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    Yantai

    Written by: Liu Qin
    Posted on: August 05, 2014 |

    Penglai Pavilion

    Located in the middle of the Shandong Peninsula, with the mountain and sea at the elbow, Yantai is one of the first coastal cities which opened up to the world in China in the 1980s. It is an international seaport, a commercial city and a tourist destination in the Bohai Economic Rim and East Asia. Its coastal line stretches for 909 kilometers, with the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea close by and about 63 isles dotting like pearls. The magnificent view and sights make Yantai a well-known retreat for the summer, for holidays and entertainment.

    Endowed with rich natural resources, Yantai is one of the important fishing bases in China. More than 70 kinds of aquatic products are harvested, including sea cucumber, lobster, abalone and scallop. Yantai is also known as a fruit base in north China. Yantai apple, Laiyang pear and big cherry are famous at home and abroad. Yantai is home to more than 30 kinds of minerals and ranks first in natural reserves in China, with one fourth of total gold reserves in China. 

    Yantai opened its harbor for business in 1858 and was the first seaport in Shandong open to foreign countries in 1862. Seventeen countries, including Great Britain, the United States, Japan and Germany established their consulates in Yantai, followed by foreign schools, banks and hospitals as well as foreign products. Chinese specialties such as peanut, soybean, silk and minerals were exported. At the turn of the last century, Yantai became the earliest commercial seaport operating with underwater cable connecting Shanghai, Dagu and Dalian, along with others.

    Yantai

    Yantai Port

    Yantai, historically, is one of the places where the ancient Chinese culture originated since there are traces of human activities to be found here, dating back to about 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. About 7,000 years ago, the Baishi people who inhabited this region made a living by on fishing and farming, and created splendid prehistoric culture. The bone needle they made is similar to the iron needle we use today, proving that technologies in honing, textile and sewing were excellent. During the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties (4,000 to 2,500 AD), the Dongyi people were living there. An unearthed fragment of pottery with seven suns shining shows that they worshipped the sun.

    According to the Historical Records by Simaqian, after Qin Emperor Qinshihuang unified China, he inspected Zhifu Island in Yantai thrice and sent his men to three sacred mountains, namely Penglai, Yinzhou and Fangzhang, for the elixir of life. During the 2,000 years, dynasties ruling China paid much attention to their sovereignty over this place. Now Zhifu is still seen to represent Yantai on the sailing maps of a number of countries.

    The history of Yantai city is more than 600 years. It is important in the sailing history of China. Zhifu Bay is a natural seaport. It has been an important harbor along the coast line in North China since the Spring and Autumn Period. In the Tang Dynasty, Dengzhou (now Penglai) was well-known along with Guangzhou, Jiaozhou and Yangzhou, and these four were, perhaps, the only established commercial seaports in North China. As silk and technologies including iron-making and paper making were brought to countries such as North Korea and Japan, Yantai came to be a starting point of the Silk Road on the sea. Dengzhou was one of the busiest seaports in North China in ancient times. Penglai Water City, built in 1376, is the most well-preserved ancient military seaport in the country.

    Yantai is one of the places of origin of the modern postal service in China. In 1879, a pilot postal service was initiated in Beijing, Tianjin, Yantai, Yingkou and Shanghai. The big dragon postage stamp which was issued in Yantai on August 9, 1878 is the first stamp in modern Chinese post. It is said that there are only two stamps that remain, hence making it all the more invaluable and historic.   

    Yantai

    Entrance to Yantai Mountain

    In 1996, Yantai was No.18 on the list of domestic production value among China’s cities and No. 33 on the list of China’s top 50 cities in comprehensive strength, according to State Statistics Bureau. In 2005, Yantai was granted the UN Habitat Scroll of Honor Award. It is also one of the first-class tourist destinations and has won the prize of the Most Charming City.

    Thanks to the mountains and the sea close by and the favorable climate, Yantai is bestowed with rich tourist resources. There are several national forest parks and bird nature reserves in Yantai. It also boasts abundant cultural and historic resources, such as the relics of Baishi Village of the Neolithic Period, the site of earliest embassies in Yantaishan Mountain, Penglai Pavilion (nicknamed paradise on earth), Changdao the sacred hill, and Yunfeng Mountain in Laizhou. Some of the sights that are worth seeing include Mou’s Manor, Yantaishan Park, Zhifu Island, Penglai Water City, Zhaoyuan Hot Spring and South Mountain.

    Famous Yantai Cuisine includes such items as Fushan Noodles, Penglai Noodles, Fish dumplings, Flowery bun and Ninghai Tofu Jelly Meal.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021