Linyi 临沂
—  Prefecture-level city  —
临沂市
Location of Linyi City (yellow) in Shandong
Coordinates: 35°03′N 118°21′E / 35.05°N 118.35°E / 35.05; 118.35Coordinates: 35°03′N 118°21′E / 35.05°N 118.35°E / 35.05; 118.35
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Shandong
County-level divisions	12
Township-level divisions	181
City seat	Lanshan District (35°3′N 118°19′E / 35.05°N 118.317°E / 35.05; 118.317)
Government
• CPC Secretary	Zhang Shaojun(张少军)
• Mayor	Zhang Wufeng(张务锋)
Area
• Prefecture-level city	17,186 km2 (6,636 sq mi)
• Urban	1,759 km2 (679 sq mi)
• Metro	1,759 km2 (679 sq mi)
Elevation	74 m (244 ft)
Population (2010 census)
• Prefecture-level city	10,039,400
• Density	580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
• Urban	1,876,770
• Urban density	1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
• Metro	1,876,770
• Metro density	1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Area code(s)	539
GDP
GDP per capita
License Plate Prefix	鲁Q

Linyi (simplified Chinese: 临沂; traditional Chinese: 臨沂; pinyin: Línyí) is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong province, People's Republic of China. As of 2011, Linyi is the largest prefecture-level city in Shandong, both by area and population, Linyi borders Rizhao to the east, Weifang to the northeast, Zibo to the north, Tai'an to the northwest, Jining to the west, Zaozhuang to the southwest, and the province of Jiangsu to the south. The city Linyi (临沂) literally means "close by Yi river".

The city recently expanded along the Yi river to Nanfang, under slogan "Grand Linyi, New Linyi". Multiple recreational parks were built, along with new school campuses etc. The development is a consequence of a series of governmental projects, including relocate the city government, which is expected to stimulate the economy.

The population is 10,039,400 by the 2010 census, of which 1,876,770 live in Lanshan District, Luozhuang District and Hedong District.

Administration[link]

The prefecture-level city of Linyi administers 12 county-level divisions, including 3 districts and 9 counties.

• Lanshan District (兰山区)
• Luozhuang District (罗庄区)
• Hedong District, (河东区)
• Tancheng County (郯城县)
• Cangshan County (苍山县)
• Junan County (莒南县)
• Yishui County (沂水县)
• Mengyin County (蒙阴县)
• Pingyi County (平邑县)
• Fei County (费县)
• Yinan County (沂南县)
• Linshu County (临沭县)

The city is further divided into 181 township-level divisions.

History[link]

Linyi has a history of 2400 years. It is home to many historical figures, notably Zhuge Liang and Wang Xizhi. In 1972, the Sun Bin's Art of War was first discovered here^{[citation needed]}, along with other classics on hand written banboo slips. Sun Bin's Art of War is currently in display at Shandong Provincial museum.

In the spring of 1938, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the city was the scene of fierce fighting between Chinese and Japanese troops. The civilians were encouraged by army victory in the Battle of Tai'erzhuang, which was nearby, defended Linyi fiercely, but Japanese soldiers breached the walls on April 19, 1938. The defenders withdrew the next day to another contested area 30 miles away.

After the People's Republic of China was founded in October 1949, the administrative division was adjusted.

During 2005, Linyi drew international attention as a center of human rights abuses related to the enforcement of China’s controversial family planning policies. Following widespread allegations of violence and coercion in excess of Chinese law, local human rights defender Chen Guangcheng filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of the victims. The local Chinese courts refused to hear the case and imprisoned Chen Guangcheng on trumped up charges. ^[1] Due in part to the severity and scope of these abuses Linyi has been used by activists to criticize China's violation of women's rights.^[2]

Geography[link]

Linyi enjoys a temperate climate and high precipitation. The lie of the land varies, with mountains, hills, and plains accounting for approximately equal parts of the total area. The entire jurisdiction covers 17,184 km² and the total population is close to 10 million, making this the largest administrative division in the province in both geographic and demographic terms.

Climate[link]

Economy[link]

Linyi's economy is based around its wholesale markets.^[4] The Linyi Wholesale City is ranked 3rd in its category in China with an annual trade volume of 40 billion RMB (~US$5 billion). The Linyi prefecture has developed more than 1,500 specialized villages, over 80 specialized towns and nearly 800 industrialized agricultural enterprises.

In 2002 the prefecture's GDP was 71 billion RMB (~US$16 billion) comprising 12 billion RMB from primary industry, 34 billion RMB from secondary industry and 25 billion RMB from tertiary industry. Main industrial products are: textiles, foodstuffs, machinery, electronics, chemicals, building materials, coal, medicines, gold and porcelain.

In 2003 there were 77 enterprises with a pre-tax profit above 10 million RMB (US$1.25 million) and 7 enterprises with a pre-tax profit above 100 million RMB (US$12.5 million).

Machinery is exported to Europe, the Americas and south-east Asia. Linyi prefecture has an annual capacity of 3 million tons of compound fertilizers.

Notable people[link]

• Wang Xizhi (303 - 361 BCE), Eastern Jin Dynasty calligrapher
• Zhuge Liang (181 - 234 BCE), statesman and strategist
• Yang Yongxin (1962 - ), controversial clinical psychiatrist
• Chen Guangcheng (1971 - ), detained civil rights activist and dissident widely regarded as a prisoner of conscience

Cultural Attractions[link]

Linyi's focal point is the People's Square (Renmin Guangchang). It was built in the early 1990's on the site of an old army barracks. It is about 500 metres east-west, and about 300 metres north-south. Underneath it is a shopping centre and entertainment facilities.

Just north of the city centre is a park dedicated to Wang Xizhi. For a small entrance fee tourists can enjoy a pleasant walk and try Chinese calligraphy.

Near the centre of Linyi city is a museum which houses some original bamboo strips from the Sun Tzu era.

Sister Cities[link]

• Tifton, Georgia, United States
• Patras, Greece

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Linyi

• Government website of Linyi (Chinese) (English)