Yingkou

Yingkou is a coastal prefecture-level city located in Liaoning province, China. It sits on the northeastern shore of Liaodong Bay. The city occupies the east bank of the Daliao River mouth. This river was historically the main distributary of the lower Liao River. Yingkou is a significant maritime hub for the region. It is classified as a Medium-Port Metropolis due to its shipping activity.

The geography of Yingkou is defined by its relationship with the water. It is located in the northwestern part of the Liaodong Peninsula. The city borders the sub-provincial city of Dalian to the south. To the north and east, it borders Anshan. Panjin sits to the northwest. Across the Liaodong Bay to the west, it shares maritime boundaries with Jinzhou and Huludao. The city covers a total area of 5,415.64 square kilometers. This represents about 4.9% of the total area of Liaoning province.

The Port of Yingkou is a major driver of the local economy. It serves as a massive center for global trade. It is the second-largest container port in the Bohai Sea, following the Port of Tianjin. In Northeast China, it is the second-largest port after Dalian. On a national scale, it is the tenth-largest port in China. Globally, it ranks as the 25th busiest port. This connectivity supports several key industries. These include steel, chemical industry, mineral processing, logistics, and textiles. It also supports the garment industry.

History shows how the location of the city has shifted over time. The name Yingkou was historically known as Newchwang. It was one of the Treaty Ports opened under the Treaties of Tianjin in 1858. Originally, the town of Newchwang was located thirty miles upstream. This inland location is within the modern city of Haicheng. However, British ships found the river near Newchwang too shallow for navigation. Consequently, the treaty port was moved closer to the river mouth. This relocation created the modern area of Yingkou. To prevent confusion, the inland town became known as Newchwangcheng.

Administratively, Yingkou is divided into several distinct parts. The prefecture is subdivided into four districts and two cities. The urban metro area includes the Zhanqian, Xishi, and Laobian districts. It also includes the county-level city of Dashiqiao. Other areas include the Bayuquan District and the city of Gaizhou. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 2,328,582. Of these people, 1,228,198 lived in the built-up metro area. The city's density varies greatly between its different districts.

The climate in Yingkou follows a humid continental pattern. It is known as the Dwa climate type under the Köppen classification. This climate features strong monsoonal influences. The location on the Bohai Gulf helps to temper the weather somewhat. However, winters remain long, windy, and cold but dry. Summers are characterized by being hot and humid. Precipitation is often enhanced by the coastal position. Most of the annual rainfall occurs during July and August. Despite the rain, the city receives 2,774 hours of bright sunshine annually.

Beyond industry and trade, Yingkou has a vibrant local culture. The city is home to the Liaoning Flying Leopards. This is a professional basketball club in the Chinese Basketball Association. The club has produced several players for the Chinese national basketball team. They host their home games at the Benxi Gymnasium. The city is also well-connected via the Yingkou Lanqi Airport. Yingkou maintains international ties through various partnerships. It has twinned with Jacksonville, Florida, and Tver, Russia. It also shares a Sister Port agreement with Hamilton, Ontario, in Canada.