Qinhuangdao is a famous coastal city that condenses the 5,000-year-old civilization of the Chinese nation. It is located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, at the edge of mountains and seas, and has the largest deep-water port in Northeast Asia. Not only does it have a long cultural history, but it also plays an important role in modern history due to its unique location.
1. Geographical location
Qinhuangdao is located in the northeasternmost part of North China, at the southern tip of the Cuishan Peninsula, on the coastline of the Bohai Sea. It is backed by the first pass of the Great Wall of China, Shanhaiguan, facing the Port of Arthur on the Liaodong Peninsula, and is the largest port city in northern China.
Qinhuangdao is located at the confluence of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, surrounded by the sea on three sides, with a tortuous coastline. The mountain divides the urban area of Qinhuangdao from south to north, forming a unique landform of the trinity of mountains, seaports and ports. Qinhuangdao Port is the largest deep-water port in northern China, bordering the Bohai Sea, not freezing or silting, the water is deep and wide, and it can dock 100,000-ton giant ships, and is known as the "Oriental Rotodam".
This coastal area has a mild climate, abundant sunshine, and a frost-free period of more than 202 days, making it the "Little Jiangnan" of North China. The warm ocean currents of the Bohai Sea converge from here to the land, bringing a strong layer of water vapor, making Qinhuangdao mild and humid all year round, with abundant rainfall.
Qinhuangdao is not only backed by Beijing, the political center of northern China, only 50 minutes by the Beijing-Shenyang high-speed railway, but also connected to Japan and South Korea by sea routes, and is the frontier gateway of China's opening to the outside world.
2. Historical origin
Qinhuangdao, a name is full of historical imprints. Qin was the first unified feudal dynasty in China, and the emperor represented the supreme ruler of China's feudal dynasty.
The name of Qinhuangdao comes from an important historical site here - the Eastern Tour Monument of Qin Shi Huang. In 219 B.C., after Qin Shi Huang unified China, he toured east to Shanhaiguan three times, and was called "the eastern capital of Qin". Qin Shi Huang once set up a monument to commemorate the merits during his eastern tour, which is the monument of Qin Shi Huang's eastern tour, and it is also one of the earliest existing stone tablets in China.
Qin Shi Huang's eastern tour tablet recorded: "The sea is peaceful, the Quartet is subdued, the Qin Emperor then sent a boat to carry it, and it was seen in the city, as for the Lang evil, he boarded the sea and practiced the patrol of the east." This passage vividly records the historical scene of Qin Shi Huang's inspection of the eastern land. Qinhuangdao is named after the monument of Qin Shi Huang's eastern tour, which means the hometown of Qin Huang and highlights the historical symbol of the unification of the Chinese nation.
Qinhuangdao was also called "Haicheng", Haicheng County was set up during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, and it was called "Haicheng" because the county was located on the seashore. In 1898, according to the Treaty of Xincho, it was opened as a foreign trade port and called "Haicheng New Port". In 1985, Haicheng was officially renamed Qinhuangdao, implying that the hometown of Qinhuang was more resounding.
3. Cultural landscape
Qinhuangdao has beautiful mountains and rivers and many cultural landscapes. As the gateway of China's first feudal empire, the Qin Dynasty, to the East, Qinhuangdao has a long history of cultural heritage.
Qin Shi Huang's Eastern Tour Monument is not only the origin of the name of Qinhuangdao, but also the most famous cultural landscape here. This stone monument, which has survived more than 2,000 years of wind and sun, has witnessed the historical process of the reunification of the Chinese nation and contains the humanistic spirit of the Chinese nation of "harmony is precious".
Beidaihe is a famous summer resort in Qinhuangdao. Whenever summer comes, China's party and state leaders will stay here to deal with national affairs. Beidaihe is the "Royal Seashore", which carries the bits and pieces of China's modern history. Today, Beidaihe still maintains a quiet and elegant natural scenery and cultural charm.
In addition, historical sites such as the watchtowers of Mt. Hori, the ancestral hall of the stone people, and the Great Wall of Guanshan also attract tourists to visit. Regardless of ancient or modern, the beautiful mountains and rivers and rich humanities of Qinhuangdao make people linger.
Fourth, economic characteristics
Qinhuangdao has geographical advantages and a deep-water seaport, and is the gateway to the east of Shanhaiguan. In modern times, with the process of industrialization, Qinhuangdao has gradually become an important industrial base in North China.
Qinhuangdao Port is one of the main ports for China's coal foreign trade and an important import and export port in Northeast China. Qinhuangdao Economic and Technological Development Zone is one of the largest economic development zones in North China, with pillar industries such as petrochemical, automobile manufacturing and food processing.
With the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, Qinhuangdao has ushered in new development opportunities. Relying on the advantages of location and transportation, Qinhuangdao is building an international trade and logistics center for Europe and Asia, a modern marine industry base, and the northern gateway of the "Belt and Road".
Looking forward to the future, Qinhuangdao will continue to play the role of a bridge between mountains and seas, and continue to contribute to the opening up of China's coastal areas and economic development. A good start will bring infinite possibilities, and Qinhuangdao, a city full of hope, will continue to shine more brilliantly in the new era.