Maoming

Maoming, alternately romanized as Mowming,[lower-alpha 1] is a prefecture-level city located in southwestern Guangdong province, China. Facing the South China Sea to the city's south, Maoming city borders Zhanjiang to the west, Yangjiang to the east, and Yunfu to the northeast, and is 362 kilometers (225 mi) from Guangzhou and 121 kilometers (75 mi) from Zhanjiang. The Maoming Port is a Grade I port that handled 16.8 million tons of cargo in 2007. Refined oil and aquatic products are the major export products from the city. Major export destinations include Hong Kong, Macao and ASEAN member nations.

Maoming

茂名市

Mowming
Prefecture-level city
Nickname(s): 
南方油城 (Oil City of the South)
Location of Maoming City jurisdiction in Guangdong
Maoming
Location in China
Coordinates (Maoming municipal government): 21°39′46″N 110°55′32″E
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceGuangdong
Municipal seatMaonan District
Government
 • CPC Committee SecretaryLiang Yimin
 • MayorLi Hongjun (李红军)
Area
 • Prefecture-level city11,424.8 km2 (4,411.1 sq mi)
 • Urban
2,714 km2 (1,048 sq mi)
 • Metro
487 km2 (188 sq mi)
Elevation
29 m (95 ft)
Population
 (2010 census[1])
 • Prefecture-level city5,817,494
 • Density510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
 • Urban
2,436,312
 • Urban density900/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
 • Metro
828,821
 • Metro density1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
 • Major Nationalities
Han
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
525000 (Urban center)
525100-525400 (Other areas)
Area code(s)668
ISO 3166 codeCN-GD-09
GDP (2012)¥ 195.118 billion in total;
¥ 33,537 per capita
License Plate Prefix粤K
County-level divisions6
Coastline220 km (140 mi)
Websitewww.maoming.gov.cn
Maoming
"Maoming" in Chinese calligraphy
Chinese茂名
JyutpingMau6-ming4
Cantonese YaleMauhmìhng
Hanyu PinyinMàomíng
PostalMowming
Literal meaningNamed for Pan Maoming

As of the 2010 census, Maoming had a population of 5,817,494 inhabitants, 2,436,312 of whom live in the most developed area, which includes 2 urban districts (Maonan and Dianbai) even though its built-up (or metro) area is limited to Maonan District with 820,821 inhabitants. The city's birth rate is 11.04‰, and its GDP (2012) was RMB 195.118 billion (US$31.81billion), up by 10.6% over the previous year.[3] According to government sources, Maoming's GDP ranked 7th among Guangdong's 21 cities, and ranked 79th of China's 656 cities in 2012.[4]

Etymology

The city is named after Jin Dynasty Taoist scholar and doctor Pan Maoming (290–371), born in Gaozhou. The local area was renamed by imperial decree in honour of Pan in 598 A.D. during the Sui Dynasty.

History

During the early development of Chinese civilization in the Wei and Yellow River valleys and across the North China Plain, the area around Maoming was held by the Baiyue. After the Qin invaded in the late 3rd century BC, the area was divided into Nanhai, Xiang, and Guilin. Maoming County was established c. 600 under the Sui. Under the Qing, it comprised part of Gaozhou Prefecture.[2] Following the Chinese Civil War, Maoming became the primary community in the area and was raised to county-level city status in 1959.

In 2014, the city was the site of popular protests against p-Xylene, a chemical based on benzene that was being produced by local industry.[5] Since the 18th Party Congress and the ascension of Party general secretary Xi Jinping, Maoming has been one of the "hardest hit" areas of the anti-corruption campaign. It was seen as a city where buying and selling official positions was rampant. The 2014 investigation by central inspection authorities found that some 159 local officials had taken various forms of bribes.[6] The former Communist Party Secretary of Maoming, Zhou Zhenhong, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for corruption in relation to the p-Xylene scandal. Two other former party secretaries, Liang Yimin and Luo Yinguo, were removed from office and sentenced to prison, respectively.[5]

Demographics

The prefecture includes a large number of minority groups, including the Yao, Zhuang, and Miao, giving it diverse cultural activities and folk arts. The people of southern Maoming speak a Min language brought by Putianese immigrants which is especially closely related to the Leizhou dialect while the people of northern Maoming speak the Gaoyang dialect of Cantonese, as well as Mandarin.

Administration

The prefecture-level city of Maoming administers 5 county-level divisions, including 2 districts and 3 county-level cities.

Map
Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Population
(2010 census)		 Area
(km2)		 Density
(/km2)
Maonan District 茂南区 Màonán Qū 820,934 507 1,619.2
Dianbai District 电白区 Diànbái Qū 1,615,505 2,227 725.4
Huazhou 化州市 Huàzhōu Shì 1,178,873 2,354 500.8
Xinyi 信宜市 Xìnyí Shì 913,717 3,081 296.6
Gaozhou 高州市 Gāozhōu Shì 1,288,724 3,276 393.4

Geography

Situated in the southwestern coastal area of Guangdong, Maoming has under its jurisdiction Maonan District, Maogang District, Dianbai County. The city administers the smaller cities of Xinyi, Gaozhou, and Huazhou at the county level.

Maoming's coastline is 220 kilometers long. The "First Shoal of China" resort is 25 kilometers (16 mi) from downtown Maoming.

Economy

Maoming was called one of "the top 100 developed cities in China" and the "National Garden City". Maoming is one of the largest petrochemical production areas in South China, and one of the largest fruit production areas. Other major industries include tilapia culture and processing, winter-planted vegetable production, and other energy, material, and heavy-chemical industrial production.

Major Economic indicators (2012)[3]

GDP: RMB 195.118 billion (US$31.81 million), 10.6% up

GDP Composition:

  • Primary Industry (Agriculture) 19.1%
  • Secondary Industry (Industry & Construction) 37.2%
  • Tertiary Industry(Service) 43,7%

GDP Per Capita: RMB 33,537(US$5467.93), 8.9% up

Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

Fixed Asset Investment: RMB 18.01 billion (US$2,64 billion), 23.5% up

Utilized FDI: US$31 million, 44.2% down

Total Import & Export: US$673 million, 9.1% down

Export: US$532 million, 7.4% up

Import: US$141 million, 42.5% down

Sales of Consumer Goods: RMB 60.1 billion (US$8.8 billion), 20.3% up

Environmental issues

In March 2014, local people staged a protest over the production of paraxylene, a chemical used to make fabrics and plastic bottles at a plant run by the local government and state-owned Sinopec, China's biggest refiner.[7]

Transport

Highway

Maoming can be reached by the Maozhan Expressway, which is linked to the Kaiyang Expressway and Fokai Expressway, which leads to the provincial capital, Guangzhou. Guangzhou is a 5 - 6 hour commute from Maoming.[8]

Railway

Maoming is served by the Guangzhou-Maoming Railway, which runs east to the provincial capital, the Hechun-Maoming Railway, which runs west to the Litang-Zhanjiang Railway, and the Luoyang–Zhanjiang Railway, which runs north through eastern Guangxi and central Hunan to China's Central Plain.

Tourist attractions

Maoming is home to the No. 1 Shoal of China Vacation Area (中国第一滩), Chicken Island (Guangdong) (放鸡岛) and Tianmashan (天马山) Eco-tourist Area, the Temple of Madam Xian (冼太庙 ; Xiǎn Tài Miào) in Gaozhou, and the Genzi Litchi Cultural Tourist Area.

The No.1 Shoal of China Vacation Area is 25 kilometers (16 mi) from the downtown Maoming, in the Maogang District. With miles of fine beach outside the shelter belt, tourists can enjoy parachute gliding and sailboarding. It is also a national training center for beach volleyball, and often hosts national and international competitions.

Chicken Island is the largest island in Maoming, covering an area of 1.9 km2. This tourist resort is a diving center, boasting clear and pristine sea water. It is known for its coral reefs and recreational scuba diving. Skin diving, deep diving, and explorational diving are available as well.

The Temple of Madam Xian was constructed in 1535 in memory of Madam Xian, who was the female leader of the Baiyue Tribe. The temple is rich in cultural and historical objects, such as ancient statues, sculptures, and stone inscriptions.

Maoming is a famous litchi production area. The Genzi Litchi Cultural Tourist Area is situated in Genzi, a small town in Maoming.

Maoming's most popular local specialty foods include Huazhou Baiqie Chicken (白切鸡), Gaozhou Salted Chicken (盐焗鸡 yánjú jī), Fenpi (粉皮), Genzi Beef Rice Noodles and Xinyi Huaixiang Chicken.

Downtown Maoming is a comfortable walking city, great for just wandering into shops. A downtown park comes alive at night as couples and families stroll.

Maoming is accessible from Guangzhou (approximately four hours by train or a first class bus). Two train stations serve Maoming, one downtown that provides the connection to Guangzhou and points to the north, and one a few minutes south of town that connects to the south and west.

Climate

Notes
  1. Maoming has also been romanized as Mow-ming and Mow-ming-heën.[2]

References
  1. http://www.citypopulation.de/php/china-guangdong-admin.php
  2. Gützlaff, Charles (1838), China Opened, p. 527.
  3. "Maoming Economic and Social Development Report". Bureau of Statistics of Maoming.
  4. "SOUTHCN, Chinese City GDP Ranking 2012". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  5. 10年4任书记3人落马 (in Chinese). 14 October 2014.
  6. "Archived copy" 广东茂名买官价目表:副区长为转正送30万美金 (in Chinese). Netease. 17 August 2014. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Rajagopalan, Megha (31 March 2014). "Hundreds protest chemical plant in southern China". Reuters. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  8. http://www.chinatrainguide.com/guangzhou-railway-station/maoming.html
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