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Liaocheng

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Liaocheng is a prefecture-level city located in western Shandong province, China. It serves as a significant administrative and historical center within the region. The city is bordered by several important locations. To the southeast, it sits near the provincial capital of Jinan. Dezhou lies to its northeast, while Tai'an is located to the south. To the west, the city borders the provinces of Hebei and Henan. A major waterway, the Grand Canal, flows directly through the city center.

Shanshan hall
Shanshan hall

The administrative structure of Liaocheng is quite complex. The prefecture-level city manages eight distinct county-level divisions. These divisions consist of two districts, one county-level city, and five counties. Specifically, the city oversees Dongchangfu District and Chiping District. It also administers Linqing City, Yanggu County, Dong'e County, Gaotang County, Guan County, and Shen County. These eight divisions are further subdivided into 134 township-level divisions.

Liaocheng has a very deep history that stretches back to the Pre-Qin era. During the Spring and Autumn period, the area was known as Liaocheng Town. It was then part of the State of Qi. Historical records like the Zuo Zhuan describe the area as the western frontier of Qi. In the Qin dynasty, Liaocheng County was officially established under Dong Commandery. This administrative setup lasted through the Han period. Later, in 222 under the Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, it was reassigned to the Principality of Pingyuan.

Over many centuries, the governance of the region shifted frequently. During the Northern Wei in 499, the county seat moved to Wangcheng. This location was in the northeast of the current urban area. The Sui dynasty saw the abolition of Pingyuan Commandery in 583. By the Tang dynasty in 618, Liaocheng County was placed under Weizhou. In the year 906, the name changed to Liaoyi County. However, it reverted to Liaocheng County during the Five Dynasties period. A major shift occurred in 992 during the Northern Song dynasty. This was when the county seat moved to the site of the modern city.

Modern history brought many political changes to the city. During the Republic of China, the prefectural system was abolished in 1913. Liaocheng was moved through various circuits, including Jixi and Donglin. In 1928, the National Government abolished the circuit system entirely. The city faced military occupation in November 1938 by the Imperial Japanese Army. After the Japanese withdrew, Nationalist troops retook control. In December 1946, the People's Liberation Army attacked, leading to the withdrawal of Nationalist forces. In 1949, the city was briefly attached to Pingyuan. It returned to Shandong province in November 1952.

Liaocheng is a large city with a significant population. According to the 2010 census, the population was 5,789,863 people. However, the population is spread out across different types of areas. Only 1,229,768 people lived in the built-up area of the Dongchangfu district. Large parts of the city remain rural. Despite its rural areas, the city is recognized for its quality of life. In 2007, the city was named one of China's top ten livable cities. This honor came from the Chinese Cities Brand Value Report at the Beijing Summit of China Cities Forum.

The city offers several notable landmarks and cultural sites. Visitors can explore the Shanxi-Shaanxi Assembly Hall, also known as Shanshan Hall.

Shanshan hall
Shanshan hall

Other important sites include the Guangyue Tower and the Linqing Mosque. There is also the Iron Tower Lion Building. Local legend says the hero Wu Song fought and killed Ximen Qing at this site. For modern activities, the Liaocheng Sports Park Stadium is a key location. The city is also home to educational institutions like Liaocheng University.

Transportation and global connections are vital to the city. Liaocheng is served by the Liaocheng railway station. It also features a station on the high-speed network called Liaocheng West railway station. The city maintains international relationships through sister city agreements. It is a sister city to Uiryeong County in South Korea. It also partners with Blacktown in Australia and Gwangmyeong in South Korea. Furthermore, it has a connection to Naberezhnye Chelny in Russia. The city also maintains a partnership with the Offenbach district in Germany.

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