. This proposal was never adopted.
Although Weihaiwei was officially a colony like
Hong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and although it was normal for British colonies to be administered under the provisions of the British Settlements Act 1887, while the
treaty portsThe treaty ports was the name given to the port cities in China, Japan, and Korea that were opened to foreign trade by the Unequal Treaties.-Chinese treaty ports:...
were administered under the provisions of the Foreign Jurisdiction Act 1890, Weihaiwei was actually administered under the Foreign Jurisdiction Act 1890 just like the treaty ports. The reason being that as a leased territory subject to rendition at any time, it was not considered appropriate to treat it as a colony.
In 1903, a High Court for Weihaiwei was established. For convenience reasons the judges of the court were chosen from individuals serving as a judge or crown advocate of the
British Supreme Court for ChinaThe British Supreme Court for China and Japan was a court established in the Shanghai International Settlement in 1865 to try cases against British subjects in China and Japan, and from 1883, Korea, under the principles of Extraterritoriality. The court also heard appeals from consular courts in...
. The three judges of the court from 1903 to 1930 were:
- Frederick Samuel Augustus Bourne (1903-1916), Assistant Judge of the Supreme Court for China
- Hiram Parkes Wilkinson (1916-1925), Crown Advocate of the Supreme Court for China
- Peter Grain (1925-1930), Assistant Judge, and from 1927, Judge of the Supreme Court for China
No special postage stamps were ever issued for Weihaiwei. Just as in the case of the
treaty portsThe treaty ports was the name given to the port cities in China, Japan, and Korea that were opened to foreign trade by the Unequal Treaties.-Chinese treaty ports:...
, Hong Kong stamps were used and after the year 1917, these were overprinted with the word China. And there were never any special coins or banknotes issued for circulation in Weihaiwei. The currency in circulation would merely have reflected the complex state of affairs which existed generally in Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports during that era.
After several commissioners held the post of British commissioner of Weihaiwei (Arthur Powlett Blunt 1921-1923 and Walter Russell Brown 1923-1927), the outstanding sinologist
Reginald JohnstonSir Reginald Fleming Johnston, KCMG, CBE, was a Scottish academic, diplomat and tutor to Puyi, the last emperor of China, and later appointed as the last Commissioner of Weihaiwei.-Early:...
(previously tutor to the last Chinese emperor) was the last.
It was briefly a
special administrative regionIn the subdivision of the Republic of China , "special administrative regions" were historically used to designate special areas, most of which were eventually converted into provinces...
after it was returned to the
Republic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, the successor of the
Qing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. During 1949, Weihaiwei City was established, and was renamed Weihai City after it was occupied by the People's Republic of China.
The nickname British
sailorA sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
s gave to this port was "Way High"; it was also sometimes referred to as Port Edward in English.
Geography and climate
Weihai is located on the north-eastern seashore of Shandong, and its administrative area includes Chengshantou (成山头), the eastern tip of the
Shandong Peninsula. The city is surrounded by sea on three sides and its harbour is protected by
Liugong IslandLiugong Island is a small islandlocated on the northeastern edge of Shandong Peninsula, China at the mouth of Weihai Bay. It is known as the "birthplace of China's first modern navy".-Geography:...
.
Weihai lies in the transition zone between a Humid subtropical and
humid continental climateA humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(
KöppenThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cwa/
Dwa), but as it is at the eastern end of the Shandong Peninsula, its climate is strongly influenced by the surrounding
Yellow SeaThe Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
: springtime warming and autumn cooling are delayed by one month, and the average diurnal temperature throughout the year is small — at only 6.73 C-change. Winters are cold and dry, but still warmer than places further inland. Summers are very warm and humid, but the August high only averages 25.9 °C (78.6 °F). Precipitation is sparse in winter and is heavily concentrated in the summer months, totaling 665 millimetres (26.2 in).
Economy
At present, Weihai is a commercial port and major
fishing centerThe People's Republic of China, with one-fifth of the world's population, accounts for one-third of the world's reported fish production and two-thirds of the worlds reported aquaculture production....
with some
light industriesLight industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
. Due to its close proximity to South Korea, Weihai also has a large Korean business community and receives many Korean tourists. Weihai is also a key production area for peanuts and fruit.
Industrial Zone
- Weihai Economic & Technological Development Zone
Weihai Economic and Technological Development Zone is a state-level development zone approved by the State Council on Oct 21, 1992. The administrative area has an area of 194km2, including the programmed area of 36km2 and an initial area of 11.88km2. Its nearest port is Weihai Port, and the airport closest to the zone is Wuhai Airport.
- Weihai Export Processing Zone
Weihai Export & Processing Zone (EPZ) was set up by the approval of the State Council on April 27, 2000. Weihai EPZ is located in Weihai Economic & Technological Development Zone with programmed area of 2.6 km2. Weihai EPZ belongs to comprehensive export & processing zone. The EPZ is located 30 km to Weihai Airport, 3 km to Weihai Railway Station and 4 km to Weihai Harbor.
- Weihai Torch Hi-Tech Science Park
Weihai Torch Hi-Tech Science Park is a state-level development zone approved by the State Council on March 1991. Located in Weihai's northwest zone of culture, education and science, the Park has the total area of 111.9 square kilometers, the coastal line of 30.5 kilometers and 150,000 residents. It is 3 kilometers away from the city center, 4 kilometers away from Weihai Port, 10 kilometers away from Weihai Railway Station, 30 kilometers away from Weihai Airport and 80 kilometers away from Yantai Airport.
Education
Campuses of
Shandong UniversityShandong University is a public comprehensive university in Shandong, China. It is one of the largest universities in China by student population and is supported directly by the national government....
and
Harbin Institute of TechnologyThe Harbin Institute of Technology , or HIT, is colloquially known as Hagongda . It is a research university in the city of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China....
are located in Weihai.
Transportation
Weihai AirportWeihai Airport is an airport in Weihai, Shandong, People's Republic of China.The airport is located in Dashuibo Town , part of the Wendeng City under the administration of Weihai, hence the airport's name.-Airlines and destinations:-See also:...
serves the city with regular service to
BeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
,
ShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
,
GuangzhouGuangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
,
HarbinHarbin ; Manchu language: , Harbin; Russian: Харби́н Kharbin ), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River...
domestically and the Korean cities of Seoul and Pusan. The
K8262 and
K8264 trains depart everyday at 7:17AM and 9:52PM respectively for
JinanJinan is the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilisation and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub...
, the provincial capital, the
K412 goes directly to Beijing at 7:49PM, and the No.
1064 train leaves at 8:27AM for
HankouHankou was one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, China. It stands north of the Han and Yangtze Rivers where the Han falls into the Yangtze...
, one of the two railway stations of
WuhanWuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
,
Hubei' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
. Internally, the city is served by about 50 bus routes.
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,
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(May 24, 2004) Novopolotsk, Republic of Belarus (April 25, 2006)
External links