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Maoming

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Maoming is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Guangdong province, China. It sits along the coast, facing the South China Sea to the south. The city is bordered by Zhanjiang to the west and Yangjiang to the east. To the northeast, it meets the city of Yunfu. Maoming is a significant urban center that manages several different divisions. These include two urban districts, Maonan and Dianbai, which are largely conurbated. The city also administers five county-level divisions: Huazhou, Xinyi, Gaozhou, and three other areas. As of the 2020 census, the total population reached 6,174,050 inhabitants. About 2,539,148 of these people live in the built-up metro area.

The economy of Maoming is built on several major industrial pillars. It is one of the largest petrochemical production areas in South China. Petrochemicals are chemicals derived from petroleum or natural gas. The city is also a major center for producing refined oil. Beyond heavy industry, Maoming is a massive fruit production area. It is particularly famous for its litchi production, especially in the Genzi Litchi Cultural Tourist Area. Other important economic activities include tilapia culture and processing. Tilapia are a type of fish often raised in farms. The city also produces winter-planted vegetables and various energy materials. In 2012, the city's GDP was RMB 195.118 billion, which was about US$31.81 billion. This represented a 10.6% increase over the previous year.

Maoming serves as a vital hub for international and domestic trade. The Maoming Port is a Grade I port, which is a high classification for maritime facilities. In 2007, this port handled 16.8 million tons of cargo. The city's major export products are refined oil and aquatic products. These goods are sent to many destinations, including Hong Kong, Macao, and various ASEAN member nations. The city is also well-connected by a network of highways and railways. The Maozhan Expressway links the city to other major routes. For example, the Fokai Expressway leads toward the provincial capital, Guangzhou. Traveling from Maoming to Guangzhou takes about five to six hours by car. The city is also served by the Guangzhou-Maoming Railway. This rail line connects the city to the north and the provincial capital.

The history of the Maoming region stretches back to early Chinese civilization. Originally, the area was held by the Baiyue people. After the Qin dynasty invaded in the late 3rd century BC, the land was divided into different administrative zones. The area was officially established under the Sui dynasty. In 598 A.D., an imperial decree renamed the area to honor a man named Pan. Pan was a Taoist scholar and doctor from the Jin dynasty who was born in Gaozhou. During the Qing dynasty, the area was part of the Gaozhou Prefecture. Following the Chinese Civil War, Maoming became a primary community. It was eventually raised to the status of a county-level city in 1959.

Maoming is a culturally diverse place due to its many different inhabitants. The prefecture includes several minority groups, such as the Yao, Zhuang, and Miao. These groups contribute to a wide variety of folk arts and cultural activities. The people of Maoming also speak several different languages and dialects. In the northern parts of the city, people speak the Gaoyang dialect of Cantonese or Mandarin. In the south, residents speak a Min dialect. This dialect was brought by Putianese immigrants and is closely related to the Leizhou dialect. Some people in the region also speak the Hakka dialect.

The city offers many unique locations for tourism and recreation. The "First Shoal of China" is a popular resort located near downtown Maoming. This area features miles of fine beach and is a national training center for beach volleyball. Visitors can participate in activities like parachute gliding and sailboarding.

Chicken Island
Chicken Island

Chicken Island is the largest island in Maoming, covering 1.9 square kilometers. It is a famous diving center known for its clear seawater and coral reefs. Travelers can go scuba diving or deep diving to explore the underwater environment. Another historical site is the Temple of Madam Xian in Gaozhou. This temple was built in 1535 to remember Madam Xian, a female leader of the Baiyue Tribe. The temple holds many ancient statues and stone inscriptions.

In recent years, Maoming has faced several modern challenges and transitions. In 2014, local residents staged protests regarding the production of p-Xylene. P-Xylene is a chemical used to manufacture fabrics and plastic bottles. This chemical was being produced at a plant run by the local government and Sinopec. During this same period, the city was part of a large anti-corruption campaign. Investigations found that some 159 local officials had accepted bribes. This led to the removal of several high-ranking officials from their positions. Despite these difficulties, the city remains a major economic force in Guangdong province. It continues to balance its heavy industrial output with its status as a "National Garden City."

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