Tang Weifang

For the World War II civilian internment camp at Weifang see Weihsien Compound.

Weifang (simplified Chinese: 潍坊; traditional Chinese: 濰坊; pinyin: Wéifāng) is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The city borders Dongying to the northwest, Zibo to the west, Linyi to the southwest, Rizhao to the south, Qingdao to the east, and looks out to the Laizhou Bay to the north. Its population was 9,086,241 at the 2010 census, of whom 2,659,938 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made up of 4 urban districts (Kuiwen, Weicheng, Hanting and Fangzi) and Changle County largely being urbanized.

Weifang has numerous natural and historic sites, such as Shihu Garden (from the Late Ming and early Qing Dynasty), Fangong Pavilion (from the Song Dynasty), fossil sites (including dinosaur fossils, in Shanwang, Linqu), Mount Yi National Forest Park, Mount Qingyun and the Old Dragon Spring. Painted New Year woodcuts from Yangjiabu are also well known.

The prefecture-level city of Weifang administers 12 county-level divisions, including 4 districts, 6 county-level cities and 2 counties.

Map
Weicheng Hanting Fangzi Kuiwen Linqu County Changle County Qingzhou (city) Zhucheng (city) Shouguang (city) Anqiu (city) Gaomi (city) Changyi (city)
Subdivision	Chinese	Pinyin
Weicheng District	潍城区	Wéichéng Qū
Hanting District	寒亭区	Hántíng Qū
Fangzi District	坊子区	Fāngzǐ Qū
Kuiwen District	奎文区	Kuǐwén Qū
Linqu County	临朐县	Línqú Xiàn
Changle County	昌乐县	Chānglè Xiàn
Qingzhou	青州市	Qīngzhōu Shì
Zhucheng	诸城市	Zhūchéng Shì
Shouguang	寿光市	Shòuguāng Shì
Anqiu	安丘市	Ānqiū Shì
Gaomi	高密市	Gāomì Shì
Changyi	昌邑市	Chāngyì Shì

Nearby major cities include Jinan and Zibo to the west, Yantai to the northeast and Qingdao to the southeast.

Weifang has a monsoon-influenced, four-season climate, on the very borderline between humid continental and humid subtropical (Köppen Dwa/Cwa, respectively), with hot, humid summers, and cold but dry winters. Monthly daily average temperatures range from −2.9 °C (26.8 °F) in January to 26.2 °C (79.2 °F) in July, and the annual mean is 12.49 °C (54.5 °F). More than 70% of the annual precipitation occurs from June to September, and sunshine is generally abundant year-round. A majority of the annual precipitation occurs in July and August alone. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 47% in July to 62% in April, the city receives 2,536 hours of bright sunshine annually, sunshine is abundant except during the summer months.

Established in August 1995, Weifang Binhai Economic & Technological Development Area (BEDA) is a national economic and technological development area approved by the State Council. Covering an area of 677 km² (261 sq mi), BEDA has a population of 100,000. BEDA possesses a large state-owned industrial land for use with an area of 400 km² (150 sq mi). The land can be transacted conveniently which would guarantee the demand of any project construction and provide broad development space for the enterprises in the area. Continuously, BEDA has been accredited as National Demonstration Zone invigorating the Sea by Science and Technology, National Innovation Base for Rejuvenating Trade through Science and Technology and National Demonstration Eco-Industry Park.

The city is home to the large diesel engine company and factory Weichai. The village of Yangjiabu in Hanting District is famous for folk wood-block print (nianhua) and kite production.

In the 1980s, a large sapphire mine was discovered in Changle (昌乐县). According to released information, billions of carats of sapphire are estimated to lie under the 450 km² mine territory. It has become one of the top four sapphire mines in the world. The main feature of this sapphire is the dark blue or close to black color because of the high iron content.

Weifang is headquarters of the 26th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army, one of the three group armies that comprise the Jinan Military Region responsible for defense of the Yellow River Plain.

A historic German train station in Euro Town, Weifang

Kite flying

Kite Museum in Weifang

Kite flying is a traditional custom among the people in Weifang in spring time. In 1984, the first international kite festival was held in Weifang. More than ten thousand kite fans attended the opening ceremony. People from eleven different countries and regions, including the United States and Canada, took part in the festival, flying kites. Since then, Weifang holds the Weifang International Kite Festival each year. It is held each April.

Painting

Annual Board of Yangjiabu (杨家埠木版年画), one of the three most famous Chinese folk paintings in history, began from the end of the Ming Dynasty. It reached the peak of its development during the Qing Dynasty. People usually replace the old Annual Broads with the new ones on the eve of Spring Festival, which is the most important festival in China, in order to give blessings to the family and friends for the following year. （But WeiFang don't use this tradition now） The subjects of Annual Board of Yangjiabu are various, which include flowers, beauties, landscapes, characters from myths and legends. The architecture skills such as concise lines and bright colors reflect the distinctive characteristics of people in Weifang.

Papercutting

Chinese papercutting, in a style that is practically identical to the original 6th century form

Papercutting, the art of cutting paper designs, has a long history in the city of Gaomi. This widespread handicraft has unique styles, such as strong contrast in color, straight and simple line and exaggerated outline. The characters mostly come from the dramatic stories, flowers and birds, as well as some fantastic symbols.

Cuisine

• Ji-Ya Hele ("鸡鸭和乐") Weifang Ji-Ya Hele is said to have originated in Shanxi Province, China. Later on, it was brought to Weifang, Shandong Province. The name "Hele" (和乐), a kind of noodle, was developed from the word "Helou" (河漏), a noodle name once used in history.

Weifang Ji-Ya Hele is cooked with various ingredients, stewed with chicken and duck soup. To make delicious "Hele" Noodles, we need to put the "Hele" noodles into the pot. After it is fully boiled, add chicken, duck, Sliced Meatball, salted vegetables and spicy oil in the noodles. In 1997, Ji-Ya Hele was honored as a "Chinese Famous Snack" by China Cuisine Association.

• Rou Huo Shao(“”Meat Pie“” ""肉火烧“”)Meat Pie is the most famous cuisine in Weifang. Weifang Meat Pie has a long history and variety. "Mirror" recorded in Han Zhao Qi people living in the North Sea (i.e. Weifang) to sell Weifang Meat pie for a living. This is an example of an earlier business written records since the Meat pIe. Whether it is in the morning or at noon, in front of the shop is always a long row waiting for the pie. The shop is generally build along the street. Bite, coke dough rattling, in a high temperature furnace after repeatedly turning roast, pork moisten the green onion, egg, chopped dried shrimps fillings inside, aroma, mouth-watering produce the feeling, entrance juicy, full taste, people aftertaste.

• Zheng Xuan (127–200), Eastern Han Dynasty Confucian scholar
• Liu Yong (1719–1805), renowned Qing Dynasty bureaucrat
• Mo Yan (1955 - ), real named Guan Moye, renowned writer, awarded Nobel Prize for Literature in 2012.
• Fei Fei Sun (Born 1989), Fashion Model
• Emperor Shun of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period
• Yan Ying, Spring and Autumn period politician
• Jia Simiao, Northern Wei Dynasty agriculturist

In addition, Kong Rong, Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Su Dongpo, Zheng Banqiao, et al. have worked in Weifang historically. Examples of notable individuals from the city in more recent years include Wang Jinmei, Chen Shaomin, Wang Yuanjian, Wang Tongzhao and Zang Kejia.