Longyan

For the fruit, see Longan.

Longyan
Prefecture-level city
Chinese transcription(s)
• Simplified	龙岩
• Traditional	龍岩
• Pinyin	Lóngyán
Country	China
Province	Fujian
City seat	Xinluo
Area
• Total	19,069 km2 (7,363 sq mi)
Population  (2010 Census)
• Total	2,559,545
• Density	130/km2 (350/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code	364000, 366000
Area code	597
GDP	2009
- Total	CNY 74.845 billion (USD 10.97 billion)
- per capita	CNY 26,971 (USD 3,952)
- Growth	14.1%
License Plate	闽F
Local dialect	Hakka Chinese
Website	www.LongYan.gov.cn

Longyan (simplified Chinese: 龙岩; traditional Chinese: 龍岩; pinyin: Lóngyán; Hakka language: Liùng-ngàm) is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Fujian province, China.

Geography

It is situated in the upper reaches of the Jiulong and Tingjiang rivers. Longyan borders on the municipalities Sanming to the north, Quanzhou to the east, Zhangzhou to the southeast, and the provinces of Jiangxi and Guangdong to the west and south respectively.

Demographics

The prefecture-level city of Longyan had a population of 2,559,545 inhabitants as of 2010, according to the 2010 National Census. The population of Longyan in 2010 was 4.65% inferior than in 2000 (when the inhabitants of the city stand at 2,684,310), giving an average annual rate of growth of -0.47%.

Administration

The municipal executive, legislature and judiciary are in Xinluo District (新罗区), together with the CPC and Public Security bureaux. The information about population uses the 2010 Census data.

English Name	Simplified	Traditional	Pinyin	Hakka	Area	Population	Density
Xinluo District	新罗区	新羅區	Xīnluó Qū	Sîn-lò-khî	2,685	662,429	247
Zhangping City	漳平市	漳平市	Zhāngpíng Shì	Chông-phìn-sṳ	2,975	240,194	81
Changting County	长汀县	長汀縣	Chángtīng Xiàn	Tshòng-tin-yen	3,099	393,390	127
Yongding County	永定县	永定縣	Yǒngdìng Xiàn	Yún-thin-yen	2,216	362,658	164
Shanghang County	上杭县	上杭縣	Shàngháng Xiàn	Sông-hông-yen	2,879	374,047	130
Wuping County	武平县	武平縣	Wǔpíng Xiàn	Vú-phìn-yen	2,630	278,182	106
Liancheng County	连城县	連城縣	Liánchéng Xiàn	Lièn-sàng-yen	2,596	248,645	96

History

In 736 AD, (the Tang Dynasty (唐朝)), the Tingzhou prefecture was established in western Fujian (or Minxi (闽西)), administering Changting, Huanglian and Xinluo counties. Six years later Xinluo was named Longyan for the nearby cavern, a famous scenic site.

Due to the ancient conflicts in central China and aggression from northern tribes, many Han people moved from central China to Longyan. These were the Hakka people. The city Changting is often referred to as the home of the Hakka and the Tingjiang River is known as the "mother river" of the Hakka people.

in 1734, the area was designated Longyan Prefecture by the imperial court. In 1913, it reverted to its former name Longyan County and in 1981, Longyan City was established.

Minxi was a strategic base during the Chinese Civil War.

It's said that tens of thousands of people from Longyan joined the PLA during the Chinese Civil War, and nearly every family had someone sacrificed lives on behalf of CCP side. There are more than 26,000 locals that took part in the Long March which in total is carried out by 86,000. Moreover, during 1955 and 1968, 68 people from Longyan were awarded Brigadier General or above, which accounts for 82% of all generals from Fujian province at the time, therefore, Longyan is also named after "The Home of Generals".

Culture

Longyan is famous for it as the Home of Hakka People as Hakka people takes up 75% of entire population, but actually Longyan is more or less multicultural. For example, the dialect of Xinluo District is a language compromising approximately half Hakka and half Minnan dialect(spoken in the southeast of Fujian province and whole Taiwan). Considering the difference between Minnan culture and Hakka's, it's not surprising to find a diversity of traditions and values in Longyan.

Environment

Unlike many Chinese cities, the forest coverage of Longyan reaches an unusually high 77.9%, which is unparalleled in Fujian province.

Economy

Longyan serves as a strategic center for the distribution of goods to Xiamen, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou. It also acts as a gateway for trade with Guangdong and Jiangxi province. It is the main connection between the inland and coastal area.

Longyan is rich in natural resources - important mineral deposits and forest zones. The Septwolves tobacco business is an important contributor to the local economy, as is the Zijin Mining group.

Famous people of Longyan

• Aw Boon Haw (Chinese: 胡文虎; pinyin: Hú Wénhǔ) from Yongding county, Tiger Balm King of Singapore
• Aw Boon Par (Chinese: 胡文豹; pinyin: Hú Wénbào) brother of Aw Boon Haw, and the other half of the Tiger Balm empire.
• Chen Hong (陈宏) (b. 1979), number 1 badminton player on the world ranking list from 2002 to 2003.
• He Wenna (何雯娜) (b. 1989), trampoline gymnast, gold medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
• Lin Dan (林丹) (b. 1983), gold medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics, number 1 badminton player on the world ranking list from 2004 to 2008.
• Shi Zhiyong (石智勇) (b. 1980), Weightlifter, gold medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
• Yang Chengwu (Chinese: 杨成武; Pinyin: Yáng Chéngwǔ; 1914–2004), a Proletarian Revolutionist and a military strategist of the People's Liberation Army.
• Zhang Dingcheng (simplified Chinese: 张鼎丞; traditional Chinese: 張鼎丞; pinyin: Zhāng Dǐngchéng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: TiuⁿTiaⁿ-seng; 1898 - December 16, 1981), the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate from 1954 to 1975.
• Zhang Xiangxiang (张湘祥) (b. 1983), Weightlifter, gold medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics and bronze medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
• Deng Zihui邓子恢(1896–1972) former vice premier(1951–1965), one of the top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party.

See also

• Fujian Tulou
• Longyan Airport
• Longyan University

External links

• English Guide to Longyan
• Government website of Longyan Template:Zh icon
• Longyan University
• Guide to Longyan Tour Sites
• Fujian's Hakka Earthen Roundhouses
• Website of Longyan Template:Zh icon