Anshan
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Northeast China (东北) » Liaoning (辽宁) » Anshan (鞍山)
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[edit] Overview
Anshan is the third largest prefecture level city in Liaoning province of China. Situated in the central area of the province, Anshan is about 92 km south of Shenyang, the province's capital. Anshan is on the boundary between the Mountains of eastern Liaoning and the plains of the west. The prefecture has a population of 3,584,000 people and covers an area of about 9,252 square kilometres. The distance from the east to the west of the prefecture is 133 kilometres. The area contains the famous Qiānshān National Park. The city's name is derived from the shape of a nearby mountain that resembles the shape of a horse's saddle, which can be seen on the left (west) about five minutes before the northbound train arrives at Anshan Station. Anshan is home to the Anshan Iron and Steel Group, one of the largest steel producers in China. --from wikipedia.org
[edit] History
The area of Anshan has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The area remained of little significance, a small city in Liaodong province, overshadowed by neighbouring Liaoyang city, until the mid 20th Century. In 1587 Anshan was fortified by the Ming Dynasty to combat the growing power of the Manchu. The city was burnt down during the Boxer Rebellion, and was destroyed again in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). As a result of this war, Japan had gained influence in Liaoning and was engaged in industrialising the region. Anshan lay beside the new South Manchuria Railway line that ran from the port of Dalian to the major city of Shenyang. As a joint Sino-Japanese venture, Anshan Zhenzing Iron Ore Company Unlimited was started in Anshan in 1918. After the Mukden Incident in 1931, Japan occupied the northeast of China. The mills were turned into a Japanese owned monopoly. In 1933, the site was expanded to include steel production and the company was renamed Showa Steel Works.[3] Anshan became part of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. Additional industries developed around the iron and steel mills. The city of Anshan grew significantly in size around this new industrial site.
Anshan had become one of the largest producers of iron and steel in Asia if not the world.[4] It was therefore of strategic importance in the Pacific War, and was subject to constant attack by B-29 Superfortress strategic bombers of the USAAF. Japanese Army detached the 1st Chutai (unit) of 104th Sentai (squadron) of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, to Anshan, with other air squadrons for industrial defense purposes. Although this unit was equipped with modern Nakajima Ki-84 Ia (Manshu Type) Hayate "Frank" fighters, manufactured by Manshūkoku Hikōki Seizo KK, the plant suffered heavy damage from the air raids, losing up to 30% of its capacity. [5]
At the end of the war, Soviet Red Army forces launched Operation August Storm, which captured Manchuria form the Japanese. The Soviets looted the ruins of Shōwa Steel Works for anything that could be taken back to the Soviet Union. With the defeat of Japan in 1945, Anshan was returned to China along with the rest of Chinese Manchuria. However, peace had not yet arrived. Civil war continued between the Chinese Nationalist Government and the Communist People's Liberation Army. The city of Anshan was the scene of one of the battles of this war. A monument in Lieshishan park commemorates the battle. On the 19th of February 1948, Anshan was liberated by the PLA.
The north east of china was marked out to become a major industrial centre for the new People's Republic of China. Anshan was set to become a key part of this industrial development. The steel mills had been damaged during the wars. In December 1948, the Anshan Iron and Steel Company - also known as Angang - was founded. Production in the newly repaired steel plant resumed on July 9 1949. The plant was expanded to become the largest steel producer in China. Other industries setup alongside the steel plant including mining for coal, iron and other minerals. This industrial wealth had an environmental cost. The open-hearth furnaces of the steel mill created large amounts of dust and other pollution. Along with its growing reputation as a major steel producer, Anshan was also gaining a reputation as a dirty, smelly town.
Anshan became a formal administrative region under the Northeastern People's Government (later renamed as the Northeastern Administration Commission) in November, 1949. On March 12, 1953, the city became a municipality under the Central Government direct administration. Haicheng County and Xiuyan County were subordinated to Liaodong Province. Tai'an County was subordinated to Liaoxi Province. August 22, 1954, the central government decided that Anshan should be administered by Liaoning Province. The State Council confirmed that Anshan should be in charge of Xiuyan County and Haicheng city in 1985.
The furnaces of the steel plant were changed in the 1980s to designs which blow oxygen in from the front. This increased the production and also reduced the pollution. In the 1990s, they were additionally altered to blow oxygen in from the top as well. This further increase production and reduced pollution. In December 2000, all three production lines of Anshan Iron and Steel company switched form mould-casting to continuous casting. This new technology has significantly reduced the dust and other pollution in the city. The new plant equipment is also much less labour intensive. This has meant a reduction in the workforce has caused an unemployment problem in the city. A new drive to market Anshan as a tourist destination is hoped to help bolster the cities economy.
--from wikipedia.org
[edit] Map
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[edit] Weather
Current Conditions (2010-03-18 14:00:00, local time)
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Anshan |
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Anshan Weather Forecast
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[edit] Getting in & Getting out
[edit] By Air
The nearest airport to Anshan is Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (SHE) simplified Chinese: 沈阳桃仙国际机场. This is some 90km away and take about 2 hours to reach by road. There are coaches running regularly between Anshan and Shenyang airport. A more frequent coach service runs from the center of Shenyang, see below.
[edit] By Train
Anshan is on the main line between Dalian and Shenyang. There are direct trains from most cities in Liaoning and neighboring provinces such as Jilin, Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia as well as to Beijing.
[edit] By Bus
Anshan's long distance coach station is in the center of town on the southern side of the square beside the train station. Regular coaches run to Anshan from most neighboring cities and other regions too. Coaches to and from Shenyang run as frequently as every 10 or 15 minutes. Effectively they leave when full. This route costs 25 RMB each way. Direct coaches between Anshan and Beijing's Eastern long distance coach station run several times a day.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] By Ship
[edit] Getting Around
[edit] By Public Bus
Buses to just about every part of town from the area near the train station. Purchase a town map and it should have the bus routes on it. Bus route number 8 goes past the Jade Buddha temple and terminates outside Qianshan Park. To the Jade Buddha will cost 2 RMB and to Qianshan 8RMB. Most other buses cost just 1 RMB around the city. A few of the longer routes into the suburbs will cost 2 RMB. Buses on route No.8 depart from the Jianguo Street behind the long-distance bus station, at the south east end of the square near the train station. Other buses leave from the local bus station situated to the north west corner of the square.
[edit] By Tour Bus
[edit] By Metro
[edit] By Taxi & Rental Car
Taxis are inexpensive in Anshan. The rates are 6 RMB for up to 3km and 2 RMB for each 1km there after. All taxis are metred but for longer journeys, you may negotiate the fare. A taxi to Qianshan mountains will cost about 30 RMB.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Hotels
[edit] Budget
[edit] Restaurants
[edit] Budget
- Street food, (Various locations, usually near school gates.). A wide variety of foods form lamb kebabs, quick fried chicken strips and even octopus on a stick. Look out for a popular local pancake cooked with an egg smeared over the surface, some spring onion, leak and a hotdog sausage in the center. 1 or 2 RMB.
- Pizza house, (Behind No.2 middle school (Er Zhong Xue).). Probably the best quality western food restaurant in town. They server a variety of pizzas as well as steaks.
- Guoqiao Mixian, (Opposit No.1 Middle school (Yizhong) near to the Center hospital (Zhongxin Yiyuan)). Hot spicy rice noodle restaurant. About 10 yuan per bowl..
[edit] Mid price
- A Er Korean BBQ, Gongnong Jie (Next to the Vanke Office building in the just off of Shungli Lu.). Anshan is close to the border with Korea, so a large Korea population lives here. The town has dozens of Korean BBQ restaurants. Food is served raw, marinated in a variety of spicy sauces. In the center of the table is a pit containing hot coals. It is over these coals that you cook your food. A selection of spices and sauces are provided for you to dip the cooked meat into. Typically you then place the meat inside a lettuce leaf along with raw garlic and chili pepper (to you taste), before eating.
- Fuxiang, Yuanlin Lu, Tiedong. Anshan (Near Weixiao Nursing Coledge.). Various Chinese traditional specialities.
- xianlaisun, Yuanlin Lu, Tiedong (Near No.9 Middle school (Jiuzhong)). Hot pot restaurant. edit
- Badifuxing, Yuanlin Lu, Tiedong. (In a small lane next to 219 Primary School (Eryijiu Xiao Xue)). Sichuan style food. Very spicy.
[edit] Splash out
- Dongshan Hotel, (Off of Eryijiu Jie (219 Road) near the main entrance to 219 park.). High quality Chinese food.
- Shanghai Club, Hunan Jie (Just south of 219 park in the Hunan district of the city.). Up market restaurant serving typical Chinese food.
--from wikitravel.org
[edit] Shopping
- Jade Carvings of Xiuyan County - Xiuyan County in Anshan is full of a kind of jade the people call the "national stone" of China, and in the higher end department stores (like Parkson), you can find decent pricing. There is a large Jade market situated at the north end of the Jade Buddha temple complex.
- Nantai luggage market is a large leather bag market is located near Anshan's sibling city of Haichung. Here a large array of leather and imitation leather products are available such as bags, belts and wallets. Many are cheap copies of western designer brands and counterfeit goods are the norm here. Prices will be significantly cheaper than equivalent copies in other areas of china. If buying to take out of china, it's probably best to stick to Chinese brands than buy the fake western brands so as to avoid problems at customs.
[edit] Night Life & Entertainment
- SOS Club, Shungli Lu, Tiedong District, Anshan. (Next to Wuhan hotel about 1km North of Shungli Square.). A lively and amazingly decorated nightclub. 20 RMB per bottle of beer.
- Coco Club, Shungli Lu, Leishan district, Anshan. (Near to the main gate of Leishan Park, below the war memorial.). A lively and amazingly decorated nightclub. 20 RMB per bottle of beer.
[edit] Sports & Recreation
- Ghost tour, Silong, Dongshan Jie. Anshan. (On the fourth floor of Silong shopping mall.). The ghost tour or haunted house should keep children amused for a while. They must walk through a labyrinth of subtly lit passageways while gooles and ghosts leap out and surprise them.
- Dongshan Amusement Park, (located at the dongshan entrance of 219 park, near the Jade Buddha Temple.). A large number of amusement rides are situated here and run throughout the year.
- Hot Spring Water Spas. There are four Spas in Anshan which take advantage of the areas natural hot springs. Visitors may shower and bathe in the spring water. Some spas are open 24 hours. At Tanggangzi Spa, just south of the city, visitors may have mud treatment where they are buried in hot volcanic sand, which has been infused with the spring water.
--from wikitravel.org
