Linqing

Geography and climate

It is located north-northwest of Liaocheng. The city is situated at the confluence of the Wei River and the Grand Canal. It is 380 km from Beijing on the Beijing–Kowloon railway line to Hong Kong. Elevation within Linqing County ranges from 29 to above sea level. The area of the county is 955 km2. The annual average temperature is 12.8 C, the highest recorded temperature 41.4 C, and the lowest recorded temperature −22.1 C. Annual mean precipitation is 590.4 mm. There are 205 frost-free days per year on average and the average annual sunshine is 2661 hours.

|Jan record high C = 16.4 |Jan record low C = -20.6 |Feb record high C = 23.4 |Feb record low C = -15.7 |Mar record high C = 28.4 |Mar record low C = -8.9 |Apr record high C = 33.5 |Apr record low C = -1.2 |May record high C = 38.0 |May record low C = 4.6 |Jun record high C = 41.5 |Jun record low C = 10.6 |Jul record high C = 40.7 |Jul record low C = 16.4 |Aug record high C = 36.6 |Aug record low C = 12.6 |Sep record high C = 37.5 |Sep record low C = 5.3 |Oct record high C = 33.2 |Oct record low C = -3.7 |Nov record high C = 27.2 |Nov record low C = -17.4 |Dec record high C = 19.8 |Dec record low C = -17.6

History and economy

Linqing has played an important role in the history of China. In Ming and Qing times it was a great center for the distribution of textiles, grain and bricks and is also famous as the place where the tiles of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City were produced. Today the city's flourishing economy is based on a number of light industrial enterprises.

Aside from the Grand Canal, sights include a distinctive promontory, a stupa (), a Ming-dynasty Hui mosques (Linqing Northern Mosque, , Linqing Eastern Mosque, ), and ruins of the old customs house (), Linqing City Museum (in a historical building ensemble known as the ). In particular, the Sheli Pagoda near the Grand Canal is a well-known local landmark.

Administrative divisions

As of 2012, this city is divided to four subdistricts, eight towns and three townships.{{cite web |script-title=zh:聊城市-行政区划网 www.xzqh.org |access-date = 2012-05-24}} ;Subdistricts

• Qingnianlu Subdistrict (青年路街道)
• Xinhualu Subdistrict (新华路街道)
• Xianfeng Subdistrict (先锋路街道)
• Daxinzhuang Subdistrict (大辛庄街道) ;Towns
• Songlin, Shandong (松林镇)
• Laozhaozhuang (老赵庄镇)
• Weiwan (魏湾镇)
• Liugaizi (刘垓子镇)
• Bachalu (八岔路镇)
• Panzhuang, Shandong (潘庄镇)
• Yandian (烟店镇)
• Tangyuan (唐园镇) ;Townships
• Jinhaozhuang Township (金郝庄乡)
• Daiwan Township (戴湾乡)
• Shangdian Township (尚店乡)

Population

Demographics

The city proper has about residents (January 2000), whereas Linqing as a whole had inhabitants in 1999.

Ecclesiastical history

Once visited by the missionary and sinologist Matteo Ricci, Linqing has been the seat of a Latin Catholic Mission sui juris of Linqing / Lintsing since it was split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Tsinanfu on 24 June 1927.

It was promoted to Apostolic prefecture of Linqing / Lintsing / Lintsingen(sis) (Latin) (pre-diocesan jurisdiction, not entitled to a titular bishop) on 5 April 1931.

It remains exempt, i.e. directly dependent on the Holy See and its missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The see has been vacant, without Apostolic administrator, since the third incumbent's death in 1981.

Ordinaries

(all Latin Rite) ;Ecclesiastical Superior(s) none available

;Apostolic Prefects (Chinese secular priests)

• Father Gaspar Hu Xiu-shen (胡修身) (1931.03.30 – retired 1940), died 1945
• Fr. Joseph Li Chao-gui (李朝貴) (1940.11.22 – death 1948)
• Fr. Paul Li Ben-liang (李本良) (1949.11.18 – death 1981)

Notable natives

• Ming dynasty poet Xie Zhen
• Ming dynasty general Zuo Liangyu
• National Revolution Army general Zhang Zizhong
• Indologist, linguist, paleographer, historian and writer Ji Xianlin

References

References

2. link. [[China Meteorological Administration]]
3. {{in lang. en National Population Statistics Materials by County and City - 1999 Period, ''in'' [http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~chgis/work/downloads/faqs/1999_pop_faq.html China County & City Population 1999, Harvard China Historical GIS]
4. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/lint0.htm GCatholic