Major Economic Indicators (2010)
Tangshan, lying in the eastern part of Hebei Province, borders Qinhuangdao to the east, Bohai Sea to the south, Tianjin to the west, and Yanshan Mountain to the north. Due to the fertile soil and mild climate, Tangshan has abundant agricultural products such as corn, wheat and peanuts. The city also has rich mineral resources. With nearly 6.3 billion tons of coal reserves and 5.75 billion tons of iron ore reserves, Tangshan is one of China's major coal and iron ore mines.
The location of Tangshan is convenient for transportation. The Beijing-Harbin Railway, the Beijing-Qinhuangdao Railway and the Datong-Qinhuangdao Railway run through the city, while State Highway 102 (which connects Beijing with Shuangcheng in Heilongjiang), the Tangshan-Qinhuangdao Highway and the Beijing-Tangshan Highway traverse the city. The annual cargo throughput of Tangshan Port, including Caofeidian Port and Jintang Port, surpassed 100 million tons in 2007. Tangshan Airport, small in size, opened to civil flights in January, 2008.
The Tangshan Earthquake, sometimes called the Great Tangshan Earthquake, occurred on July 28, 1976. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.8, devastated the city and killed many people. At the time, it was the deadliest earthquake ever to hit China.
Tangshan's history extends back to 45,000 years ago, when the area was first inhabited by human beings. During the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD200), it was called Liaoxi Shire, and belonged to Youzhou. It obtained its current name based on its location on the Dachengshan Mountain during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It has been a city since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Tangshan became an important industrial city because of the development of the mining industry during the Qing Dynasty. In 1877, Li Hongzhang set up the Kaiping Coal Mines in Tangshan. In 1938, Tangshan City was founded. The 1976 Tangshan earthquake flattened the city, which was subsequently rebuilt. Tangshan enjoys a diverse cultural heritage, of which Ping Opera, the Leting Drums Song and Tangshan Shadow Puppetry Plays are most characteristic.
The most recommended tourist attractions in Tangshan include the Eastern Qing Mausoleum, Jingzhong Mountain, the Great Wall under Water, Puti Islet, and Yuetuo Islet. The Eastern Qing Mausoleums, comprised of 15 catacombs, were the imperial tombs of the emperors in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Great Wall, constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it is now partly submerged in the Xifeng Lake. Jingzhong Mountain is famous for the buildings on the mountain built in a mix of the styles of diverse religions, such as Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian. Wakuai Fish, Jingdong Chestnuts, Chessman Pancake (Qizi Shaobing), and Peanut Crispy Candy (Huasheng Sutang) are the most popular local snacks in Tangshan.
Advanced City in the National City Civilization Construction (1999, 2002, 2005)-Central Civilization Committee
National Excellent Garden Like City (2003)-Ministry of Construction of P.R. China
UN Habitat Scroll of Honor (1990)-United Nations
