Haiyang

History

Early history

Haiyang was first settled with Laiyi people, one of the peripheral Chinese ethnic minorities, some 2,300 years ago, and was annexed into Qi in 567 BC. Haiyang was, consecutively, under administration of State of Qi in Warring States period. After Qin Shi Huang unified China, Haiyang was put under the administration of Jiaodong Commandery. It was under the Lai Prefecture (萊州) in Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, and Dengzhou Prefecture (登州府) in Ming dynasty.

From fortress to county

In 1389, during the early Ming dynasty Dasongwei Fortress (大嵩衛), one of the nine coastal fortresses of the time to guard against Wokou and other pirates invasions, was set up to govern (both administratively and militarily) the area known today as Haiyang. In 1734, during the Yongzheng Era, Dasongwei Fortress was officially renamed as Haiyang, which name is still used today for the land covering the south coast of Shandong Peninsula, with an area of more than 3,000 kilometers. In 1947, the newly founded communist government cut off the eastern land of Haiyang to create another county of Rushan, and since then, Haiyang's 1,886 kilometer area forms a shape that resembles a flying phoenix towards the Pacific Ocean.

European settlement

From the late 19th century until World War I, Haiyang was a coastal town in Shandong Province, located near the European settlements of Qingdao and Weihaiwei. Qingdao was leased to Germany in 1898, while Weihaiwei was leased to Britain in the same year. Trade activities in the region continued through the establishment of communist control in 1949, which brought significant changes in local governance and economic practices.

Geography

Administrative Divisions

As of 2012, Haiyang administers four subdistricts and 9 towns:

Climate

| Jan record high C = 13.0 | Jan record low C = -13.7 | Feb record high C = 19.7 | Feb record low C = -13.2 | Mar record high C = 23.0 | Mar record low C = -9.2 | Apr record high C = 31.5 | Apr record low C = -3.1 | May record high C = 33.3 | May record low C = 4.1 | Jun record high C = 37.4 | Jun record low C = 10.6 | Jul record high C = 37.9 | Jul record low C = 16.1 | Aug record high C = 35.6 | Aug record low C = 14.6 | Sep record high C = 36.6 | Sep record low C = 8.0 | Oct record high C = 29.9 | Oct record low C = -0.5 | Nov record high C = 23.4 | Nov record low C = -7.9 | Dec record high C = 17.5 | Dec record low C = -12.5 all-time extreme temperature{{cite web |access-date= 6 July 2025

Economy

Haiyang Port

Haiyang Port is one of the pivotal ports along the south coastline of Shandong Peninsula with sea routes connecting to Korea, Japan and southern Chinese ports. In May 1860, the French Navy tried to land so they could take the fortress, but their invasion attempt failed. In August 1947, the government troops retreated from the port towards Qingdao after a defeat by the communists. In April 1963, the Taiwan-based Chinese nationalist troops tried to land to take back the city and all the troops were defeated and captured by the Chinese paramilitaries. Haiyang Port is one of the trade ports for the peninsula with active export-oriented manufacturies, and is administratively under Qingdao Customs and Port Authorities.

Clean energy transition

Due to natural gas shortages, the Chinese government implemented a 5-year plan in 2017 to convert half of northern China to clean energy for winter heating. By the end of 2019, the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant provided heating to 700,000 square meters of housing via non-radioactive steam. In November 2021, Haiyang became China's first city to fully heat homes using only nuclear power, and its two nuclear plants saving a total of 180,000 tons of fossil fuel emissions per year, as well as "indirect" greenhouse gases such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide per heating season. Prior to this, the city had relied on 12 coal-fired boilers for its residential heating of its approx 200,000 residents.

Tourism

Vacation facilities

Haiyang, which translates to "Ocean and Sun," is located near the Laoshan mountain range to the northwest and the Kunyu mountain range to the northeast. The city offers various recreational facilities, including beach resorts, golf courses, yachting clubs, and sports clubs for beach volleyball and basketball. Other attractions include the Phoenix Wetland Reserve, a National Forest Park, and the Coast Film Park. Additionally, Rocky Islands, about 80 kilometers off the coast, serve as another destination for visitors.

Leisure resorts

The city is a prime destination for beach sports with its 230 kilometer coastline, and topographically is quite similar to Scotland. In the past decade, this city has quickly become one of the top summer resorts and vacation getaways in China, and in northeast Asia in general.

Asian Beach Games

Haiyang hosted the 2012 Asian Beach Games, the first ever to be held in China, which was announced by the Olympic Council of Asia in Doha on 2 December 2006.

Twin Towns and Sister Cities

As of September 2019, Haiyang is twinned with Cranberry Township in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

References

References

1. link. Haiyang government website. (7 May 2017)
3. link. (2011-10-04 . 30 July 2008.)
4. Belgium, Central Office, NucNet a s b l, Brussels. (2021-09-30). "China / City Of Haiyang 'First In Country' To Have District Heating System Powered By Nuclear".
5. link. [[Fenghuang]] Shandong. zh-hans. 峻青，原名孙俊卿，1922年出生于烟台海阳市郭城镇西楼子村，当代著名作家、画家。
6. (2003). [[Commercial Press]]
7. 《登州府志》: "以其地在海之陽, 故名"
8. Gao, Mobo. (2008-02-20). "The Battle for China's Past: Mao and the Cultural Revolution". Pluto Press.
9. link. Haiyang government website. zh-hans. 到2012年，全市辖14个镇、街道，分别是东村街道、方圆街道、凤城街道、龙山街道、里店镇、小纪镇、行村镇、辛安镇、留格庄镇、盘石镇、朱吴镇、发城镇、徐家店镇、郭城镇。". (13 July 2013)
10. link. [[China Meteorological Administration]]
11. (July 2021). "China unveils 2017-2021 winter clean heating plan: media". Reuters.
12. "Haiyang begins commercial-scale district heat supply : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News".
13. Tone, Sixth. (November 19, 2021). "Chinese City Heated by Nuclear Power Pushes China's Green Ambitions".
14. Beneviat, Natalie. (February 6, 2013). "Cranberry Township Sister Cities Association set for Year of Snake".