Benxi
{{other uses|Benxi Manchu Autonomous County}}
{{Distinguish|Ben Xi}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Benxi
| official_name =
| other_name =
| native_name = 本溪市
| native_name_lang = zh
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Prefecture-level city
| total_type =
| motto =
| image_skyline = Pingdinshan.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_type =
| blank_emblem_size =
| image_map = Location of Benxi Prefecture within Liaoning (China).png
| mapsize =
| map_caption = Location of Benxi City jurisdiction in Liaoning
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| image_dot_map =
| dot_mapsize =
| dot_map_caption =
| dot_x =
| dot_y =
| pushpin_map = Liaoning
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the city centre in Liaoning
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_relief = yes
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = People's Republic of China
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Liaoning
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| seat_type = Municipal seat
| seat = Xihu District
| parts_type = Districts and Counties
| parts_style = coll
| parts =
| p1 = Pingshan District
| p2 = Xihu District
| p3 = Mingshan District
| p4 = Nanfen District
| p5 = Benxi Manchu Autonomous County
| p6 = Huanren Manchu Autonomous County
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title = CPC Benxi
| leader_name = Committee Secretary
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 = Tian Shuhuai ({{lang|zh-hans|田树槐}})
| established_title =
| established_date =
| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 8429
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent = 10
| area_blank1_title = Districts{{cite book |editor1=Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development |editor-link=Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development |title=China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2017 |date=2019 |publisher=China Statistics Press |location=Beijing |page=50 |url=http://www.mohurd.gov.cn/xytj/tjzljsxytjgb/jstjnj/w02019012421874448287322500.xls |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-date=18 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618043019/http://www.mohurd.gov.cn/xytj/tjzljsxytjgb/jstjnj/w02019012421874448287322500.xls |url-status=dead }}
| area_metro_km2 = 901.4
| area_urban_km2 = 1516.8
| area_urban_footnotes =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 131
| elevation_max_m =
| elevation_min_m =
| population_as_of = 2020 census
| population_note =
| population_total = 1326018
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_blank1_title =
| population_urban = 865215
| population_metro = 809655
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| population_urban_footnotes =
| timezone = China Standard
| utc_offset = +8
| demographics_type2 = GDP{{cite book |author=辽宁省统计局、国家统计局辽宁调查总队 |title=《辽宁统计年鉴－2016》 |date=October 2016 |publisher=China Statistics Press |isbn=978-7-5037-7900-8 |url=http://www.ln.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/sjcx/ndsj/otherpages/2016/indexch.htm |access-date=2017-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605134500/http://www.ln.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/sjcx/ndsj/otherpages/2016/indexch.htm |archive-date=2017-06-05 |url-status=dead}}
| demographics2_title1 = Prefecture-level city
| demographics2_info1 = CN¥ 116.5 billion
US$ 18.7 billion
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 67,656
US$ 10,862
| coordinates = {{coord|41.3039|N|123.7649|E|type:landmark_region:CN-21_source:Gaode|format=dms|display=i}}
| coor_pinpoint = Benxi Bureau of Civil Affairs / {{nowrap|{{lang|zh-Hans-CN|本溪市民政局}}}}
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 117000
| area_code = 24
| blank_name = Licence plates
| blank_info = {{lang|zh-cn|辽E}}
| blank1_name = Administrative division code
| blank1_info = 210500
| iso_code = CN-LN-05
| website = http://www.benxi.gov.cn/
| footnotes =
}}{{Infobox Chinese|psp=Tzukung|s=本溪|t=本溪|p=Běnxī|mi={{IPAc-cmn|b|en|3|.|x|i|1}}|w=Pen3-ch'i1|order=st}}
Benxi ({{lang-zh|s=本溪}}, {{respell|pun|shee}}) is a prefecture-level city located in the east of Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, south-southeast of the provincial capital Shenyang. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,326,018 (1,709,538 in 2010) whom 809,655 lived in the built-up area made of 3 urban districts (Pingshan, Xihu and Mingshan). It was founded as a metallurgical center in 1915. Benxi Iron and Steel Company (Bengang) is the largest employer in the city, and used to be the fourth-largest steel company in China. The second-largest industry in Benxi is coal mining. The city has pollution problems due to steel production and coal mining.
History
As early as 400,000 years ago, there were people living in Benxi prefecture, which was indicated by Miaohou Mountain ruins with human fossils and stone tools explored in this region.
The worst coal mining disaster in the world took place on April 26, 1942 in Benxihu Colliery. A coal-dust explosion killed 1,549 miners working that day, making it the worst disaster in the history of coal mining and the second worst recorded industrial accident. The explosion sent flames bursting out of the mine shaft entrance. Miners' relatives rushed to the site but were denied entry by a cordon of Japanese guards who erected electric fences to keep them out.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Honkeiko-colliery-mining-disaster|title=Honkeiko colliery mining disaster | explosion, Benxi, Liaoning, China [1942]|website=Encyclopedia Britannica}} In an attempt to curtail the fire underground, the Japanese shut off the ventilation and sealed the pit head. Witnesses say that the Japanese did not evacuate the pit fully before sealing it, trapping many Chinese workers underground to suffocate in the smoke.{{cite web|title=Chinazhaoge Blog|url=http://chinazhaoge.blog.sohu.com/21038332.html|publisher=sohu.com|access-date=7 August 2010|language=zh}}
The city is home to a notable number of Manchu and Hui people.
Administrative divisions
Benxi contains 4 districts and 2 autonomous counties:
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" align=center
!colspan="7" align="center" | Map |
| colspan="7" align="center" | {{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Benxi.png|width=777|link=}} {{Image label|x=030|y=460|scale=777/2220|text=Pingshan}} {{Image label|x=100|y=180|scale=777/2220|text=Xihu}} {{Image label|x=230|y=330|scale=777/2220|text=Mingshan}} {{Image label|x=200|y=630|scale=777/2220|text=Nanfen}} {{Image label|x=570|y=480|scale=777/2220|text=Benxi {{Image label|x=1550|y=420|scale=777/2220|text=Huanren {{Image label end}} |
| #
! Name ! Chinese ! Population (2003 est.) ! Area (km2) ! Density (/km2) |
|---|
| ---------
|1 |{{lang|zh-hans|平山区}} |{{Transliteration|zh|Píngshān Qū}} |350,000 |177 |1,977 |
| ---------
|2 |{{lang|zh-hans|溪湖区}} |{{Transliteration|zh|Xīhú Qū}} |220,000 |320 |688 |
| ---------
|3 |{{lang|zh-hans|明山区}} |{{Transliteration|zh|Míngshān Qū}} |300,000 |410 |732 |
| ---------
|4 |{{lang|zh-hans|南芬区}} |{{Transliteration|zh|Nánfēn Qū}} |80,000 |619 |129 |
| ---------
|5 |Benxi Manchu Autonomous County |{{lang|zh-hans|本溪满族 |{{Transliteration|zh|Běnxī Mǎnzú |300,000 |3,362 |89 |
| ---------
|6 |Huanren Manchu Autonomous County |{{lang|zh-hans|桓仁满族 |{{Transliteration|zh|Huánrén Mǎnzú |300,000 |3,547 |85 |
Within these there are 25 counties, 40 villages and towns, 229 communities and 289 village committees.
Geography
Benxi is located within latitude 40° 49'–41° 35' N and longitude 123° 34'–125° 46' E, and has a total area of {{convert|8411.31|km2}}. It is bordered by Tonghua (Jilin) to the east, Dandong to the south, Liaoyang to the west, Shenyang to the northwest, and Fushun to the north. The area has many mountains as well as a high degree of forest coverage (74%).{{cite web |url=http://www.benxi.gov.cn/second/zrzy/slzy.jsp |script-title=zh:森林资源 |publisher=Benxi People's Government |access-date=2020-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012155209/http://benxi.gov.cn/second/zrzy/slzy.jsp |archive-date=2007-10-12 |url-status=dead }}
=Climate=
Benxi has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa), characterised by hot, humid summers, due to the East Asian monsoon, and long, cold and windy, but dry winters, due to the Siberian anticyclone. The four seasons here are distinctive. Nearly half of the annual rainfall occurs in July and August alone. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from {{convert|−11.5|°C|1}} in January to {{convert|24.0|°C|1}} in July, and the annual mean is {{convert|7.83|°C|1}}. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 38% in July to 63% in February, the city receives 2,325 hours of bright sunshine annually.
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location = Benxi, elevation {{convert|185|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2025)
|Jan high C = -4.4
|Feb high C = 0.1
|Mar high C = 7.2
|Apr high C = 16.4
|May high C = 23.1
|Jun high C = 27.1
|Jul high C = 29.2
|Aug high C = 28.4
|Sep high C = 24.0
|Oct high C = 16.3
|Nov high C = 6.1
|Dec high C = -2.2
|Jan mean C = -10.8
|Feb mean C = -6.0
|Mar mean C = 1.6
|Apr mean C = 10.4
|May mean C = 17.1
|Jun mean C = 21.6
|Jul mean C = 24.5
|Aug mean C = 23.3
|Sep mean C = 17.5
|Oct mean C = 9.7
|Nov mean C = 0.5
|Dec mean C = -8.0
|Jan low C = -16.0
|Feb low C = -11.2
|Mar low C = -3.4
|Apr low C = 4.7
|May low C = 11.2
|Jun low C = 16.5
|Jul low C = 20.4
|Aug low C = 19.2
|Sep low C = 12.5
|Oct low C = 4.4
|Nov low C = -4.0
|Dec low C = -12.6
|Jan record high C = 7.2 |Jan record low C = -34.5
|Feb record high C = 14.8 |Feb record low C = -27.7
|Mar record high C = 24.9 |Mar record low C = -18.5
|Apr record high C = 29.1 |Apr record low C = -9.5
|May record high C = 33.2 |May record low C = -0.2
|Jun record high C = 37.5 |Jun record low C = 5.9
|Jul record high C = 36.9 |Jul record low C = 12.4
|Aug record high C = 36.0 |Aug record low C = 7.0
|Sep record high C = 33.5 |Sep record low C = -0.1
|Oct record high C = 29.4 |Oct record low C = -9.4
|Nov record high C = 19.8 |Nov record low C = -22.1
|Dec record high C = 11.9 |Dec record low C = -27.2
|year high C = |year low C =
|year high F = |year low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 8.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 11.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 18.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 42.6
|May precipitation mm = 67.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 109.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 179.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 193.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 59.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 50.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 31.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 13.1
|Jan humidity = 63
|Feb humidity = 57
|Mar humidity = 52
|Apr humidity = 48
|May humidity = 55
|Jun humidity = 66
|Jul humidity = 75
|Aug humidity = 78
|Sep humidity = 72
|Oct humidity = 65
|Nov humidity = 63
|Dec humidity = 65
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 4.7
|Feb precipitation days = 4.8
|Mar precipitation days = 6.0
|Apr precipitation days = 7.4
|May precipitation days = 9.5
|Jun precipitation days = 12.4
|Jul precipitation days = 13.6
|Aug precipitation days = 12.4
|Sep precipitation days = 7.8
|Oct precipitation days = 7.2
|Nov precipitation days = 6.9
|Dec precipitation days = 5.7
|year precipitation days =
|Jan sun = 198.2
|Feb sun = 208.5
|Mar sun = 246.2
|Apr sun = 243.7
|May sun = 266.0
|Jun sun = 228.4
|Jul sun = 196.1
|Aug sun = 205.2
|Sep sun = 230.5
|Oct sun = 215.8
|Nov sun = 175.7
|Dec sun = 176.4
|year sun =
| Jan percentsun = 67
| Feb percentsun = 69
| Mar percentsun = 66
| Apr percentsun = 61
| May percentsun = 59
| Jun percentsun = 51
| Jul percentsun = 43
| Aug percentsun = 48
| Sep percentsun = 62
| Oct percentsun = 64
| Nov percentsun = 60
| Dec percentsun = 62
| year percentsun =
|Jan snow days = 7.1
|Feb snow days = 6.8
|Mar snow days = 6.0
|Apr snow days = 1.8
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0.8
|Nov snow days = 6.0
|Dec snow days = 8.0
|year snow days =
|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans |access-date=29 July 2023}}
{{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网|publisher=China Meteorological Administration |language = zh-hans | access-date =29 July 2023}}
{{cite web|url=http://old-cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/search1.jsp?dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&tpcat=SURF&type=table&pageid=3 |script-title=zh:中国地面国际交换站气候标准值月值数据集（1971－2000年）|publisher=China Meteorological Administration |access-date=2010-05-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055035/http://old-cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/search1.jsp?dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&tpcat=SURF&type=table&pageid=3 |archive-date=2013-09-21
}}}}
Economy
Benxi's economy grew 10% in 2012 to a regional GDP of 111.24 billion CNY.{{cite web |url=http://www.fdc001.cn/portal/2013/0506/9285.shtml |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:2012年本溪市国民经济和社会发展统计公报 |website=fdc001.cn |date=2013-05-06}} Ranked eighth out of fourteen prefecture level cities in Liaoning, the city's GDP accounted for approximately 4% of provincial total.{{Cite web|url=https://research.hktdc.com/en/data-and-profiles/market-profiles/mainland-china|title=HKTDC Research|website=research.hktdc.com}} Urban per-capita disposable income was 22,466 CNY, and consumption per capita 16,064 CNY.{{cite web |url=http://www.fdc001.cn/portal/2013/0506/9285_4.shtml |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:2012年本溪市国民经济和社会发展统计公报 |website=fdc001.cn |date=2013-05-06}}
With 46 large and medium-sized enterprises in Benxi, main industrial products are raw iron (14 million tons), steel (13 million tons), finished steel (12 million tons), cement (3 million tons) and raw coal (1 million tons). In 2008, 92,615 people were employed in manufacturing, 20,368 in education, 19,228 in public administration and social organizations, 17,913 persons in the mining industry, and 12,997 in transportation and storage. According to the type of business ownership, 63,000 were employed in private companies.{{Cite web|url=http://velopment.de/wiki/Benxi|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719113016/http://velopment.de/wiki/Benxi|url-status=dead|title=China Liaoning Business Guide|archivedate=July 19, 2011}}
Uranium is mined in the region.
As of 2009, Asia's biggest iron ore mine, which is reported to possess more than 3 billion tons of proven reserves, has been found in this region.{{cite web
|url = http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20090623/huge-iron-ore-resource-with-more-than-three-billion-tons-rsquo-proven-reserves-has-been-found-china-.htm
|title = Asia's biggest iron ore mine found in Benxi China
|date = 23 June 2009
|website = www.ibtimes.com
|publisher = International Business Times
|access-date = 13 August 2013
}}
Education
{{expand section|date=July 2016}}
The city contains the Benxi Campus of the Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (LNUTCM)."[http://info.lnutcm.edu.cn/web/en/9 History]." Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Retrieved on July 24, 2016. "Benxi campus: Liufenggou, Pingtai Village, Shiqiaozi Sub-district, Benxi Hi-Tech Development Zone, Benxi, Liaoning, People's Republic of China. Post code 117000"
In the perspective of high school education, the Benxi Senior High School (Benxi Gaozhong) is located in the city, while the school faced severe controversy on the unreasonably-high number of Sporting Students.{{Cite news|url=http://news.163.com/14/0630/02/9VV2ELGD00014AED.html | language =zh-cn| script-title =zh:辽宁本溪1所中学87名高考体优生被质疑造假_网易新闻中心 |work=163.com|access-date=2016-09-16}} However, the currency of the school is improving with the former-principal Pang Mingrong ({{lang|zh-hans|庞鸣嵘}}) dismissed from the school, Pang was infamous and controversial for the injustice in his attitude towards students of different 'classes,' which builds on test scores, however revered by his students.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
Tourist activities
Benxi is rich with tourist attractions. The eastern side of the prefecture is covered with mountains, caves and lakes with low population, making the various parks in that area popular.
The Benxi Lake, located at the urban area of Xihu district in Benxi, after which the city was named in Qing dynasty, is the tiniest lake in the world.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} With an area less than 15 sq. meters and a daily rate of flow at approximately 20,000 tons, the lake acts as a famous tourist attraction of the city.
The Benxi Water Cave National Park is a subterranean river, some 3,000 meters long, 2 meters deep and wide enough for 20-30 boats. It flows through this cave situated {{convert|35|km|abbr=on}} east of Benxi city. The cave is filled with countless stalactites and stone flowers, pillars and curtains.
Wunü Mountain National Park is an area of natural beauty. The park also contains the remains of an ancient Goguryeo capital city. As such the site has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.{{cite web
|url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/cn
|title = China - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
|website = whc.unesco.org
|publisher = UNESCO
|access-date = 13 August 2013
}}
Guanmenshan National Forest Park is a valley of outstanding natural beauty. Secluded trails run up and down the valley. The area is particularly popular in autumn when the leaves of the many maple trees that line the valley turn bright red.
Pictures
File:Benxi Steel Industries.jpg|Steel industry Feb 2013
File:Ping Ding Shan.jpg|View from the top of Pingdingshan
Sister cities
- {{flagdeco|US}} Peoria, Illinois, United States{{cite web|title=Interactive City Directory|url=http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Benxi,%20China|work=Sister Cities International|access-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701164815/http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Benxi,%20China|archive-date=1 July 2015|url-status=dead}}
- {{flagdeco|Canada}} Brampton, Ontario, Canada{{Cite web|url=https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/3082969-mayor-signs-sister-city-agreement-in-china/|title=Mayor signs sister city agreement in China|website=BramptonGuardian.com}}
- {{flagdeco|Italy}} Modena, Italy
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Wikivoyage}}
- [http://www.benxi.gov.cn/ Benxi Municipal People's Government official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031072002/http://www.benxi.gov.cn/ |date=2015-10-31 }}
- [http://www.bx.gov.cn Benxi Man Autonomous County official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228022138/http://www.bx.gov.cn/ |date=2021-12-28 }}
{{Liaoning topics}}
{{Liaoning}}
{{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Metropolitan cities of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|41.3039|N|123.7649|E|type:adm2nd_region:CN-21_source:Gaode|format=dms|display=t}}