Wenchang Explained

Wenchang
Settlement Type:County-level & Sub-prefectural city
Pushpin Map:Hainan
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the city center in Hainan
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:People's Republic of China
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Hainan
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:2403
Population As Of:2010
Population Total:537,428
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Metro:115000
Timezone:China standard time
Utc Offset:+8
Coor Pinpoint:Wenchang Park
Coordinates:19.617°N 110.7551°W
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:571300
Area Code:0898
Website:http://www.wenchang.gov.cn

Wenchang (postal: Mencheong;) is a county-level city in the northeast of Hainan province, China. Although called a "city", Wenchang refers to a large land area in Hainan - an area which was once a county. The urban center and the seat of government of Wenchang is officially known as "Wencheng Town" (Chinese: 文城镇),[1] which is also colloquially referred to as Wenchang City.

History

Wenchang, or in local Hainanese dialect as Boon Siou, is the source of most overseas Hainanese migrants, with the majority of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, UK, Australia, USA, Canada & Europe Hainanese population having ancestral roots in Boon Siou / Wen Chang. The Wenchang dialect is considered the prestige form of the Hainanese language and is used by the island's provincial broadcasting media.

It was promoted from a county to a city on November 7, 1995, and had a population of 86,551 in 1999 (estimated 2006: 115,000). Maps in the Republic of China on Taiwan continue to show Wenchang as a county part of its Kwangtung province.

Geography

Located in the northeastern part of Hainan, Boon Siou/Wenchang covers a total area of . The east side has a long coastline along the South China Sea while the west borders Dongzhai Harbor, Haikou's Meilan District, Qionghai, and Ding'an County. The land is mostly hilly and contains both forest and agricultural areas. The entire area is populated with countless towns, farms, and villages.

Wencheng Town

Wencheng Town is located in the south of Wenchang, southeast of the provincial capital, Haikou.[2] There is a central park and covered market downtown. Also located downtown is a large, modern campus. A new hospital is under construction on the outskirts.

The centre of the town is at near sea level with a canal running between one of the main streets and Wennan Old Street. This area has been subject severe flooding a number of times in the past. Another main road runs from the centre, uphill to the south. This road leads to Yilong Bay. Directly to the north of the town centre lies a fairly affluent hilltop community occupied by numerous housing compounds for retired military and other government workers.

Auto-rickshaws and motorbikes provide the taxi service in the town. There are no car taxis.

Wennan Old Street

Wennan Old Street is a visitor attraction located in the heart of the town. The street is lined with fully restored tong lau buildings similar to those in Haikou's Bo'ai Road area (now being restored) as well as the old street in Puqian (unrestored and dilapidated).

Other towns

Climate

Wenchang has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am).

Culture

Wenchang Chicken originates from this city.

Points of interest

Wenchang is the ancestral home of the Soong sisters: Soong Ching-ling, Soong Ai-ling, Soong Mei-ling and the birthplace of their father Charlie Soong.

Spaceport

See main article: Wenchang Satellite Launch Center. The Wenchang Satellite Launch Center is located in Wenchang. This is China's fourth and southernmost space vehicle launch facility and because of its low latitude, the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center has been selected to launch China's space station. On 22 September 2007, CCTV officially announced the construction of an expanded Wenchang Satellite Launch Center has been approved by the State Council and the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China[3] after decades of postponement due to political concerns.

Education

Notable people

Artists

Business

Eunuchs

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wencheng Town . zh:文城镇 . Wenchang City Government . 2014-03-19 . zh-hans.
  2. Wenchang, http://en.hainan.gov.cn/englishgov/map/wenchang/index.html
  3. Web site: http://news.sohu.com/20070922/n252300944.shtml . zh:中国将在海南省文昌市建设新的航天发射场-搜狐新闻 . Sohu News . 2007-09-22.