Yibin (宜宾)

1. Introduction

Yibin City (Sichuan dialect pinyin: ȵi2bin1), historically known as Yibin, Rongzhou, and Xuzhou, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China, located in the south-central part of Sichuan Province. The city borders Luzhou to the east, Zigong to the north, Leshan and Liangshan Prefecture to the west, and Zhaotong City of Yunnan Province to the south. Situated on the southern edge of the Sichuan Basin, its southeastern part lies in the Dalou Mountain area of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the western part in the Daliang Mountain area, and the northeastern part in the Eastern Sichuan Ridge-Valley region, with terrain generally higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast. The Jinsha River flows from west to east across the city, converging with the Min River in the urban area of Yibin. It is from this point that the river is officially called the "Yangtze River," earning Yibin the title "First City of the Ten Thousand Li Yangtze." The section of the Yangtze River from Yibin to Yichang is also known as the Chuanjiang (Sichuan River). The city covers a total area of 13,271 square kilometers with a population of 4.49 million. The municipal people's government is located in Xuzhou District. Yibin has a well-developed liquor industry, with Wuliangye as its famous representative, earning it the reputation as the "Liquor Capital." It is also a National Historical and Cultural City.

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2. History

As early as 40,000 years ago, the area of the present-day city was already inhabited by humans. Approximately five to six thousand years ago, primitive agriculture and clan communes emerged in the region.

During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), the Bo people settled here, engaging in farming and horticulture such as cultivating lychees, ginger, and medlar trees. They also opened roads, built pathways, and served as interpreters. In the sixth year of Empress Lü's reign during the Western Han Dynasty (182 BCE), the Bo Dao City was established, leading to an increase in the Han Chinese population. In the first year of Emperor Zhao's reign during the Western Han Dynasty (86 BCE), the administrative seat of Qianwei Commandery was relocated to the area of present-day Yibin city proper. By the end of the Western Han Dynasty, the region governed 12 counties, controlling the southwestern half of the territory. Yibin became the political, military, economic, and cultural center of the junction area of present-day Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. In the first year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (977 CE), the name was changed to Yibin County to avoid the taboo of Emperor Zhao Guangyi's name. In the fourth year of the Xining era (1071 CE), Yibin County was downgraded to a town and merged into Bo Dao County. During the Zhenghe era, Bo Dao County was renamed Yibin County.

On December 5, 1911, the people of Yibin established the "Great Han Southern Sichuan Military Government" here. Subsequently, Yibin County was directly under the administration of Sichuan Province. In December 1949, during the Southwest Campaign, Guo Rugui led his troops in an uprising in Yibin, aligning with the government of the People's Republic of China. In January 1950, the Yibin Administrative Supervision District Commissioner's Office was established, under the Southern Sichuan Administrative Region. In 1951, Yibin City (county-level) was separated from the urban area of Yibin County. In 1968, the Yibin Special District was renamed the Yibin Prefecture. In 1996, the prefecture-level Yibin City was established, and the former county-level Yibin City was redesignated as Cuiping District.

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4. Administrative Divisions

Yibin City administers 3 municipal districts and 7 counties.

• Municipal Districts: Cuiping District, Nanxi District, Xuzhou District
• Counties: Jiang'an County, Changning County, Gao County, Gong County, Junlian County, Xingwen County, Pingshan County

Yibin Lingang Economic and Technological Development Zone is a national-level economic and technological development zone established by Yibin City.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Of which: Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|---------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|-------------------------------| | 511500 | Yibin City | Yíbīn Shì | 13,270.78 | 4,588,804 | Xuzhou District | 644000 | 14 | 105 | 17 | 12 | | 511502 | Cuiping District | Cuìpíng Qū | 1,498.88 | 887,359 | Hejiangmen Subdistrict | 644000 | 8 | 12 | | | | 511503 | Nanxi District | Nánxī Qū | 704.28 | 332,796 | Nanxi Subdistrict | 644100 | 3 | 8 | | | | 511504 | Xuzhou District | Xùzhōu Qū | 2,571.70 | 938,157 | Baixi Subdistrict | 644600 | 3 | 12 | 2 | | | 511523 | Jiang'an County | Jiāng'ān Xiàn | 894.02 | 424,470 | Jiang'an Town | 644200 | | 14 | | | | 511524 | Changning County | Chángníng Xiàn | 996.16 | 327,904 | Changning Town | 644300 | | 13 | | | | 511525 | Gao County | Gāo Xiàn | 1,320.30 | 380,893 | Qingfu Town | 645100 | | 13 | | | | 511526 | Gong County | Gǒng Xiàn | 1,145.30 | 339,200 | Xunchang Town | 644500 | | 10 | 3 | 3 | | 511527 | Junlian County | Jūnlián Xiàn | 1,256.35 | 332,805 | Junlian Town | 645200 | | 7 | 5 | 3 | | 511528 | Xingwen County | Xīngwén Xiàn | 1,379.89 | 380,036 | Gusong Town | 644400 | | 8 | 4 | 4 | | 511529 | Pingshan County | Píngshān Xiàn | 1,503.89 | 245,184 | Pingshan Town | 645300 | | 8 | 3 | 2 |

5. Economy

5.1 Economic Overview

Since the reform and opening-up, the city has been transforming from a major agricultural city into a strong industrial city. In recent years, Yibin has focused on developing the food industry led by the Wuliangye Group, the paper industry led by the Yibin Paper Group, the chemical industry led by the Tianyuan Chemical Group, and the building materials industry led by the Shuangsan Building Materials Co., Ltd. Concurrently, the Yibin Sililya Group and Factory 899 have been prioritized as new growth points. This has formed an industrial structure with distinctive regional characteristics, where food (notably brewing), chemicals, light textiles, and building materials serve as the pillars.

Yibin is recognized by the World Bank's advisory report as one of the 25 cities in the Yangtze River Basin with the most investment value in the 21st century. The regional GDP was 36.6 billion yuan in 2005 and 72.4 billion yuan in 2009, representing a growth of 14.9% and a doubling over four years. Industry has become the pillar, and the construction of a hundred-billion-yuan-level Lingang Economic Zone has commenced.

In industry, the value-added of industries above a designated scale reached 35.06 billion yuan, ranking 4th in the province with a growth of 23%. Profits and taxes amounted to 13.4 billion yuan, ranking 2nd in the province with a growth of 20%, of which profits were 8.5 billion yuan, growing by 21%. In agriculture, the annual gross agricultural output value reached 20.251 billion yuan, a 5% increase; grain output hit a record high for three consecutive years. In the tertiary sector, total tourism revenue for the year reached 8.35 billion yuan, a 50.1% increase, ranking 3rd in the province. Total retail sales of consumer goods are estimated to have reached 25.43 billion yuan, an increase of 18.79%.

5.2 Industrial Layout

Yibin's pillar industries include food, energy, chemicals, chemical fibers, machinery, papermaking, and building materials. The city hosts three national designated pilot zones: comprehensive forestry development, water conservancy and hydropower reform and development, and eco-agriculture development. Additionally, there are ten major commercial agricultural bases: grain and oil, forestry and bamboo, livestock, tea, citrus, flue-cured tobacco, sorghum, sericulture, camphor oil, and sugarcane.

Currently, the city has thirteen industrial concentration zones, including: Wuliangye Food Industrial Zone (in Cuiping District), Yanpingba Textile Industrial Zone (in Cuiping District), Baisha Industrial Zone (in Cuiping District), Xiangbi Industrial Zone (in Cuiping District), Xiangjiaba Industrial Zone (in Yibin County), Yangchunba Industrial Zone (in Jiang'an County), Luolong Industrial Zone (in Luolong Subdistrict, Nanxi District), Changning County Industrial Zone (in Changning County), Fuxi Industrial Zone (in Yuejiang Town, Gao County), Xunsi Industrial Zone (in Xunsi Town, Junlian County), Yuqing Industrial Zone (in Xunchang Town, Gong County), Taiping Industrial Zone (in Taiping Town, Xingwen County), and Xinfa Industrial Zone (in Pingshan County).

Yibin is one of Sichuan's liquor and food production bases. Led by the Wuliangye Group and represented by key enterprises such as Gaozhou Liquor Group, Hongloumeng Liquor Group, Xufu Liquor, Xufu Tea, Zhuhai Liquor, Huaxia Liquor, and Huibao Food, the food and beverage industry is Yibin's foremost pillar industry. Yibin possesses unique natural conditions, a long history of brewing, and abundant brewing talent. 80% of China's liquor enterprises have inseparable connections with Yibin, which constitutes the city's advantage in producing fine liquor.

Yibin is also one of Sichuan's comprehensive energy bases. Leveraging the development of Jinsha River hydropower, Junlian coalfield, and Min River hydropower, the energy and power industry, represented by key enterprises like China Three Gorges Corporation, China Huadian, China Power International, Chuannan Coal Industry, and Furong Group of Sichuan Coal, is thriving. Major projects under construction include the Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station, Gong County Power Plant, and Junlian Coalfield. The Fuxi Power Plant, scheduled to start in 2009, and the planned navigation-power development on the Min River will be new backbone projects for Yibin's comprehensive energy industry.

Yibin is also one of Sichuan's chemical and light textile bases. The chemical industry cluster is led by the Tianyuan Group and Sililya Group, and includes key enterprises like Tianlan Chemical, Zhongzheng Chemical, Tianke Coal Chemical, Changhong Chemical, Haifeng Herui, and Shuangying Chemical. The chemical fiber and textile industry cluster is represented by key enterprises like Huimei Thread, Changyi Pulp, Changxin Industrial, Kaihua Silk, and Langsha Group.

Yibin is also one of Sichuan's machinery manufacturing bases. The machinery and equipment industry cluster is led by the Push Group and includes key enterprises like Minjiang Group, Jinglei Technology, Fuyuan Equipment, Sanjiang Machinery, Yibin Paper Machinery, and Tiangong Machinery.

5.3 Employment Situation

At the end of 2008, the number of employed staff and workers in urban units was 300,900, an increase of 7,300 or 2.48% compared to the end of the previous year. Among them, state-owned units increased by 1,200, collective units decreased by 7,500, and other economic units increased by 13,700. Rural employed persons numbered 2.6147 million, an increase of 19,200. The number of registered urban unemployed persons at year-end was 19,500, with an urban registered unemployment rate of 4.08%. Throughout the year, 49,600 new urban jobs were created (after deducting natural attrition), 8,000 re-employed persons were from difficult-to-employ groups like the "4050" category, and 608 urban "zero-employment" households were assisted in achieving re-employment.

6. Transportation

Yibin possesses excellent geographical advantages and favorable transportation conditions.

6.1 Highways

The total length of highways in the city is 4,089 kilometers, of which 2,738 kilometers are classified roads, accounting for 66.96%. Cement roads span 817 kilometers, making up 19.5%. Administrative villages with road access account for 82.7%. The 103-kilometer Neijiang-Yibin Expressway connects to the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway. The Yibin-Shuifu (Yunnan) Expressway has been completed and opened to traffic. The Leshan-Yibin-Luzhou-Chongqing section of the G93 Chengdu-Chongqing Ring Expressway was fully opened to traffic on December 26, 2012.

National highways passing through the area include: National Highway 213, National Highway 353, and the main national trunk line GZ40. Expressways that have been completed and opened include: G85 Neijiang-Yibin Expressway (connecting north to G76 Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway), Yikun Expressway (Yibin-Kunming), G93 Leshan-Yibin Expressway, G93 Yibin-Luzhou Expressway, and Yixu Expressway (Yibin-Xuyong). Expressways under construction include: S4 Yizhao Expressway (Yibin-Zhaotong), S41 Yibi Expressway (Yibin-Bijie). Planned expressway projects include: Jinsha River Riverside Expressway (Yibin-Xichang-Panzhihua), Yizun Expressway (Yibin-Zunyi), Yirongren Expressway (Yibin-Rong County-Renshou), and Nanfunei Expressway (Nanxi-Fushun-Neijiang).

The Chengdu-Yibin Expressway was officially opened to traffic on December 31, 2020.

6.2 Aviation

Yibin Caiba Airport is a 4C-level dual-use military and civilian airport capable of all-weather takeoffs and landings of medium-range aircraft such as Boeing 737s. It has opened nearly 20 routes to major and medium-sized cities in China. In 2012, it was announced that Yibin Airport would be relocated and rebuilt in Zongchang Township, Cuiping District. The newly built Yibin Wuliangye Airport was put into use in December 2019, and the original Caiba Airport ceased operations simultaneously.

6.3 Water Transport

Yibin is exceptionally endowed with water transport resources, featuring a network formed by the main waterways of the Jinsha River, Min River, and Yangtze River, along with six tributaries, totaling 565 kilometers of inland waterways. The Yibin Port container terminal is also planned for construction, with a long-term goal (by 2030) to achieve an annual handling capacity of 4 million TEUs.

The Min River and Jinsha River converge in Yibin's urban area to form the Yangtze River. Centered on Yibin's urban area, traveling northwest along the Min River leads to Leshan, Sichuan; southwest along the Jinsha River reaches Shuifu, Yunnan; and eastward along the Yangtze River reaches Shanghai. There are over 10 rivers within Yibin's jurisdiction, with a navigable length of 963.3 kilometers.

In March 2007, the Xuliang Waterway regulation project on the Yangtze River trunk line, with a total investment of 250 million yuan, commenced. Upon completion, it will meet Class III waterway standards, allowing 3,000-ton fleets and 1,000-ton vessels to navigate unimpeded 24 hours a day, enabling direct passage from Yibin Port to Shanghai Port. In June 2008, the 10,000-ton vessel "Juhang 89" (ship weight over 2,000 tons, cargo capacity over 8,700 tons) entered Yibin, becoming the largest vessel to navigate the Yibin waters of the Yangtze River waterway. In September 2008, the entire 2,688-kilometer Yangtze River waterway from Yibin to Shanghai achieved 24-hour navigation. On December 31, 2008, the "First Port on the Long River" – Yibin Port Zhicheng Comprehensive Operation Area – officially commenced construction, set to become Sichuan's largest port comprehensive operation area. Relying on the two main water transport channels of the Yangtze and Jinsha Rivers, Yibin Port is building an inland river hub port system centered on the Zhicheng Comprehensive Operation Area, supported by five major specialized terminals (Douba, Xiao'anba, Anfu, Luolong, Yangchunba), and supplemented by over 20 regional passenger and cargo terminals. The total investment for the Zhicheng Comprehensive Operation Area is 1.3 billion yuan. It is planned to include 11×1,000-ton container berths, 2×1,000-ton general cargo berths, 2×1,000-ton ro-ro berths, and 1 working vessel berth, with an annual container throughput capacity of 1 million TEUs.

6.4 Railway

Completed electrified railway trunk lines include the Neijiang-Kunming Railway (connecting north to the Chengdu-Chongqing Railway and south to the Shanghai-Kunming Railway), and local railways include the Yibin-Gongxian Railway and Jinyun Railway.

In 2009, the construction of the Chengdu-Guiyang High-Speed Railway was confirmed. The Leshan-Guiyang section officially started construction at the end of 2013. The Leshan to Yibin West section opened on June 15, 2019, and the Yibin West to Guiyang East section opened in December 2019. This line enables direct travel from Yibin to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and downtown Chengdu, and connects at Guiyang East Station with the Guiyang-Guangzhou Passenger Dedicated Line, providing rapid access to the Pearl River Delta region, forming a major corridor from Chengdu to Guangzhou. On December 26, 2023, the Chengdu-Yibin High-Speed Railway officially opened. This line is Sichuan Province's first high-speed railway designed for 350 km/h and is an important component of the "Beijing-Kunming Corridor," one of the "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed railway main corridors. The Chengdu-Yibin High-Speed Railway runs from Chengdu East Station via Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Station and Zigong Station to Yibin East Station (the section from Yibin East Station to Yibin Station is incorporated into the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway). The Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway is scheduled to commence construction in the near future.

6.5 Tram

• Yibin Rail Transit T1 Line is located within Yibin City, Sichuan Province. The T1 Line is an Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) system. Stations including Zhigui Industrial Park, Paifang Road, Changcui Road, Guangming Road, Xuetang Road, South Yangtze River Bridge, and Jiudu Road opened on June 10, 2019. Stations Longxing Road and Zijincheng opened on October 5, 2019. Stations Xinshiji Square, Shidai Square, Dawan Road, Tianxuan Road, Yibin West HSR Station, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, and Xinlou Road opened on December 5, 2019. The T1 Line operates with a main line and a branch line:
  • Main Line: Zhigui Industrial Park Station (terminal) - Paifang Road Station - Longxing Road Station - Zijincheng Station - Changcui Road Station (interchange with branch line) - Guangming Road Station - Xuetang Road Station - South Yangtze River Bridge Station - Jiudu Road Station - Xinshiji Square Station - Dawan Road Station - Tianxuan Road Station - Yibin West HSR Station (terminal, co-located with Chengdu-Guiyang HSR Yibin West Station).
  • Branch Line: Chengdu University of Technology (Yibin Campus) Station (terminal) - Chengdu University of Technology Station - Sichuan International Studies University (Yibin Campus) Station - Sichuan University of Science & Engineering Station - Xinlou Road Station - Changcui Road Station (terminal, interchange with main line).

6.6 Development Goals

Centered on the construction goals of "One Corridor, Two Ports, Three Railways, Four Roads, Five Terminals, Six Expressways," efforts are being made to fully advance the planning and construction of a comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network integrating rail, road, water, and air. The focus is on building major transportation systems, corridors, and arteries, aiming to establish Yibin as a comprehensive transportation hub in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River at the junction of Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, and Guizhou.

7. Educational Technology

Yibin City fully implements the nine-year compulsory education system. There are 2,811 schools of various levels and types in the city, including 2 full-time universities, 1 open university, 41 secondary specialized schools and vocational schools, and 995 private educational institutions. The total enrollment across all types of schools in the city is 760,000 students, with a school-age children enrollment rate of 98.98%. The city implements the "Technology Revitalizes Yibin" policy, emphasizing technological innovation and development. There are 648 scientific and technological achievements officially approved and granted patents by the state, including 3 national awards. Additionally, there are 146 private scientific and technological institutions.

Before 2016, higher education in Yibin developed slowly, with only Yibin University (established in 2001) as a local undergraduate institution and Yibin Vocational and Technical College as a specialized higher education institution. With the Yibin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Yibin Municipal People's Government proposing the strategy of "Revitalizing the City through Science and Education, Strengthening the City with Talent," Yibin began attracting higher education institutions from various regions to collaborate, building a university town to introduce high-quality higher education resources, cultivate high-end professionals, and improve the city's population structure. The number of higher education institutions operating in Yibin has continued to increase, with undergraduate universities such as Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, and Xihua University successively establishing campuses in Yibin.

8. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 4,588,804. Compared with the 4,471,896 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 116,908 people over the past ten years, representing a growth of 2.61% and an average annual growth rate of 0.26%. Among them, the male population was 2,345,750, accounting for 51.12% of the total population; the female population was 2,243,054, accounting for 48.88% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 104.58. The population aged 0–14 was 859,391, accounting for 18.73% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,785,223, accounting for 60.7% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 944,190, accounting for 20.58% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 723,139, accounting for 15.76% of the total population. The urban population was 2,358,244, accounting for 51.39% of the total population; the rural population was 2,230,560, accounting for 48.61% of the total population.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

The population is predominantly Han Chinese, with Yi and Miao ethnic communities concentrated in the surrounding mountainous areas, along with small numbers of Hui, Mongol, and other ethnic groups. Among the city's permanent residents, the Han population is 4,491,081, accounting for 97.87%; the total population of ethnic minorities is 97,723, accounting for 2.13%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 109,012, a growth of 2.49%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.12 percentage points; the total population of ethnic minorities increased by 7,896, a growth of 8.79%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.12 percentage points.

8.2 Language

Besides the Yi and Miao languages, the local language primarily uses the Minjiang sub-dialect of Sichuanese Mandarin, which preserves many ancient Chinese phonetic features (see Yibin dialect).

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The name "Yibin" in the Tang Dynasty originated from the meaning of "winning over guests with righteousness." During the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi changed it to "Yibin" to avoid using his personal name.

Xuzhou District

Xuzhou District

Han Chinese account for 97.87% of the population; ethnic minorities account for 2.13%.

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