Major Economic Indicators (2007)

Source: Siping Economic and Social Development Report 2007

Introduction

Siping is located in the southwestern part of Jilin Province, in the middle of Songliao Plain and at the intersection of Jilin Province, Liaoning Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It covers an area of 14,382 sq km. The population of the city amounted to 3.3 million at the end of 2007.  

Siping has a temperate, continental monsoon climate with plenty of rainfall and four distinct seasons. The average temperature is 4-6 Celsius. The average annual precipitation reaches 750-850 mm, while the average annual sunshine totals to 2,500-2,700 hours.

Soil in Siping is fertile. Plain covers approximately 79% of the city's lands. Four commodity grain bases in Jinlin Province, namely Gongzhuling City, Lishu County, Yitong Man Autonomous County, and Shuangliao City, are under the administration of Siping. Siping's grain output amounted to 5.9 million tons, contributing approximately 24.1% to the province's total.

Transportation in Siping is very convenient. The Shanghai-Harbin Railway, the Beijing-Harbin Railway, the Beijing-Harbin Highway and the Changchun-Shenyang Expressway run through the city.

Economic Features

Siping realized GDP of RMB 47.5 billion in 2007, representing a rise of 20.8% year on year. The city's GDP accounted for approximately 9.1% of Jilin's total and ranked fourth after Changchun, the capital of Jilin Province, Jilin City, and Songyuan.

Primary industry generated value-added output of RMB 16.2 billion in 2007, accounting for 34.1% of the city's GDP. Agriculture and forestry realized gross industrial output of RMB 11.5 billion and RMB 160 million in 2007, respectively, while during the same year, animal husbandry and fisheries generated gross industrial output of RMB 16.7 billion and RMB 22 million, respectively.

In 2007, value-added output of secondary industry (industry and construction) amounted to RMB 16.5 billion and accounted for 34.6% of the city's total.

The industrial sector realized value-added industrial output of 13.5 billion in 2007, while the value-added industrial output generated by the industrial enterprises with designated size or above reached RMB 12.2 billion in 2007, up 35.6% year on year. Heavy and light industrial enterprises realized RMB 7.6 billion and RMB 4.6 billion, contributing 62.0% and 38.0% to the total, respectively.

Agricultural and sideline products processing, electricity and thermal power, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals are the pillar industries of Siping. As a whole, they realized value-added industrial output of RMB 4.7 billion in 2007 and contributed 38.5% to the total generated by industrial enterprises with designated size or above. As of the end of 2007, there were no listed companies based in Siping.

Siping's construction sector realized value-added output of RMB 3.0 billion in 2007, accounting for about 17.9% of the secondary industry's total.

In 2007, the service sector generated value-added output of RMB 14.9 billion, contributing 31.3% to the city's GDP.

Wholesale and retail, the largest contributor to the service sector, generated value-added industrial output of RMB 2.5 billion in 2007, accounting for 16.6% to the sector's total, while real estate, the second largest contributor, realized value-added industrial output of RMB 1.9 billion, contributing 12.9% to the sector's total.

Tourism is an important part of the city's service sector. During 2007, 712,900 tourists visited the city, up 17.6% year on year, while tourism income totaled RMB 547 million, representing a rise of 38.5% compared to the previous year. Tourism income from foreign tourists reached US$397,500, increasing by 24.2% over 2006.

The city's foreign trade amounted to US$103 million in 2007, representing a healthy increase of 21.2% compared to the previous year. Exports sank 0.3% to US$68.7 million, while imports increased by 106.1% to US$34.8 million.

Siping attracted contractual foreign investment of US$14.9 million in 2007, while the utilized FDI in the city reached US$51.9 million.

Cultural Highlights

Siping has profound history. As early as the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (approximately 2,000 years ago), there were people living in the city. The Yan Kingdom Ruins indicate that the Han People started moving into Northeast China during the Spring-and-Autumn Period (770-221 B.C.).

Ancient ethnic groups such as the Fuyu, the Gaojuli, the Qidan, the Nvzhen, the Mongols, the Man, and Koreans have left behind cultural artifacts including Hanzhou of the Liao Dynasty, Xinzhou of the Jin Dynasty, and the Yehe Tribe Cultural Artifacts of the Ming Dynasty.

Yehe Town in Siping is the hometown of two empresses of the Qing Dynasty, Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Longyu.

Tourist Attractions

Tourist attractions in Siping include Erlong (two dragon) Lake Scenery Area, Yehe Town, Siping Battle Memorial Hall, and Yitong Manchu Folk Museum.

In Siping, Manchu Hotpot, Roasted Pigeons, and Bacon Cake are popular dishes among local people.