24 TUESDAY JULY 29, 2008 SPECIALSUPPLEMENT CHINA DAILY
Today’s shrine at Xibaipo marking momentous Shijiazhuang days in contemporary Chinese history still shining Historic revolutionary city ramps up growth, environmental efforts
By Wang Yi struction in recent years. Its gross domestic product (GDP) hit 239.3 billion yuan Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei in 2007 for a per capita GDP province, has a glorious name standing of 25,144 yuan. closely connected with the birth Foreign trade volume reached of New China. $5.1 billion last year. Xibaipo about 90 km from ur- The booming economy has ban Shijiazhuang was before a fueled the city’s construction. little-known village, but it has Local authorities have become a revolutionary shrine, strengthened infrastructure the site where headquarters of construction and expanded the Communist Party of China green coverage, seeking to cre- (CPC) was established after it ate a friendly environment. moved from northwest Shaanxi Situated on the rim of the province in 1948. Bohai Bay and neighboring The village was home to Beijing and Tianjin, the capital the CPC’s top leaders, though of Hebei province has a location for less than one year and of strategic signifi cance and is witnessed momentous days in growing into a key transporta- contemporary Chinese history. tion center. After the People’s Liberation It has a widespread road Army swept across China, a network, air service to more historic Party conference was than 20 domestic cities and 10 held at Xibaipo before found- international cargo routes and ers of the New China set off one of China’s three biggest for Beijing. cargo railway stations. Shijiazhuang was also the To further enhance its appeal to rejuvenating the city. support, Shijiazhuang is also site of other firsts in New to visitors and improve the liv- The efforts won the city an proud of its role in contribution China. ing environment for locals, the award presented by the Minis- to elevating the performance The city hosted the inception city government has mounted a try of Housing and Urban-Rural of Chinese national table ten- of modern China’s financial series of projects to improve its Development last year. nis team. system as the birthplace of appearance and ecology. Another asset is the city’s As a national ping-pong the currency renminbi. The After years of effort, it has pool of human resources. It is training center, the city has People’s Bank of China, the new green areas and a recently home to 67 research institutes hosted intense training and nation’s central bank, was also restored 57-km section of river and 34 universities and col- international competitions. begun there. with 22 parks. leges, including seven experts National teams from Ger- Ancient temple Art center Instead of resting on its A number of landmarks, from the Chinese Academy of many, Japan, France, Italy and historic laurels, Shijiazhuang public facilities and residential Sciences and the Chinese Acad- Australia are among those forged relationships with in economics, technology and Thirteen Fortune 500 com- has made marked progress in communities developed in re- emy of Social Sciences. training at the site more than 20 foreign cities culture with 192 countries and panies have made investments economic growth and city con- cent years have also contributed In addition to intellectual Shijiazhuang has now and exchanged cooperation regions. in the city.
Zhaozhou Bridge built more than 1,400 years ago is still in use. Boosting industrial growth
By Te Kan cling economy is highlighted manufacturing history. in plans for the city’s chemical Textiles and garments sector. Textiles and garments Shijiazhuang will aid the fur- A model chemicals site now have long been important to ther development of industries under construction will use the city’s economy. ranging from bio-tech, chemi- an integrated energy supply At its peak, the sector cals, information technology, system and optimize the use had 1 million spindles and machinery manufacturing of petroleum, coal and chlo- 100,000 workers. At present, and textiles, according to rine alkali, which are closely 53 companies are involved in recent plans from the city related in industrial chain. the industry. government. The 6 sq km, 16 billion Among them, Shijiazhuang A modern industrial layout yuan site is projected to real- Changshan Textile Group is has now taken shape in the ize 4 billion yuan in revenues listed one of the 50 key textile city, with pharmaceuticals, by the end of 2010. companies in the country and Traveling in time to ancient Hebei textiles, chemicals, electron- Science and research among the 30 top enterprises ics, food and construction With a cluster of research in the province. materials its key sectors. institutes and centers of Agriculture is also an im- By Bian Ji After he drank one cup, he When the decoy troop pre- vived at least 10 major fl oods, Local firms North China higher learning, the city has portant part of local economy. fell to sleep. The story says he tended to retreat towards the eight wars and numerous earth- Pharmaceutical Group Corp, strong capability for innova- Sprawling across the north didn’t awake for three years. river, the enemy gave chase. quakes, and is still in use. Shijiazhuang Pharmaceuti- tion, especially in aviation China plain, Shijiazhuang Shijiazhuang in Hebei prov- The tale has continued to mod- The Han troops ran until Cultural town cal Group and dairy producer and space, semiconductors, has been termed “the barn in ince has yielded a string of ern times. they encountered the river. Zhengding, a town about 15 Sanlu Group are among six satellite communications, the region”. archeological discoveries that Liquor in two bronze con- The desperate soldiers had no km from urban Shijiazhuang, based in the city on the list measurement and control Its fertile soil, distinct leads visitors back in time to tainers discovered in ancient choice but to turn back and is a State-level cultural res- of the top 500 Chinese com- technologies, and modern seasons and ample rain and its ancient civilization. Zhongshan tombs — reportedly fi ght hard. ervation. The town boasts a panies. agriculture. sunshine provide the needed Warring States the oldest alcohol ever discov- Due to the Han army’s plucky 22.28-m-high copper Buddha The local government’s Nearly 80 software fi rms natural conditions for inten- Zhongshan, a prosperous ered — still gives off aroma after performance, the Chu troops in statue from the Song Dynasty moves come in response to have operations in the city, sive farming state during Warring States more than 2,300 years. turn began to retreat, and were (960-1279), well-preserved both increasing competitive- accounting for 33 percent of Wheat, corn, vegetables, Period (475-221 BC), seems a Historic battle intercepted by other wing of ancient buildings and many ness and the potential for the provincial total. pears, dates, eggs, diary prod- riddle, with its name mentioned Jingjing, a county of Shi- General Han’s army. Attacked legends. greater growth. The city’s electronic in- ucts and pork are the major in a few historical records, yet jiazhuang, was the site of a front and rear, the Chu army It has grown into one of the Pharmaceuticals formation sector generated produce of Shijiazhuang’s details are sparse. battle between the Han and was eventually defeated. major tourist destinations in Shijiazhuang enjoys dis- 5.33 billion yuan in revenue counties. Its annual output of When dozens of ancient Chu armies in 206 BC. An account of the battle, re- Shijiazhuang. tinct advantages in the phar- in the fi rst half of this year, eggs accounts for about one- tombs were discovered in Shi- Both were major military corded in the Book of History Mural art maceutical industry. increasing 17.6 percent year- tenth of the country’s total. jiazhuang in the winter of 1973, forces competing to rule the written during the Western Han Murals painted on 130 sq The city has more than 290 on-year. The city is also a regional a veil was lifted on the vanished entire country at the end of the Dynasty (206 BC- AD 24), cre- m of Pilu Temple in the 14th medicine makers, accounting Vehicles and machinery commercial hub. More than civilization. Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) ated a well-known idiom — fi ght- century are seen as ancient for 15 percent of the country’s Expanding production of 150,000 commercial op- Among tens of thousands of A Han army led by General ing with a river behind, indicat- artistic jewels. total, and at least 600 compa- airplanes, automobiles, auto erations are housed in its 120 unearthed cultural relics, a 32 Han Xin defeated its Chu rivals ing a life-or-death battle. The paintings depict wise nies involved in medicine parts, and mechanical and department stores and trade kg copper map of a king’s tomb at the battle, despite a smaller Stone bridge tales from Buddhism, Taoism sales. electrical products is a main centers and 29 shopping is the earliest copper-made army. Zhaozhou Bridge, built more and Confucianism as well as As six Shijiazhuang-based goal in the city’s industrial arcades. architecture plan discovered In contrast to advantageous than 1,400 years ago, is the ancient Chinese myths. fi rms rank among the most development, according to Among them, 34 companies in the world to date. locations for troop deployment world’s oldest open-span stone Because of its paintings, the profi table Chinese medicine the city government. have more than 100 million Zhongshan had high-quality described in classic military segmented arch bridge. It was temple was listed as a protected makers and a number of local The first China-made yuan in annual sales. alcohol-making techniques. books — which advocate easy dedicated as an international national cultural site in 1996. brands are becoming house- proprietary light multi- The city’s markets for One story in an ancient Chi- withdrawal, mountain am- historic civil engineering land- In addition to the historical hold names. purpose plane, which came leather, cloth and timber pro- nese mythology says a drinker bushes or natural obstacles to mark by the American Society attractions, Shijiazhuang is Chemicals off the production line vide a boon to locals and spur heard of its reputation for alco- enemies — Han deployed part of Civil Engineers in 1991. also rich in folk culture, such Extending the industrial in Shijiazhuang, marked the growth of both the local hol making and went there for of his army in front of a river The 64-m-long bridge with a as paper cutting and wood chain and building a recy- a milestone in the city’s and regional economy. a drink. to divert attention. central span of 37 m has sur- carving.
Green city center in Shijiazhuang