Yangjiang (阳江)

1. Introduction

Yangjiang City (Postal romanization: Yeungkong), historically known as Moyang and Nan'en Prefecture, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. It is located on the southwestern coast of Guangdong Province. The city borders Jiangmen to the east, Yunfu to the north, Maoming to the west, and faces the South China Sea to the south. Situated in the low mountainous and hilly coastal region of western Guangdong, its northwestern part is dominated by the Yunwu Mountains, the northeastern part by the Tianlu Mountains, and the central-southern area comprises the Moyang River valley and the Yangchun Basin. The Moyang River flows through the entire city, with tributaries such as the Tanshui River and the Nalong River. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 60 Dongfeng 2nd Road, Jiangcheng District.

Yangjiang's knives, fermented black beans, and Zhuchanglu (a local rice roll dish) are humorously praised by many locals as the "Three Treasures of Yangjiang" (another version lists small knives, fermented black beans, and lacquerware, but the former is more popularly accepted in daily life).

2. Historical Origins of the Name

The name "Yangjiang" originates from its mother river, the "Moyang River." The river's name, in turn, derives from "Moyang," which was the earliest known name for the Yangjiang area. In ancient times, Yangjiang belonged to the ancient Yue region, predominantly inhabited by the Yue people. In the ancient Yue language, "huangniu" (yellow cattle) was called "Mo" (even today, the Yangjiang dialect refers to cattle as "niumie"), and "shanyang" (goat) was called "Yang," which shares the same character as the sun ("yang"). Thus, "Moyang" means "cattle and goats." Based on this, it is speculated that ancient Yangjiang was either a gathering place for cattle and goats or a livestock market. To this day, there is a village named Niuchang Village (Cattle Field Village) by the Moyang River. Yangjiang is located north of the river, hence the name "Yangjiang" (in ancient Chinese geographical positioning, the north side of a mountain and the south side of a river were called "yin," while the south side of a mountain and the north side of a river were called "yang"). As for "Yangchun," in ancient times, "qing" and "chun" both referred to the east. Since Yangchun lies east of the river, it was named "Yangchun."

As the administrative seat of the ancient Gaoliang County and Prefecture, Yangjiang has a history spanning over 1,000 years. However, for a considerable period, "Yangjiang" remained merely a regional concept without a specific urban settlement. Before the Song Dynasty, Yangjiang, as a cultural, economic, and political center of the area, was nothing more than a relatively elevated hillside or mound. In the second year of the Sui Dynasty's Daye era (606 AD), Yangjiang was officially established as Yangjiang County. In the fourth year of the Northern Song Dynasty's Shaosheng era (1097 AD), the prefect Ding Lian (a native of Panyu) constructed an earthen wall around Tuo Hill (now the area surrounding Jiangcheng First Primary School), marking the foundation of the ancient Yangjiang city. For a long time, the administrative center of Yangjiang was located at the foot of Tuo Hill, which is why Yangjiang is also known as "Tuocheng" (Tuo City).

3. History

Archaeological findings from the Yangchun Dushizai Cave site (a late Paleolithic to early Neolithic ancient human cave dwelling) indicate that human activity existed in the areas of Yangchun and Yangjiang over 10,000 years ago. During the pre-Qin period, the region was inhabited by the Baiyue tribes, located outside the domain of the Yu Gong's Yangzhou, and was not under the control of the Central Plains regimes.

In 214 BCE, after Emperor Qin Shi Huang pacified the Baiyue, he established Nanhai Commandery, and the Liangyang (Two Yang) region became part of it.

In 111 BCE, Gaoliang County was established under Hepu Commandery, and the Liangyang region fell under Gaoliang County. In 220 CE, the state of Wu separated Hepu Commandery to establish Gaoliang Commandery, which administered Anning County and Siping County. The seats of both Gaoliang Commandery and Anning County were located in the area of the original Yangjiang County, marking the beginning of county and commandery establishment in that area.

In 238 CE, Moyang County was established under Gaoxing Commandery, marking the beginning of county establishment in the area of the original Yangchun County.

In 523 CE, Yangchun Commandery was established along with Yangchun County, which is the origin of the name "Yangchun County." In 527 CE, Gaozhou was established, administering commanderies such as Gaoliang, Duling, and Songkang. Anning County was renamed Gaoliang County. The seats of Gaozhou, Gaoliang Commandery, and Gaoliang County were all located in present-day Jiangcheng. Gaozhou governed most of the areas of present-day Yangjiang City, Enping City, and Maoming City.

In 598 CE, Yangjiang County was newly established in the area of present-day Yangjiang, marking the origin of the name "Yangjiang County."

In 621 CE, Chunzhou was established, with its seat in present-day Yangchun urban area, administering Yangchun County and Liunan County. This marks the beginning of Yangchun being associated with the name "Chunzhou." In 649 CE, the Gaozhou Dudufu (Military Governor's Office) was abolished, and Enzhou was established with its seat in Yangjiang, under the jurisdiction of the Guangzhou Dudufu.

In 1048 CE, because Beizhou in Hebei was renamed Enzhou, the original Enzhou was renamed Nan'enzhou, with its seat still in Yangjiang. In 1073 CE, Chunzhou was abolished, and Tongling County was merged into Yangchun County, which then belonged to Nan'enzhou.

In 1276 CE, the Nan'enlu Zongguanfu (Chief Military Command) was established. In 1282 CE, it was downgraded to a Sanzhou (dispersed prefecture), with both the prefectural and command seats in Yangjiang.

In 1368 CE, Enzhou was abolished, and Yangjiang County and Yangchun County came under the jurisdiction of Zhaoqing Prefecture.

In 1867, Yangjiang County was changed to Yangjiang Zhilizhou (Independent Department), administering Yangchun County, Kaiping County, and Enping County. In 1870, Yangjiang Zhilizhou was changed to a Zhiliting (Independent Subprefecture), and Yangchun County, Kaiping County, and Enping County were returned to Zhaoqing Prefecture. In 1906, Yangjiang Zhiliting was changed back to a Zhilizhou, administering Yangchun County and Enping County.

3.1 Republic of China Period

In 1912, the prefectural system was abolished, and Yangjiang County and Yangchun County were re-established.

3.2 People's Republic of China Period

On October 26, 1949, the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China occupied Yangjiang County.

Yangjiang and Yangchun belonged to the Jiangmen Yuezhong Special District.

In 1953, they were transferred to the Yuexi Administrative Office.

In 1956, they were transferred to the Zhanjiang Special District.

In the winter of 1958, Yangjiang County and Yangchun County were merged to form Liangyang County.

In 1961, Liangyang County was re-divided into Yangjiang County and Yangchun County. During the Cultural Revolution, a series of massacre incidents occurred in Yangjiang.

Starting in September 1983, they were administered by Jiangmen City on behalf of the province.

On January 7, 1988, Yangjiang County was abolished and established as Yangjiang City, a prefecture-level city, which also administered Yangchun County on behalf of the province.

On October 20, 2014, Yangdong County was abolished and established as Yangdong District of Yangjiang City.

On July 1, 2018, the Jiangmen-Zhanjiang Railway officially began operations.

4. Geography

Hills account for 26.03% of the total land area, mountains for 42.73%, and plains for 22.17%. The coastline stretches 341.5 kilometers, with 30 main islands contributing an additional island coastline of 49.3 kilometers. The terrain slopes from north to south, nestled against mountains and facing the sea. To the northeast lies the Tianlu Mountain barrier, and to the northwest, the Yunwu Mountain range encircles the area. The highest peak within the territory is Ehuangzhang in the Wangfu Mountain Range (the second highest peak in Guangdong Province), with an elevation of 1,337 meters. The longest river is the Moyang River (one of the six major rivers in Guangdong), which runs 199 kilometers in length, traverses the entire city from north to south, and flows into the South China Sea.

4.1 Climate

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------|--------|--------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------| | Record high °C | 28.8 | 28.9 | 32.2 | 32 | 35 | 36.8 | 38.3 | 37.5 | 36.8 | 34.6 | 33.1 | 29.4 | 38.3 | | Record high °F | 83.8 | 84 | 90 | 89.6 | 95 | 98.2 | 100.9 | 99.5 | 98.2 | 94.3 | 91.6 | 84.9 | 100.9 | | Average high °C | 19.6 | 19.3 | 22.1 | 25.7 | 28.9 | 30.6 | 31.5 | 31.6 | 30.8 | 28.5 | 24.9 | 21.4 | 26.2 | | Average high °F | 67.3 | 66.7 | 71.8 | 78.3 | 84 | 87.1 | 88.7 | 88.9 | 87.4 | 83.3 | 76.8 | 70.5 | 79.2 | | Daily mean °C | 15.1 | 15.7 | 18.8 | 22.7 | 25.9 | 27.6 | 28.2 | 27.9 | 26.8 | 24.3 | 20.2 | 16.6 | 22.5 | | Daily mean °F | 59.2 | 60.3 | 65.8 | 72.9 | 78.6 | 81.7 | 82.8 | 82.2 | 80.2 | 75.7 | 68.4 | 61.9 | 72.5 | | Average low °C | 11.8 | 13.1 | 16.4 | 20.4 | 23.4 | 25.1 | 25.5 | 25.2 | 23.9 | 21 | 16.6 | 12.8 | 19.6 | |Average low °F | 53.2 | 55.6 | 61.5 | 68.7 | 74.1 | 77.2 | 77.9 | 77.4 | 75 | 69.8 | 61.9 | 55 | 67.3 | | Record low °C | −1.4 | 2.2 | 4.7 | 9.9 | 15.3 | 19.3 | 21.1 | 20.6 | 16.8 | 9.4 | 4.6 | 2.2 | −1.4 | | Record low °F | 29.5 | 36 | 40.5 | 49.8 | 59.5 | 66.7 | 70 | 69.1 | 62.2 | 48.9 | 40.3 | 36 | 29.5 | | Average precipitation mm | 35.6 | 71.6 | 85 | 241.6 | 464.3 | 387.4 | 358.9 | 391.2 | 232.3 | 103.9 | 41.2 | 29.7 | 2442.7 | | Average precipitation inches | 1.4 | 2.82 | 3.35 | 9.51 | 18.28 | 15.25 | 14.13 | 15.4 | 9.15 | 4.09 | 1.62 | 1.17 | 96.17 | | Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 7.6 | 12.1 | 14.5 | 15.7 | 18.2 | 20.1 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 14.8 | 7.8 | 5 | 4.8 | 158.9 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 74 | 80 | 85 | 87 | 86 | 86 | 85 | 85 | 82 | 75 | 69 | 68 | 80 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 127.6 | 73.4 | 65.7 | 79.7 | 132.5 | 159.2 | 211.4 | 180 | 180.2 | 198.8 | 179.3 | 169.1 | 1756.9 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Yangjiang City administers 2 municipal districts, 1 county, and has jurisdiction over 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Jiangcheng District, Yangdong District
• County-level City: Yangchun City
• County: Yangxi County

6. Economy

6.1 Industry

• Industrial Development Zones
• Yangjiang High-tech Industrial Development Zone
• Hailing Island Economic Development Test Zone
• Gangqiao Management Zone
• Yangchun Zangang Industrial Zone
• Jiangcheng Yinling Science and Technology Park
• Guangdong Yangdong Development Zone

6.2 Energy Industry

The Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant is the largest nuclear power plant in China in terms of designed installed capacity to date. It employs the "Generation II+" technology (CGNPC's CPR1000) and has a designed installed capacity of 6,000 MW, which can even be expanded to 9,000 MW. The Yangxi Coal-fired Power Plant has a designed installed capacity of 6,000 MW. The Yangjiang Pumped Storage Power Station serves as a regulating and supporting facility for the Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant, with a designed installed capacity of 2,400 MW. The Hailing Wind Farm has a designed installed capacity of 100 MW.

7. Transportation

7.1 Highways

National Highways: G228, G234, G325
Expressways: S32 Western Coastal Expressway, S51 Luoyang Expressway, G15 Shenyang–Haikou Expressway

7.2 Railway

Guangzhou–Maoming Railway
Shenzhen–Zhanjiang Railway: Yangjiang Station

7.3 Long-Distance Coach

Yangjiang urban area has Yueyun Bus Station and Yangjiang Second Transport Bus Passenger Station, with routes covering the entire province.

7.4 Public Bus

Yangjiang urban area has multiple bus lines covering the city and suburbs. The first bus generally departs at 06:00, and the last bus at 21:30. Payment can be made by swiping the Lingnan Tong card.

7.5 Taxi

In Yangjiang urban area, the taxi starting fare is 7 yuan for the first 2 kilometers. After 2 kilometers, the fare is 2.5 yuan per kilometer. The meter increments every 200 meters, with each increment costing 0.5 yuan. From 00:00 to 06:00, an additional 0.2 yuan per kilometer is charged. The first four increments are 0.5 yuan each, and the fifth increment is 0.7 yuan. For trips exceeding 10 kilometers, an additional 30% empty-return fee is charged for the distance beyond 10 kilometers. The waiting fee is 0.2 yuan per minute. Any tolls for bridges, roads, or other facilities incurred during the trip are to be paid by the passenger.

8. Education

Higher Education

• Regular Vocational Colleges: Yangjiang Vocational and Technical College
• Regular Undergraduate Universities: Guangdong Ocean University Yangjiang Campus

9. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 2,602,959. Compared with the 2,421,748 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 181,211 people over the past ten years, a growth of 7.48%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.72%. Among them, the male population was 1,362,137, accounting for 52.33% of the total population; the female population was 1,240,822, accounting for 47.67% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 109.78. The population aged 0–14 was 585,241, accounting for 22.48% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,575,442, accounting for 60.53% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 442,276, accounting for 16.99% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 324,772, accounting for 12.48% of the total population. The urban population was 1,409,820, accounting for 54.16% of the total population; the rural population was 1,193,139, accounting for 45.84% of the total population.

By the end of 2021, Yangjiang City had a permanent resident population of 2.6207 million, an increase of 0.6% over the previous year, with an urbanization rate of 54.96%. The city's registered population was 3.0275 million.

9.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 2,553,280, accounting for 98.09%, while ethnic minorities numbered 49,679, accounting for 1.91%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 147,399, a growth of 6.13%, but its proportion of the total population decreased by 1.25 percentage points. The ethnic minority population increased by 33,812, a growth of 213.1%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 1.25 percentage points.

9.2 Language

Within Yangjiang City, the locally unique Yue dialect, Yangjianghua, is commonly spoken, which differs somewhat from Standard Cantonese (Guangzhouhua). Additionally, Yangchunhua is commonly used in Yangchun City, while in Rudong Town and Shaba Town of Yangxi County, Haihua is commonly spoken, which is a dialect under the Minnan language group.

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10. Culture

Yangjiang City has achieved remarkable accomplishments in cultural development in recent years, particularly excelling in areas such as cultural heritage, innovation, and the integration of culture and tourism. The following details the cultural development of Yangjiang City:

10.1 Cultural Heritage and Preservation

Yangjiang City places high importance on the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, especially Maritime Silk Road culture and Moyang culture. The opening of the Moyang Academy (Lingnan Academy) has become a platform for showcasing and promoting Moyang culture, further advancing the inheritance and development of local culture. Additionally, by excavating and preserving intangible cultural heritage such as Yangjiang Saltwater Songs, lacquer art, and root carving, Yangjiang City has integrated these elements into important components of its urban culture.

10.2 Cultural Facility Construction and Services

Yangjiang City continuously strengthens the construction of its public cultural service system, enhancing the functionality and coverage of cultural venues. For example, the opening of the Moyang Academy, the development of the Hailing Mountain International Tourism Zone, and the establishment of multiple new cultural landmarks have greatly enriched the cultural lives of residents. At the same time, by implementing cultural benefit projects and expanding the free access to public cultural facilities, the city meets the growing spiritual and cultural needs of the people.

10.3 Integration of Culture and Tourism

Yangjiang City actively promotes the deep integration of culture and tourism, positioning itself as a "Maritime Silk Road Famous City" and developing multiple cultural tourism projects. For instance, the construction of the "Nanhai I" Museum, the development of the Hailing Mountain International Tourism Zone, and the hosting of various cultural festivals have attracted a large number of tourists and enhanced Yangjiang's cultural influence. Furthermore, through models such as "culture + tourism" and "culture + sports," Yangjiang City explores new pathways for the deep integration of agriculture, commerce, culture, and tourism, further driving the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industries.

10.4 Cultural Innovation and Brand Building

Yangjiang City emphasizes combining traditional culture with modern elements, showcasing the spirit of Chinese aesthetics and core socialist values through activities such as calligraphy competitions and intangible cultural heritage markets. At the same time, Yangjiang City is also striving to build cultural brands with local characteristics, such as Moyang culture and Maritime Silk Road culture, further enhancing the city's cultural soft power and competitiveness.

10.5 Cultural Exchange and Cooperation

Yangjiang City actively engages in external cultural exchange activities, such as participating in the Guangdong main venue event for International Museum Day, showcasing the charm of Maritime Silk Road culture and attracting attention from tourists in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and across the country. Additionally, through hosting large-scale cultural exchange events like the Knife Expo and Kite Festival, Yangjiang City has further expanded its cultural influence.

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Jiangcheng District

Yangchun City

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Magnolia tree

Flame tree flower