Yantai is a
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...
in northeastern
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 ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Located on the southern coast of the
Bohai SeaBohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of Northeastern and North China. It is approximately 78,000 km2 Bohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of...
and the eastern coast of the
Laizhou BayLaizhou Bay is the southern arm of the Bohai Sea , which is a large relatively shallow extension of Korea Bay behind the Liaodong Peninsula to the north, and the Shandong Peninsula to the south...
, Yantai borders the cities of
Qingdao' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
and
WeihaiWeihai is a city in eastern Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. It is the easternmost prefecture-level city 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...
to the southwest and east respectively.
The largest fishing seaport in Shandong and a robust economic center today, Yantai used to be known to the
WestThe Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
as
Chefoo, a misnomer which refers, in Chinese, solely to
Zhifu IslandZhifu Island or North Island , is an islet with historical significance in Shandong Province, China. The name of the islet Chefoo was generalized to mean the entire Yantai region in older western literature.* Area: 11.5 km²* Coast line: 22.5 km...
, which is historically governed by Yantai.
The contemporary name of Yantai came from the watchtowers constructed on Mount Qi in 1398, during the reign of the
Hongwu EmperorThe Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
, founding emperor of the
Ming DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
(
yan—smoke;
tai—tower). The towers served to raise alarms against invasions of
Japanese piratesWokou , which literally translates as "Japanese pirates" in English, were pirates of varying origins who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th century onwards...
.
Administration
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 Yantai administers 12 county-level divisions, including 4 districts, 7
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....
, 1 county and one development zone.
- Zhifu District (芝罘区)
- Fushan District
Fushan is a district of Yantai in the Chinese province of Shandong, near the shore of the Yellow Sea.To the East is Zhifu District and Laishan District, to the southeast Muping District, to the southwest Qixia City, to the northwest Penglai City, and to the north, the Yantai Economic and...
(福山区)
- Muping District
Muping District is a district administered by the prefecture-level city of Yantai, Shandong province, People's Republic of China.-References:...
(牟平区)
- Laishan District
Laishan is a district of Yantai in the Chinese province of Shandong. It has an area of 258 km² and around 181,200 inhabitants .- External links :*...
(莱山区)
- Longkou
Longkou , formerly Huang County , is a port city in northeastern Shandong Province, on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Longkou, a county-level city, is administered by the prefecture-level city of Yantai. The total population of Longkou is 620,000.-History:Longkou city was...
City (龙口市)
- Laiyang
Laiyang city is a city between Yantai and Qingdao, located at the middle of Shandong peninsula, China. Majority of its population are farmers and it is famous for Laiyang Pear...
City (莱阳市)
- Laizhou
Laizhou is a county-level city in Yantai Prefecture, Shandong Province, China.As of 2008, Laizhou had a total population of 902,000, out of which 188,000 are urban residents.-External links:* in English...
City (莱州市)
- Penglai
Penglai City , is a port, a town and an administrative subdivision of the prefecture-level city Yantai in Shandong Province, northeastern China. The port was formerly called Dengzhou . Penglai Water City or Water Fortress , a fortified harbor hidden from the sea, is one of China's oldest military...
City (蓬莱市)
- Zhaoyuan City
Zhaoyuan is a county-level city within the prefecture-level city of Yantai, Shandong Province of China. It is on seashore of Bohai Sea. Zhaoyuan is well known for its abundant gold deposit and production...
(招远市)
- Qixia
Qixia is a district of Yantai in the Chinese province of Shandong.The population was in 1999.- External links :*...
City (栖霞市)
- Haiyang
Haiyang is a coastal city in the peninsula province of Shandong in east China. It is strategically located in the center of the prime tourist trio of Qingdao, Yantai, and Weihai....
City (海阳市)
- Changdao County (长岛县)
- Yantai Economic and Technological Development Zone
Yantai Economic and Technological Development Zone , is an economic development zone established in 1984 in Shandong Province, China. It is near the Yellow Sea coast, and administratively under Yantai Prefecture. It covers 16 km² and has a population of 115,000.-Industry:YEDA is the largest...
(烟台经济技术开发区)
These are further divided into 148 township-level divisions, including 94 towns, 6 townships and 48
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 region was inhabited by the non-
HanHan Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
people of the Eastern Yi (東夷), who were believed to have established a small state during the
Xia DynastyThe Xia Dynasty is the first dynasty in China to be described in ancient historical chronicles such as Bamboo Annals, Classic of History and Records of the Grand Historian. The Xia Dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great after Shun, the last of the Five Emperors gave his throne to him...
on the site of present-day Laizhou City. It became a feudal state called Lai (萊國) until the
Warring States PeriodThe Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
, when it was annexed by the
State of QiQi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
. During the
Qin DynastyThe Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
, Yantai belonged to the Qi Prefecture, later renamed Donglai Prefecture (東萊郡) during the
Han DynastyThe Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
. The area was known as the Donglai Kingdom during the
Jin Dynasty (265-420)The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
but later returned to prefecture status (first jùn, then zhōu). In the
Tang DynastyThe Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and
followingFive Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was between 907–960/979 AD and an era of political upheaval in China, between the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the founding of the Song Dynasty. During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another in the north, and more than 12 independent states were...
it was known as the Teng-chou prefecture, part of Henan Circuit. Next, the city became the Laizhou Subprefecture (萊州府) and, eventually, the Dengzhou Subprefecture (登州府) in the time 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....
.
In July 1858 the Chinese empire signed the Treaty of Tianjin and Dengzhou was renamed for the last time. Yantai opened its harbor for business in May 1861, but was not officially designated an international trading port until later that year on August 22. This decree was accompanied by the construction of the Donghai Pass (東海關). 17 nations, including Britain, established embassies in Yantai. The
Chefoo ConventionThe Chefoo Convention was an "unequal treaty" between the Qing and British Empires, which was signed by Sir Thomas Wade and Li Hongzhang in Chefoo on 21 August 1876...
was signed there in 1876.
Yantai literally means "smoky tower". In the Ming Dynasty, locals used wolf dung to light fires (Langyan) to warn the whole village of approaching Japanese Pirates (Wokou). The city was nothing but a small fishing village until the late 19th century when it became a treaty port for the British, handed over by the falling Qing Dynasty, which had been defeated in the Opium War. Then with the Germans' power over the whole Shandong peninsula in early 20th century, Yantai was also controlled by Germans for about 20 years. After the Germans were defeated by Allied forces in World War I, Qingdao and Yantai were handed over to the Japanese. After Japan's defeat by the Americans in WW2 they turned Yantai into a summer station for their entire Asian fleet. Then the Japanese set up a trading establishment in the town. You may be able to get an idea of the different influences at the western style Yantai Museum, which used to be a guild hall. However, the colourful history has not left a distinctive architectural mark, there has never been a foreign concession, and though you will see an occasional nineteenth-century grand European building, most of the town is of much more recent origin. After liberation, the town's name was changed from the original, Chefoo, to Yantai and was opened to the world as an ice-free trade port in 1984.
On November 12, 1911, the eastern division of Tongmeng Hui declared itself a part of the revolutionary movement. The next day, it established the Shandong Military Government (山東軍政府) and, the day after that, renamed itself the Yantai Division of the Shandong Military Government (山東煙台軍政分府). In 1914, Jiaodong Circuit (膠東道) was established with Yantai as the capital. Jiaodong Circuit was renamed Donghai Circuit (東海道) in 1925. On January 19, 1938, Yantai participated as part of an anti-Japanese revolutionary committee.
After the creation of the
People's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, in 1950, Yantai was officially awarded city status with the outer lying towns of Laiyang and Wendeng (文登) tacked on as "Special Regions" (专区). Wendeng was merged into Laiyang six years later, and this larger Laiyang Special Region was combined with Yantai City to become simply Yantai Region (烟台地区). Yantai is of strategic importance to Chinese defence as it and the city of
DalianDalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...
are primary coastal guard points for
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...
. In November 1983, the region became a
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...
. Since then, Yantai has worked its way into becoming a modernized economic center in Shandong Province.
Geography
Yantai Region is located north-central on the
Shandong Peninsula, south of the
Bohai SeaBohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of Northeastern and North China. It is approximately 78,000 km2 Bohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of...
, and parallel to the southern tip of
KoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. It has a coast line of 909 km. The topographical breakdown consists of:
- 36.62% mountain
- 39.7% hill
- 50.23% plains
- 2.90% basins
Average mountain height is 500 meters, with the highest point at 922.8 meters on
Mount KunyuMount Kunyu is the birth place of Taoism in Yantai city. There is a mountain cave not far from where it is said the founder of Taoism meditated for many years. There are eight statues, "The Eight Immortals," of important Taoists inside this cave today as a mark of respect....
(昆崳山). Hills range from 100 to 300 meters.
There are 121 rivers over 5 kilometer in length, the largest being:
- Wulong River (五龍河)
- Dagu River (大沽河)
- Dagujia River (大沽夾河)
- Wang River (王河)
- Jie River (界河)
- Huangshui River (黃水河)
- Xin'an River (辛安河)
2643.60 km² is urbanized.
Only Qixia County is located entirely inland, all other county-level entities are coastal, with
ChangdaoThe Changdao County is a county in Yantai, Shandong, China. It consists of a chain of islands, Changshan Islands , in the Bohai Sea, north of Penglai, Shandong Province. They are known for their sandy beaches and picturesque limestone cliffs...
consisting entirely of islands.
Climate
The annual mean temperature in Yantai is 12
oC. The annual rainfall is 620 mm.
Economy
Yantai is currently the second largest industrial city in Shandong, next only to Qingdao. However, the region's largest industry is agriculture. It is famous throughout China for a particular variety of apple and is home to the country's largest and oldest grape winery (Changyu).
The
county-level cityA 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....
of
LongkouLongkou , formerly Huang County , is a port city in northeastern Shandong Province, on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Longkou, a county-level city, is administered by the prefecture-level city of Yantai. The total population of Longkou is 620,000.-History:Longkou city was...
is well known throughout China for its production of
cellophane noodlesCellophane noodles are a type of transparent noodle made from starch , and water.They are generally sold in dried form, boiled to reconstitute, then used in soups, stir fried dishes,...
.
Industrial Zones
- Yantai Economic and Technological Development Area
Yantai Economic and Technological Development Area is one of the earliest approved state level economic development zones in China. It now has planned area of 10 square kilometers and a population of 115,000. It lies on the tip of the Shandong Peninsula facing the Huanghai Sea. It adjoins to downtown Yantai, merely 6 kilometers away from Yantai Port, 6 kilometers away from Yantai Railway Station, and a 30-minute drive to Yantai International Airport.
- Yantai Export Processing Zone
Yantai Export Processing Zone (YTEPZ) is one of the first 15 export processing zones approved by the State Council. The total construction area of YTEPZ is 4.17 m2, in which the initial zone covers 3 km2. After developing for several years, YTEPZ is completely constructed. At present, the infrastructure has been completed, standard workshops of 120,000 m2 and bonded warehouses of 40,000 m2 have been built up. Up to now, owning perfect investment environment and conditions, YTEPZ has attracted investors both from foreign countries and regions such as Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sweden, USA, Canada, etc. and from the domestic to invest and operate in the zone.
Education
The following are a list of prominent Yantai higher education institutions.
- Yantai University
Yantai University is a public university in Yantai, Shandong, China.-History:Yantai University was established as a modern comprehensive university along the coast in Yantai, July, 1984, from a generous bequest by Sir Zhang Chengxian . Sir Zhang Chengxian was appointed the first...
- Ludong University (Yantai Normal College)
- Shandong Institute of Business and Technology
Shandong Institute of Business and Technology , originally named China Coal Economic College, is a university in Yantai, Shandong, China. It was established in December 1985.-External links:*...
- Shandong Industrial and Commercial Institute
- Laiyang Agricultural College
- Yantai Education Institution and Yantai TV University
- Dong Hai University
- Kunyu mountain Shaolin Kung Fu school
Transport
The
Yantai Laishan International AirportYantai Laishan International Airport is a dual-use military and civilian airport serving the city of Yantai in Shandong Province, China.The airport is about from Yantai and began operations in October 1984...
provides scheduled flights to major airports in China as well as Seoul, Osaka and Hong Kong. The other airport, that will replace Laishan in 2014, is
Yantai ChaoshuiYantai Chaoshui International Airport is a major airport being built to serve the city of Yantai in Shandong Province, China. It is located 43 kilometers from the city center, near the town of Chaoshui in Penglai, a county-level city administered by Yantai. Construction officially started on...
.
Tourism
Because of its fair weather and extensive coasts Yantai is a popular summer retreat. Like many other cities in China, Yantai has improved and upgraded many tourist sites targeted at both national and international tourists. An example of these improvements is the remodeling of the beach area to better accommodate patrons. It is also home to Asia's first bowling alley, which is located on the fourth floor of Parksons department store. There is also the haunted house , a highly exhilarating tourist attraction.
Penglai City's Dan Cliffs (丹崖) is said to be the departure point of the
Eight ImmortalsThe Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xian in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called "Covert Eight Immortals" . Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or...
on their trip to the Conference of the Magical Peach.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Yantai is
twinnedTwin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
Burgas-History:During the rule of the Ancient Romans, near Burgas, Debeltum was established as a military colony for veterans by Vespasian. In the Middle Ages, a small fortress called Pyrgos was erected where Burgas is today and was most probably used as a watchtower...
, Bulgaria
AngersAngers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
, France Beppu, Japan Vitória, Brazil
GunsanGunsan is a city in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is located on the south bank of the Geum River just upstream from its exit into the Yellow Sea. Gunsan is served by frequent railway service on the Gunsan Line from Iksan. It is also connected to the Seohaean Expressway.Kunsan Air Base...
, South Korea
Miyako-Places in Japan:*Miyako, Iwate, a city in Iwate Prefecture*The Miyako Islands, including Miyako Island itself**Miyakojima, Okinawa, a city of the Miyako Islands**Miyako language, the Ryukyuan dialect spoken on Miyako Island and other nearby islands...
, Japan
OmahaOmaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Örebro-Sites of interest:Örebro's old town Wadköping is located on the banks of Svartån . It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions....
, Sweden Phuket, Thailand San Diego,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
TaurangaTauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
, New Zealand
UlsanUlsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...
, South Korea
VladivostokThe city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
, Russia
WonjuWonju is the most populous city in Gangwon province, South Korea.Wonju is a city approximately east of Seoul and the capital can be reached within 1hr 30minutes by bus or train. Wonju is home to three major universities which attract many students from Seoul and elsewhere. They provide facilities...
, South Korea
Yantai is a sister city of the following area.
AngusAngus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
, United Kingdom
Notable people
- Chou Wen-chung
Chou Wen-chung , Shandong, China) is a Chinese American composer of contemporary classical music. He emigrated in 1946 to the United States where he lives.-Life:...
(b. 1923), composer
- Qiu Chuji
Qiu Chuji was a Daoist disciple of Wang Chongyang. He was the most famous among the Seven True Daoists of the North...
(1148–1227), leading Quanzhen Taoist priest and founder of Dragon Gate TaoismThe Dragon Gate sect of the Complete Reality School of Taoism incorporates elements of Buddhism and Confucianism into a comprehensive new form of Taoism....
- Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was best remembered for his courage and leadership in the fight against Japanese pirates along the east coast of China, as well as his reinforcement work on the Great Wall of China.-Early life:Qi Jiguang was...
(1528–1588), Ming DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
military general most remembered for defending coastal ChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
against Japanese piratesWokou , which literally translates as "Japanese pirates" in English, were pirates of varying origins who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th century onwards...
- Peter Stursberg
Peter Stursberg, CM is a Canadian writer and broadcaster.Born in Chefoo, China, he has spent his career as a foreign correspondent, newspaper editor, television newscaster and commentator, and author...
(b.1913), Canadian writer and journalist
External links