Major Economic Indicators (2007)
| Land Area |
6,429 km²
|
|
Population
|
4.0 million
|
|
GDP
|
RMB 88.3 billion (US$11.7 billion), 15.0% up
|
|
GDP Composition
|
|
Primary Industry (Agriculture)
|
14.2%
|
|
Secondary Industry
(Industry and Construction)
|
55.6%
|
|
Tertiary Industry (Service)
|
30.2%
|
|
GDP Per Capita
|
RMB 21,981 (US$2,922)
|
|
Unemployment Rate
|
2.0%
|
|
Fixed Asset Investment
|
RMB 68.6 billion, 49.1% up
|
|
Utilized FDI
|
US$347.4 million, 83.9% up
|
|
Total Import and Export
|
US$2.4 billion, 44.9% up
|
|
Export
|
US$1.3 billion, 46.8% up
|
|
Import
|
US$1.1 billion, 42.8% up
|
|
Sales of Consumer Goods
|
RMB 24.4 billion, 18.5% up
|
Source: Langfang Economic and Social Development Report 2007
Introduction
Langfang is a prefectural-level city of Hebei Province. It covers a land area of 6,429 km² and has a population of 4.0 million. Situated between Beijing and Tianjin, Langfang is divided by these two cities into two separate regions. It is 50 km from Beijing and 63 km from Tianjin, and is the nearest prefecture-level city to Beijing.
Langfang is easily accessible by land traffic. The Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan Expressway passes through the city, connecting it with Beijing and Tianjin. In addition, Langfang is one of the stops of the not-yet-completed Beijing-Shanghai Express Railway, which will further shorten the travel time from Langfang to Beijing and from Langfang to Tianjin.
Langfang does not have an airport, but instead is only 70 km from China's largest airport, Beijing Capital International Airport. Similarly, Langfang is 110 km from the nation's fourth-largest freight transport seaport, Tianjin Port.
Economic Features
In 2007, Langfang's GDP reached RMB 88.3 billion, up 15.0% over 2006, while the value-added industrial output grew by 15.3% to RMB 43.1 billion. Private economy is the major contributor to the industrial sector, accounting for 89.2% of the total value-added industrial output.
Langfang has six pillar industries, including auto parts, agricultural products-processing, timber processing, furniture manufacturing, printing and packaging, electronics and information technology. Real estate and tourism are the major industries in the service sector.
Langfang is known locally as the "Hometown of Printing". Its two biggest neighbors, Beijing and Tianjin, provide a huge market segment to this industry. By the end of 2007, there were over 1,700 printing companies in Langfang, the combined total of which generated industrial output of RMB 3.6 billion. Almost all of the Beijing and Tianjin's printing business went to Langfang.
Electronics and the information technology industries are not the traditional competitive industries of Langfang. However, they have been established by the city as key industries to develop in its eleventh-five-year plan (2006-2010). The domestic major players in this field, such as Huawei, BOE, ZTE and Foxconn, have launched their projects in Langfang, which has involved total investment of over RMB 20 billion. It is estimated that the revenue in Langfang's electronics and information technology industries will reach RMB 200 billion in five years, making this industry the largest one among all the industries of Langfang.
In 2007, Langfang's foreign trade grew by 44.9% to US$2.4 billion. Mechanical and electronic products were the major exported products, accounting for 41.7% and 22.5% respectively of the total exports. The U.S. is the largest export destination, contributing 23.8% to the total. In 2007, the utilized FDI experienced rapid growth of 83.9% to US$347.4 million.
Cultural Highlights
Langfang got its name from one of its citizens, Lu Duan, who was a prime minister in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). His house in Langfang was called "Shilang Fang", which means "House of prime minister" in Chinese. The people of the village used this name before finally changing it to "Langfang" for short.
Langfang had been a small village until 1897, which was when the Beijing-Tianjin Railway was built, and a station was set up in Langfang. After that, Langfang became a town as well as a major passage between Beijing and Tianjin.
Tourist Attractions
The main historical site in Langfang is the First Town. This grand historical scenic area is built around a rampart from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The nightscape there is particularly fascinating. Langfang also has a nature park in its outskirts, where visitors can find lakes, animals, forest areas and some amusement facilities.
The special local products of Langfang include pears, walnuts, and small jujubes with golden threads. Langfang is also well-known for its handicrafts, such as willow knitting of Gu'an County, and cloisonné.
Major Development Zones
By the end of 2007, Langfang had one state-level development zone, namely Langfang Export Processing Zone.
State-level Development Zones in Langfang
| Name |
Area
(km2)
|
Pillar Industries
|
GDP in 2007
(RMB billion)
|
|
Langfang Export Processing Zone
|
0.5
|
Electronics and information technology, optical-, mechanical- and electronic-integration, precision machinery, bonded logistics
|
N.A.
|
Source: National Development and Reform Commission of P.R. China
Honors
China Habitat Environment Prize (2007)
---Ministry of Construction of P.R. China
National Garden City (2006)
---Ministry of Construction of P.R. China
National Model City for Environmental Protection (2006)
---Ministry of Environmental Protection of P.R. China
National Excellence for Tourism (2003)
---National Tourism Administration of P.R. China
