Weifang

Weifang (simplified Chinese: 潍坊; traditional Chinese: 濰坊; pinyin: Wéifāng) is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, in the People's Republic of China. It is surrounded by several other cities, including Dongying to the northwest, Zibo to the west, and Qingdao to the east, and it looks out over the Laizhou Bay to the north.

According to the 2020 census, Weifang had a population of 9,386,705 people. Of these, about 3,095,520 lived in the main urban areas made up of four districts and one county.

Weifang is famous for its many beautiful natural and historic places, such as Shihu Garden from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and Fangong Pavilion from the Song dynasty. The city also has important fossil sites, including dinosaur fossils, and well-known painted New Year woodcuts from Yangjiabu. Travel to Weifang is easy thanks to Weifang Airport, which connects the city to many places across China.

Administration

The city of Weifang is made up of 12 smaller areas, including four districts: Kuiwen, Weicheng, Hanting, and Fangzi; six county-level cities: Qingzhou, Zhucheng, Shouguang, Anqiu, Gaomi, and Changyi; and two counties: Linqu and Changle. These smaller areas help to organize the city’s many streets and towns. The people living there are mostly from the Han group, with some from other groups like the Hui and Manchu.

Geography

Nearby big cities include Jinan, Zibo, Yantai, and Qingdao. Weifang is higher in the south and lower in the north. The south has gentle hills with many trees and plants, while the middle has flat land made by rivers. The north is near the coast with wide sandy beaches. Several important rivers, like the Wei River and Bailang River, flow through the area.

Climate

Weifang has four seasons with a climate that changes with the wind. Summers are warm and humid, while winters are cold and dry. Temperatures can go from about -3 °C in January to 26 °C in July, with an average of around 13 °C for the whole year. Most rain falls between June and September, especially in July and August. The city gets plenty of sunshine, about 2,500 hours each year, though it is a bit cloudier in the summer months.

Economy

Weifang is home to big factories like Weichai for diesel engines and Shengrui Transmission for making parts. The village of Yangjiabu is well-known for creating beautiful wood prints and kites.

In the 1980s, people found lots of sapphire in Changle County. There is an estimated amount of sapphire under an area of 450 km² (170 sq mi). Mining these sapphires has made the area one of the top four sapphire producers in the world. The special thing about these sapphires is their dark blue or almost black color, which comes from the iron in them.

In August 1995, the Weifang Binhai Economic & Technological Development Area (BEDA) was created. It covers 677 km² (261 sq mi) and has a population of 100,000 people. BEDA has large areas for factories and has earned several important titles for its work in science and technology.

Weifang is a busy shopping place in Shandong Province. Fangzi Taihua City, in Fangzi District, opened on September 17, 2021. It was built by Shandong Century Taihua Group and has lots of space for shops and parking.

Some important companies based in Weifang are Weichai Power, Shandong Weifang Runfeng Chemical, and the Bank of Weifang.

Military

Weifang is where the 26th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army is based. This army is part of the Jinan Military Region, which helps protect the Yellow River Plain.

History

Weifang has a very long history. Archaeologists have found more than 1,800 places where people lived long ago in this area. Some important discoveries include the first Beixin cultural items found in a village in Qingzhou, and a big ancient castle from the Longshan culture in Yaoguanzhuang, Weicheng District.

People have lived in Weifang for about 7,000 years. During ancient times like the Xia and Shang dynasties, small countries existed here. Later, during the Zhou dynasty, a king created a new country in this area.

In the Neolithic Age, the people here were called the "Dongyi people". They created a rich culture that helped shape early Chinese civilization.

During the Eastern Zhou dynasty, Weifang was close to the Bohai Sea, which gave it natural resources like fish and salt. During the Qin dynasty, counties were set up, and Weifang became part of several of them. In 106 BC, an important government office was placed in the area.

Later, Weifang became an important place for Buddhism, with many statues and cultural items left behind.

In more recent times, important events like the Weixian Uprising and the Weixian Campaign happened here.

Culture

Kite flying

Weifang has a long tradition of kite flying, especially in spring. In the 1930s, the city began holding kite festivals. In 1984, the first international kite festival took place, with people from many countries joining in. Today, Weifang holds the Weifang International Kite Festival every April.

Painting

One famous art form in Weifang is Yangjiabu painting. This folk art began in the Ming dynasty and became very popular during the Qing dynasty. People use these paintings, called Annual Boards, during the Spring Festival to bring good luck. The paintings show many subjects, like flowers, beautiful people, and stories from myths, with simple lines and bright colors.

Papercutting

Papercutting is an old art in the Gaomi area of Weifang. This craft has special styles, like strong colors and simple lines. The designs often show stories, flowers, birds, and magical symbols.

Chinese New Year picture made of painted ash

Gaomi also has a special type of folk art called ash New Year paintings. These began in the Ming dynasty and grew during the Qing dynasty.

Cuisine

Weifang has three famous dishes:

• Ji-Ya Hele: This dish comes from Shanxi and was brought to Weifang. It is made with chicken and duck soup and special noodles called "Hele." The noodles are boiled, then mixed with meat, vegetables, and spices.
• Rou Huo Shao (Meat Pie): This is Weifang's most famous food. It has been made for a very long time. The meat pie is roasted at just the right heat, filled with pork, green onions, eggs, and dried shrimp. It tastes juicy and full of flavor.
• Chao Tian Guo: This local specialty was created by Zheng Banqiao during the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty. It is made with thin pancakes, meatballs, pig offal, tofu, and soy soup, all cooked in a large pot without a lid.

Education

Weifang has many places for learning, with 9 universities and colleges. Some of the important ones include Shandong University of Science and Technology Weifang Campus, Weifang College, and Weifang Medical College. The Weifang Campus of Shandong University of Science and Technology is the main university in the city. It was started in 1951 and teaches many subjects like engineering, science, management, and medicine.

Besides this main university, Weifang also has other colleges for students to study different fields. In December 2023, Weifang Medical University changed its name to Shandong Second Medical University.

Notable people

See also: Category:People from Weifang

Weifang has been home to many famous people throughout history.

Some well-known individuals from Weifang include:

• Zheng Xuan (127–200), a scholar from the Eastern Han dynasty
• Liu Yong (1719–1805), an important government official from the Qing dynasty
• Mo Yan (born 1955), a famous writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2012
• Wang Xiaoyun (born 1966), an expert in mathematics and computer science
• Sun Feifei (born 1989), a fashion model
• Emperor Shun from ancient times
• Yan Ying (c. 578–500 BC), a politician from long ago
• Jia Sixie, an expert in farming from the Northern Wei dynasty who wrote an important book about agriculture called 'Qi Min Yao Shu'

Other notable people who have lived or worked in Weifang include Kong Rong, Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Su Dongpo, Zheng Banqiao, Wang Jinmei, Chen Shaomin, and Zang Kejia.

Demographics

According to the Seventh National Census in 2020, the city had a permanent population of 9,386,705 people.

Compared to the Sixth National Census in 2010, the population grew by 300,464 people over ten years. This means the population increased by 3.31%, with an average yearly growth rate of 0.33%. In the city, there were slightly more males than females.