Major Economic indicators (2007)

Source: Longyan Economic and Social Development Report 2007

Introduction

Longyan is a prefecture-level city in the western part of Fujian Province. Lying at the intersection point of Fujian Province, Guangdong Province and Jiangxi Province, it is adjacent to Qiongzhou and Zhangzhou to the east, Meizhou to the south, and Sanming to the north. The city covers an area of 19,050 sq km and has a population of 2.8 million.

Longyan is 142 km from Xiamen, 216 km from Quangzhou and 376 km from Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian Province. The Fuzhou-Shenzhen Railway and the Guangzhou-Xiamen Railway go through the city, while the Yingtan-Xiamen Railway has a stop in Zhangping, a county-level city under Longyan. The Zhanglong Highway, State Highway 205 and State Highway 319 link the city to Xiamen, Zhangzhou, and other cities in Fujian Province.

Longyan has abundant mineral resources and is an important flue-cured tobacco production base in China. There are over 60 kinds of mineral resources in the city, such as copper, iron and gold. Enjoying a subtropical humid maritime climate, the city has plentiful rainfall and a moderate climate.

Economic Features

In 2007, Longyan's GDP grew 16.0% from a year earlier to RMB 55.6 billion, accounting for 6.1% of Fujian Province's GDP and ranking fifth among the cities in Fujian. The value-added output of the agriculture, secondary and service sectors reached RMB 10.8 billion, RMB 27.2 billion and RMB 17.7 billion, comprising 19.3%, 48.9% and 31.8% of the city's GDP, respectively.

The gross industrial output from heavy industry hit RMB 13.4 billion, up 26.5% year on year, while that from light industry realized an industrial output value of RMB 7.5 billion, up 27.2% year on year. Tobacco processing, equipment manufacturing and mining are the major industries in the city. In 2007, the total gross industrial output from these industries rose 37.3% year on year to RMB 22.6 billion, accounting for 41.9% of the city's total.

Longyan Tobacco Industrial Co Ltd, formerly Longyan Cigarettes Factory, was set up in 1951. Its major product is Septwolves-branded cigarettes. The largest tobacco maker in Fujian Province, its sales revenue surpassed RMB 7 billion and its profits exceeded RMB 1 billion in 2007. Longyan Engineering Machinery Company, a unit under Lonking Group, started operation in 1999. It is Lonking Group's production base of structural parts and accessory materials for wheel loaders.

Foreign trade value in Longyan gained 37.7% year on year to US$271.1 million, less than 1% of Fujian's total. The export value was US$244.3 million, up 56.5% year on year. Exports of mechanical and electronic products were increased by 84.4% to US$26.7 million, about 10.1% of the city's total export value.

In 2007, a total of 64 foreign-funded projects were approved, and contractual foreign investments rose 19% year on year to US$261.8 million. The utilized FDI in the city amounted to US$370.6 million, an increase of 54.0% year on year.

Cultural Highlights

Longyan's history can be traced back to AD 736, during the Tang Dynasty, when Tingzhou was set up in western Fujian. Changting, Huanglian and Xinluo counties were under its jurisdiction. Then in AD 842, Tingzhou was renamed Longyan, for the cavern close to the region. In 1734, Longyan Prefecture was established. Because of conflicts and wars in ancient times, many Hakka people moved to Longyan, so Longyan is regarded as a home for the Hakka people and the Tingjiang River is taken as the “mother river” of the Hakka people.

The area is a famous revolutionary base in China's modern history, as many leaders of the Chinese Communist Party carried out revolutionary activities there in the 1930s. In 1981, Longyan City was set up.

Tourist Attractions

Longyan derives its name from a natural limestone cave, Long Kong Cave. The entrance to the cave is surrounded by elaborate rock formations and the roof of the cave is covered by limestone stalactites. The mother river of the Hakkas, the Tingjiang River, is one of the three main rivers in Fujian and originates in Changting. Guanzhi Mountain, also known as the Lotus-flower Mountain, lies in the east of Liancheng County. It is listed as one of the top ten scenic spots in Fujian Province. Tourists also enjoy the delicate local cuisine there, and appreciate dishes such as Ku Zhua Tang (a kind of soup using Kuzhua Herb as the main ingredient), Niu You Bo Zai Fen (rice noodles boiled in butter soup), Snowflake Fish Cake (steamed sliced fish that looks like snowflakes) and Yongding Beef Ball.