Xingcheng
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Xingcheng 兴城市 |
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|---|---|
| County-level city | |
 Location in Huludao City |
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 Xingcheng
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| Coordinates (city): 40°37′N 120°44′E / 40.617°N 120.733°ECoordinates: 40°37′N 120°44′E / 40.617°N 120.733°E | |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Province | Liaoning |
| Prefecture-level city | Huludao |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,113 km2 (816 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 8 m (27 ft) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 552,180 |
| • Density | 260/km2 (680/sq mi) |
| Time zone | China Standard (UTC+8) |
| Postal code | 1125xx |
| Website | https://web.archive.org/web/20080723211053/http://www.xc-online.gov.cn/ |
Xingcheng (simplified Chinese: 兴城; traditional Chinese: 興城; pinyin: Xīngchéng), former name Ningyuan (宁远), is a county-level city of southwest Liaoning province, China, with a population of approximately 140,000 urban inhabitants, and is located on the Liaodong Bay, i.e. the northern coast of the Bohai Sea. Currently under the administration of Huludao City, the area is steeped in history, and contains one of the best preserved Ming Dynasty towns in China, as well as functioning as a laidback summer resort.
Xingcheng has a long and distinguished history, and was established as a county as far back as the Liao Dynasty in CE 990. After being dissolved by the Yuan, it was resurrected during the Ming Dynasty under the name Ningyuan, and gained strategic importance as the first defensive outpost outside the Great Wall. Xingcheng's city walls have stood since they were first constructed in 1428 and were instrumental in helping the Ming defeat the great Manchu commander Nurhaci at the pivotal Battle of Ningyuan in 1626.
In modern times Xingcheng has become a mecca for those seeking relief from the bustling heat of summer in the overcrowded cities of Northern China. The town has attractive swimming beaches and is also blessed with natural hot springs, discovered during the Tang Dynasty. For this reason, a number of spa resorts and sanatoriums have sprung up and the town has been marketed as a health destination, and is frequented by groups of Party cadres on government sponsored training courses during the summer. Xingcheng is home to the largest island in the Bohai Gulf, the beautiful and secluded Juhua Island (simplified Chinese: 菊花岛; traditional Chinese: 菊花島; pinyin: Júhuā Dǎo; literally: "Chrysanthemum Island"; 40°29′51″N 120°48′05″E / 40.49750°N 120.80139°E), once a sanctuary for the Prince of Yan on the run from the ruthless Qin Shihuang. A boat provides access to the island from the passenger terminal at the wharf, where local fisherman dock.
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Wikipedia