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Yantai

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Yantai is a major coastal prefecture-level city located on the Shandong Peninsula in China. It sits on the southern coast of the Bohai Strait. The city borders Qingdao to the southwest and Weihai to the east. Yantai has access to two different bodies of water. It reaches the Bohai Sea through Laizhou Bay and the Bohai Strait. It also reaches the Yellow Sea from both the north and south sides of the peninsula. As a coastal hub, it serves as the largest fishing seaport in the Shandong region.

Yantai Ship Mast
Yantai Ship Mast

The name Yantai translates to "Smoke Watchtower." This name comes from watchtowers built by locals in 1398. These towers were used to send signals to warn of danger. Residents used signal fires and smoke signals called langyan. They reportedly used wolf dung as fuel to create the smoke. These towers were necessary because the area was often troubled by pirates. These pirates were initially raiders from warring states in Japan. Later, they were mostly disaffected Chinese individuals.

The region has a very long history involving many different groups. During the Xia and Shang dynasties, indigenous people called the Dongyi lived there. The Dongyi were referred to by the Chinese as "Eastern Barbarians." Later, the area was colonized and sinicized as the state of Lai. During the Qin Dynasty, the area was managed as the Qi Commandery. In 218 BCE, Emperor Qin Shi Huang visited Zhifu Island. He left behind the Zhifu Stone Inscription and an Eastern Inspection Palace. The stone inscription was eventually lost in the sea. Today, only 14 characters survive through ink rubbings.

Yantai Temple of Sea Goddess
Yantai Temple of Sea Goddess

Yantai became an international port following the Second Opium War. The Qing regime was forced to open more ports to Europeans. The port of Tengchow Prefecture was found to be inadequate. Because of this, Zhifu was selected to handle foreign commerce. The harbor was deep and expansive, which helped business grow rapidly. The harbor officially opened in May 1861. By August 1861, its status as an international port was affirmed. This led to the construction of the Donghai Customs House.

Yantai Ship Mast
Yantai Ship Mast

During its time as an international port, many nations interacted there. Britain and sixteen other nations established consulates in the town. The principal traders were the British and Americans. They were followed by German and Thai traders. In the 1870s, the city imported goods like iron, opium, and cotton. In return, it exported tofu, soybean oil, peas, and dried fruit. The city also traded seaweed grown near Port Arthur. Yantai also became famous for producing "Chefoo bobbin lace." This craft was introduced by British missionaries. The lace was so notable that it was exhibited at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

The geography of Yantai is quite diverse. The landscape is divided into several different types of terrain. About 36.62% of the area is mountainous. The hilly regions make up 39.7% of the land. Plains cover 50.23% of the prefecture. There is also a small area of basins at 2.90%. The highest point in the region is the summit of Mount Kunyu. There are 121 rivers in the area. The largest of these is the Wulong River.

龍口海濱
龍口海濱

Today, Yantai is a modern and powerful industrial center. It is the second largest industrial city in Shandong. While it has many industries, agriculture remains the largest. The region is famous throughout China for its apples and Laiyang pears. It is also home to Changyu, the oldest and largest grape winery in China. The city has a very diversified economy. It produces automobiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. It also focuses on emerging high-tech industries.

海阳核电站建设中的三号和四号机组俯瞰
海阳核电站建设中的三号和四号机组俯瞰

Energy production is also a major part of the region. Yantai gets much of its energy from a large coal power plant. This plant uses bituminous coal and gasification technology to reduce pollution. The plant is located near the Yantai port. The city also has connections to nuclear energy. The Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Haiyang area under Yantai's administration.

海阳核电站建设中的三号和四号机组俯瞰
海阳核电站建设中的三号和四号机组俯瞰

This mix of agriculture, industry, and energy makes Yantai a vital part of China's economy.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:龍口海濱.jpg
龍口海濱.jpg
File:海阳核电站建设中的三号和四号机组俯瞰.jpg
海阳核电站建设中的三号和四号机组俯瞰.jpg
File:煙台市毓璜頂醫院.jpg
煙台市毓璜頂醫院.jpg
File:山東省煙台市第一中學.jpg
山東省煙台市第一中學.jpg
File:Yantai Ship Mast.jpg
Yantai Ship Mast.jpg
File:Yantai Temple of Sea Goddess.jpg
Yantai Temple of Sea Goddess.jpg
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