Penglai City
Encyclopedia
Penglai City is a port, a town and an administrative subdivision of the prefecture-level city
Yantai
in Shandong Province
, northeastern China. The port was formerly called Dengzhou . Penglai Water City or Water Fortress , a fortified harbor hidden from the sea, is one of China's oldest military ports, built in 1376 under the Ming Dynasty and is a protected historical monument. It was "the harbor for the fleet of imperial war junks and town for the semi-imperial garrison." The Water City is currently being rebuilt at a cost of 500 million yuan (more than 60 million dollars). There is a plank walk along the cliffs nearby.
Penglai is the northernmost part of mainland Yantai and in central Yantai. Except for the Bohai Sea
to the north, Penglai is entirely surrounded by Yantai: west of Fushan District
, east of Longkou City, north of Qixia City. Its limits in geographic coordinates are 120°35'-121°09' E, 37°25'-37°50' N.
Penglai was the first port on the Shandong peninsula that was opened to foreigners in the 19th century, so it was the first place Christian missions were established. Subsequently, it was overshadowed by the port of Yantai (Chefoo), 55 miles to the west. Its scenery has earned the city fame as the fabled spot where the Eight Immortals
set out floating over the ocean from the Red Cliffs (Dan Cliffs 丹崖) there. Because of this connection with the immortals, the Emperors Qin Shi Huang
and Han Wu Di
both came to Penglai looking for an elixir of immortality.
The city is also famous for its mirage
s out at sea, which are frequent during May and June.
374,400 Penglai citizens work in agriculture, with the remaining 75,600 in various other sectors.
, the first Chinese emperor, sent off five hundred boys and five hundred girls on ships to the east, to look for the islands of immortality. "There are tales of a mystic dolphin seen from the cliffs above, at which the mighty Emperor cast an impotent spear and knew that his days were numbered.
"The gray walls of the city itself are crowned by gate towers of three stories instead of the usual two, because the uncle of the first Emperor of the Sui dynasty
(A.D. 589-618) was once...prince of that territory."
and the Penglai Water Fortress.
The Penglai Pavilion is a large park of ancient buildings, palaces and temples, that have been restored and rebuilt. It has been a tourist goal for more than a thousand years, and the site features inscriptions from famous poets and calligraphers like Su Shi
and Dong Qichang
.
Among other cultural attractions of Penglai are the Naval Museum with exhibits of ancient ships, and the restored residence of the famous patriotic general Qi Jiguang
. Penglai also has the largest ocean aquarium in Asia. It includes a polar area, a shark hall, a tropical rainforest, and a theater with mermaids, dolphins and sea lions.
A picturesque festival takes place in January for the birthday of Tianhou, a local sea goddess.
Tourism is a traditional industry of Penglai. It has matured in the last few years, becoming the mainstay of Penglai’s economy. Each year, more than 2 million tourists are expected.
. Agriculture is first. However, in Penglai, tourism
is the primary industry, and wine-making is second.
The hills south of Penglai have an average elevation of 200 meters, while the coastal areas are relatively flat. Most of the soil is loose, well-aerated, and rich in minerals and organic matter
s that enable full development of the root
systems.
The wineries are located mainly in the Nanwang Grape Valley and along the Yan-Peng Sightseeing Highway. The main varieties grown there, like Cabernet Sauvignon
, Cabernet Gernischt
, Merlot
, Riesling
and Chardonnay
, are all reaching 20 years of age, considered to be the golden stage for these grapes. Most of them maintain an average saccharinity of above 20%. The Cabernet is especially typical, with good color and a dense fragrance.
Together, the three qu (zone, district, and area) co-exist with the coastal Xingang Street Office.
Prefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
Yantai
Yantai
Yantai is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. Located on the southern coast of the Bohai Sea and the eastern coast of the Laizhou Bay, Yantai borders the cities of Qingdao and Weihai to the southwest and east respectively.The largest fishing...
in Shandong Province
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
, northeastern China. The port was formerly called Dengzhou . Penglai Water City or Water Fortress , a fortified harbor hidden from the sea, is one of China's oldest military ports, built in 1376 under the Ming Dynasty and is a protected historical monument. It was "the harbor for the fleet of imperial war junks and town for the semi-imperial garrison." The Water City is currently being rebuilt at a cost of 500 million yuan (more than 60 million dollars). There is a plank walk along the cliffs nearby.
Penglai is the northernmost part of mainland Yantai and in central Yantai. Except for the Bohai Sea
Bohai Sea
Bohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of Northeastern and North China. It is approximately 78,000 km2 Bohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of...
to the north, Penglai is entirely surrounded by Yantai: west of Fushan District
Fushan District
Fushan is a district of Yantai in the Chinese province of Shandong, near the shore of the Yellow Sea.To the East is Zhifu District and Laishan District, to the southeast Muping District, to the southwest Qixia City, to the northwest Penglai City, and to the north, the Yantai Economic and...
, east of Longkou City, north of Qixia City. Its limits in geographic coordinates are 120°35'-121°09' E, 37°25'-37°50' N.
Penglai was the first port on the Shandong peninsula that was opened to foreigners in the 19th century, so it was the first place Christian missions were established. Subsequently, it was overshadowed by the port of Yantai (Chefoo), 55 miles to the west. Its scenery has earned the city fame as the fabled spot where the Eight Immortals
Eight Immortals
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xian in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called "Covert Eight Immortals" . Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or...
set out floating over the ocean from the Red Cliffs (Dan Cliffs 丹崖) there. Because of this connection with the immortals, the Emperors Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
and Han Wu Di
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
both came to Penglai looking for an elixir of immortality.
The city is also famous for its mirage
Mirage
A mirage is a naturally occurring optical phenomenon in which light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the sky. The word comes to English via the French mirage, from the Latin mirare, meaning "to look at, to wonder at"...
s out at sea, which are frequent during May and June.
374,400 Penglai citizens work in agriculture, with the remaining 75,600 in various other sectors.
History
Penglai is said to be the place where Qin Shi HuangQin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
, the first Chinese emperor, sent off five hundred boys and five hundred girls on ships to the east, to look for the islands of immortality. "There are tales of a mystic dolphin seen from the cliffs above, at which the mighty Emperor cast an impotent spear and knew that his days were numbered.
"The gray walls of the city itself are crowned by gate towers of three stories instead of the usual two, because the uncle of the first Emperor of the Sui dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
(A.D. 589-618) was once...prince of that territory."
Tourism
Penglai has been ranked as one of China's top domestic tourist destinations. Recently, more than US$ 25 million has been invested into restoring and developing its characteristic tourist areas, including the Penglai PavilionPenglai Pavilion
Penglai Pavilion or Penglai Pagoda is a famous tower in Penglai, Shandong, China. It is noted as one of the Four Great Towers of China, although it is occasionally it is not listed due to its lack of a famous literary piece. It is known as the landing place of the Eight Immortals and famous for...
and the Penglai Water Fortress.
The Penglai Pavilion is a large park of ancient buildings, palaces and temples, that have been restored and rebuilt. It has been a tourist goal for more than a thousand years, and the site features inscriptions from famous poets and calligraphers like Su Shi
Su Shi
Su Shi , was a writer, poet, artist, calligrapher, pharmacologist, gastronome, and statesman of the Song Dynasty, and one of the major poets of the Song era. His courtesy name was Zizhan and his pseudonym was Dongpo Jushi , and he is often referred to as Su Dongpo...
and Dong Qichang
Dong Qichang
Dong Qichang , courtesy name Xuanzai , was a Chinese painter, scholar, calligrapher, and art theorist of the later period of the Ming Dynasty.-Painter:...
.
Among other cultural attractions of Penglai are the Naval Museum with exhibits of ancient ships, and the restored residence of the famous patriotic general Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was best remembered for his courage and leadership in the fight against Japanese pirates along the east coast of China, as well as his reinforcement work on the Great Wall of China.-Early life:Qi Jiguang was...
. Penglai also has the largest ocean aquarium in Asia. It includes a polar area, a shark hall, a tropical rainforest, and a theater with mermaids, dolphins and sea lions.
A picturesque festival takes place in January for the birthday of Tianhou, a local sea goddess.
Tourism is a traditional industry of Penglai. It has matured in the last few years, becoming the mainstay of Penglai’s economy. Each year, more than 2 million tourists are expected.
Wine Industry
The production of wine is the second largest industry in Shandong ProvinceShandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
. Agriculture is first. However, in Penglai, tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is the primary industry, and wine-making is second.
The hills south of Penglai have an average elevation of 200 meters, while the coastal areas are relatively flat. Most of the soil is loose, well-aerated, and rich in minerals and organic matter
Organic matter
Organic matter is matter that has come from a once-living organism; is capable of decay, or the product of decay; or is composed of organic compounds...
s that enable full development of the root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
systems.
The wineries are located mainly in the Nanwang Grape Valley and along the Yan-Peng Sightseeing Highway. The main varieties grown there, like Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
, Cabernet Gernischt
Cabernet Gernischt
Cabernet Gernischt is a red wine grape variety used in China believed to be of European origin, and similar if not identical to Cabernet Franc....
, Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
, Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
and Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, are all reaching 20 years of age, considered to be the golden stage for these grapes. Most of them maintain an average saccharinity of above 20%. The Cabernet is especially typical, with good color and a dense fragrance.
Administration
The city contains seven townships (镇), three districts (区), and five street offices (街道办事处):- Beigou Town (北沟镇): contains Xicheng Port Industrial Park (西城临港工业区)
- Chaoshui Town (潮水镇)
- Cunli Town (村里集镇)
- Daliu Town (大柳行镇): contains a namesake industrial park
- Daxindian Town (大辛店镇)
- Dengzhou Street Office (登州街道办事处): where Qin Shi HuangQin Shi HuangQin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
reputedly visited to gain immortalityImmortalityImmortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering... - Liujiagou Town (刘家沟镇)
- Nanwang Street Office (南王街道办事处)
- Penglai Economic Development Zone (蓬莱经济开发区): contains three industrial parks
- Penglai Tourism-Vacation Area (蓬莱旅游度假区)
- Penglai Urban District (蓬莱城区)
- Penglaige Street Office (蓬莱阁街道办事处)
- Xiaomenjia Town (小门家镇)
- Xingang Street Office (新港街道办事处)
- Zijing Street Office (紫荆山街道办事处)
Together, the three qu (zone, district, and area) co-exist with the coastal Xingang Street Office.
Famous people
- Qi JiguangQi JiguangQi Jiguang was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was best remembered for his courage and leadership in the fight against Japanese pirates along the east coast of China, as well as his reinforcement work on the Great Wall of China.-Early life:Qi Jiguang was...
(戚继光, 1528－1588) Ming DynastyMing DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
general and national hero who fought Japanese pirates - Henry LuceHenry LuceHenry Robinson Luce was an influential American publisher. He launched and closely supervised a stable of magazines that transformed journalism and the reading habits of upscale Americans...
(1898–1967) - born in Penglai, founder of TIMETimeTime is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....
, FortuneFortune (magazine)Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
, and LifeLife (magazine)Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
. - Ida PruittIda PruittIda Pruitt , bi-cultural social worker, author, speaker, interpreter and 20th century contributor to Sino-American understanding.-Early life:...
(1888–1985) - born in Penglai, spoke fluent Chinese, prolific writer on China - Wu PeifuWu PeifuWu Peifu or Wu P'ei-fu , was a major figure in the struggles between the warlords who dominated Republican China from 1916 to 1927.- Early career :...
(吴佩孚, 1874–1939) - army general, later became one of the most powerful military rulers in China during the Warlord EraWarlord eraThe Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
(1916–1928) - Meng Xuenong ( 1949- ) - vice-governor and acting governor of ShanxiShanxi' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
(as of 2007) and disgraced former Mayor of Beijing Municipality
Historic Reference
-
- Yap, Joseph P. "Wars With The Xiongnu, A Translation From Zizhi tongjian" Chapters 1 & 5, AuthorHouse (2009) ISBN 978-1-4490-0604-4
External links
- 中国蓬莱 (Penglai, China): official municipal government (in Simplified Chinese)
- Rare Mirage Lasts for 4 Hours off East China Shore
- Cultural and tourist information about Penglai
- Attractions of the Penglai Pavilion area
- Article about a visit to Penglai
- Article describing the Water City