Changdao County

Changdao County
长岛县
County
A view of Nanchangshan Island (南长山岛), one of the Changdao Islands

Location in Yantai
Changdao
Location in Shandong
Coordinates: 37°54′45″N 120°41′59″E / 37.91250°N 120.69972°E / 37.91250; 120.69972Coordinates: 37°54′45″N 120°41′59″E / 37.91250°N 120.69972°E / 37.91250; 120.69972
Country People's Republic of China
Province Shandong
Prefecture-level city Yantai
Government
 • Head of County Zhang Yanting (张延廷)
Area
 • Total 56 km2 (22 sq mi)
Highest elevation 202.8 m (665.4 ft)
Population
 • Total 43,000
 • Density 770/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code 265800
Area code(s) 535
Website www.changdao.gov.cn

The Changdao County simplified Chinese: 长岛县; traditional Chinese: 長島縣; pinyin: Chángdǎo Xiàn; literally: "long island county") is a county in Yantai, an area of Shandong in the People's Republic of China. It consists of the Changshan Islands (zh:长山列岛) in the Bohai Sea, north of Penglai. They are known for their sandy beaches and picturesque limestone cliffs.[1] The total land area is only 56 square kilometers (22 sq mi), but the coastline is 146 km (91 mi) long.

Geography

The Changshan Islands simplified Chinese: 长山列岛; traditional Chinese: 長山列島; pinyin: Chángshān lièdǎo), also known as the Temple Island or Miaodao Archipelago (庙岛群岛; 廟島群島; Miàodǎo qúndǎo) are 32 islands strategically located between the Bay of Bohai and the Yellow Sea (West Sea). In Chinese, they are also known as the "Long Islands" (长岛; 長島; Chángdǎo) and, anciently, as the "Islands of the Sandy Gate" (沙门岛; 沙門島; Shāmén dǎo).

Administrative Divisions

1 subdistrict, 1 town, 6 townships:[2]

Nanchangshan Subdistrict 南长山街道 South Chang Mountain Subdistrict Tuojizhen Town 砣矶镇 Beichangshan Township 北长山乡 North Chang Mountain Township Heishan Township 黑山乡 (Black Mountain Township) Daqindao Township 大钦岛乡 (Big Qin Island Township) Xiaoqindao Township 小钦岛乡 (Little Qin Island Township) Nanhuangcheng Township 南隍城乡 (South Huang City Township) Beihuangcheng Township 北隍城乡 (North Huang City Township)

Demographics

Ten of the islands are occupied, and there are twenty-two uninhabited islands, some little more than sand spits. There is one large town, Tuoji Town (砣矶镇, population 8,495) and seven smaller towns with forty villages, with a total population in the county of 52,000.

Economy

The major occupation is marine farming, producing products such as sea cucumbers, abalone, sea urchins, bivalves, kelp, scallops, and even fish. Tourism is also important; many of the villages sport resort hotels.

Transportation

The islands are regularly served by both a passenger and vehicle Roll On, Roll Off ferry from Penglai. There is a small military airport on the largest island, Changdao Island.

Tourism

Both Changdao National Forest Park and Changdao National Nature Reserve are located on the islands, which are on a cross-Bohai Sea flyway.

Temple Island (庙岛; 廟島; Miàodǎo) got its name from the large number of temples that were built there. Xianying Palace is a temple that was built during the Northern Song Dynasty, starting in 1122. It was originally a Taoist temple to the sea goddess Matsu, but became Buddhist later. At the present time the local government has restored the temple to its Ming Dynasty appearance, although many additions had been made during the Qing.

Changdao Island was previously closed to non-Chinese nationals. Westerners found on the island were swiftly taken to the passenger ferry terminal and placed on the next ferry back to Penglai by the islands Police service. Islanders promptly reported all "outsiders" to the islands police service. Police explained the reasons for this was due to the high number of military installations on the Island. The Changdao Islands are now open to non-Chinese nationals, including westerners. This was agreed by the local and national governments as of 1 December 2008.

References

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