Major Economic Indicators (2007)

Source: Songyuan Economic and Social Development Report 2007

Introduction

Songyuan is located in the mid-western part of Jilin Province, in the southern part of Songnen Plain. It covers an area of approximately 22,000 sq km. The population of the city amounted to 2.8 million at the end of 2007.  

Songyuan has a temperate monsoon continental climate with a very dry spring, a hot, rainy summer, a cool autumn, and a long, cold, dry winter. The average temperature is 4.5 Celsius. The average annual precipitation reaches 400-500 mm, while the average annual sunshine totals 2,879 hours.

Songyuan is rich in natural resources and is famous as a granary, meat depository, fishery, and source for oil. Reserves of oil amount to 2.6 billion tons, while reserves of natural gas total 18.5 billion cubic meters. Songuyan's Jilin Oilfield, the sixth largest oilfield in China, has an annual crude oil yield of 3.5 million tons. In addition, Songyuan is also an important commodity grain base in China. Grain output amounted to 4.3 million tons in 2007, contributing approximately 17.5% to the province's total.

Transportation in Songyuan is very convenient. Since Songyuan is located at the intersection of Jilin Province, Heilongjiang Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, there are railways and highways connecting the city with surrounding cities and extending to most major cities throughout China. Songyuan Port, which will be the largest inland river port in Jilin Province when it is complete, will have an annual throughput capacity of 800,000 tons.

Economic Features

Songyuan realized GDP of RMB 60.7 billion in 2007, representing a rise of 20.3% year on year. The city's GDP accounted for approximately 11.6% of Jilin's total and ranked third after Changchun, the capital of Jilin Porvince, and Jilin City.

Primary industry generated value-added output of RMB 10.9 billion in 2007, accounting for 18.0% of the city's GDP. Agriculture and forestry realized gross industrial output of RMB 10.2 billion and RMB 281 million respectively in 2007, while during the same year, animal husbandry and fisheries generated gross industrial output of RMB 8.6 billion and RMB 280 million, respectively.

In 2007, value-added output of secondary industry (industry and construction) amounted to RMB 35.0 billion and accounted for 58.0% of the city's total.

The industrial sector realized value-added industrial output of 32.2 billion in 2007, contributing 92.0% to secondary industry's total.

Petroleum exploration, agricultural and sideline products processing, wood processing, and chemicals are the pillar industries of Songyuan. As a whole, they realized value-added industrial output of RMB 26.8 billion, contributing 90.5% to the industrial sector's total. Petroleum exploration, the largest pillar industry, realized value-added industrial output of RMB 24.3 billion, accounting for 82.2% of the industrial sector's total.

The construction sector of Songyuan realized value-added output of RMB 2.8 billion in 2007, accounting for about 8.0% of secondary industry's total.

In 2007, the service sector generated value-added output of RMB 14.9 billion, contributing 24.0% to the city's GDP.

Wholesale and retail activities, the largest contributor to the service sector, generated value-added output of RMB 4.0 billion in 2007, accounting for 26.9% to the sector's total, while the second largest contributor, transportation, storage and postal business, realized value-added output of RMB 2.3 million, contributing 15.4% to the sector's total.

Tourism is also important for Songyuan's service sector. During 2007, more than 1.1 million tourists visited the city, up 20.7% year on year, while tourism income totaled approximately RMB 1.1 billion, rising 66.9% compared to the previous year.

The city's foreign trade amounted to US$69.8 million in 2007, down 58.6% compared to the previous year partly due to shrinking wood exportation. Exports tumbled 61.7% to US$61.2 million, while imports sank 3.4% to US$8.6 million. Major export destinations include The U.S., Japan, South Korea, France and Italy.

Songyuan attracted contractual foreign investments of US$124 million in 2007, while the utilized FDI in the city reached US$50.0 million.

Cultural Highlights

Songyuan has a profound history. As early as 7,000 years ago, there were people living and multiplying here. Songyuan culture is a branch of Guandong culture, and is famous for its Manchu and Mongol folk character.

Songyuan is one of the birthplaces of Manchu culture. Manchu ancestors were born in Songyuan and followed their own religion, namely Shamanism.

Tourist Attractions

Tourist attractions in Songyuan include Chagan Lake, which is one of six freshwater lakes in China, Changshan Pearl Garden, an A-level national park in China, Lianhuayuan, which means headstream of the lotus flower, the 185.5 meter-high Hada Mountain, Longhua Temple, which is the largest temple in Aisa in terms of land area, and the 70 year-old Ciyun Temple.

Shengyu, is one of the most famous dishes in Songyuan and has approximately 300 years of history. In addition, Mongol dishes such as roasted lamb and milk tea are also popular in Songyuan.