Kunshan is a county-level city in southeastern Jiangsu province with Shanghai bordering its eastern border and Suzhou on its western boundary. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Suzhou.
Kunshan
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Coordinates: 31°19′19″N 120°59′06″E / 31.322°N 120.985°E | |
Country | China |
Province | Jiangsu |
Prefecture-level city | Suzhou |
Government | |
• Party Secretary | Yao Linrong (姚林荣) |
• Mayor | Du Xiaogang ( |
Area | |
• Total | 927.68 km2 (358.18 sq mi) |
Population (2010
[1]) | |
• Total | 1,644,860 |
• Density | 1,800/km2 (4,600/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
Postal code | 215300 |
Area code | 0512 |
Vehicle registration plates | 苏EM, 苏EP, 苏EN, 苏EX |
Website | www |
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Name
editThere is a strong possibility that the name Kunshan is derived from a hill, but which one is controversial.[2] According to an impacted version,[clarification needed] the hill is present-day Little Kunshan (Xiaokunshan) in Shanghai's Songjiang District. The character
History
editLou county (婁縣) which administered Kunshan and the area around was established in Qin dynasty. It was named after Lou River (婁江; present-day Liu River:
Administration
editKunshan is divided into several towns and development areas:[5]
Kunshan New & Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone (
On July 10, 2018, the Jiangsu Provincial Government approved the Master Plan of Kunshan for Urban Development (2017-2035), which is based on the master plan of the Xiong’an New Area. These zones include the Qingyang Port Waterfront City Center, the Duke Creative Park, the Kunshan South Gateway, the Chaoyang Road CBD and the Tinglin Park Traditional Culture Zone—in addition to the S1 Rail Line Corridor.[6]
Qingyang Port Waterfront City Center[6]
Covering an area of 3.4 sq km, the area is located in Kunshan’s city center. Planned as an ecological, cultural and smart area, it will include six zones—a media port, a cultural oasis, an urban lifestyle community, a waterfront park, a futuristic life experience center, and a youth entrepreneurship park. The area is designed to be a waterfront space that will enrich and diversify citizens’ urban life as the most environmentally attractive and economically prosperous hub in the city.
Duke Creative Park[6]
The park is located west of the city’s technology innovation cluster, covering an area of 3.84 sq km. It sits nearby three lakes, two industrial parks, and a town. With the support of Duke Kunshan University, the area will host the Sino-US (Kunshan) Technology Innovation Center and serve as a mixed-used project integrating R&D centers, business services, and an ecological park. It aims to become a global magnet for technology entrepreneurs and innovators.
Kunshan South Gateway[6]
The area is located around the city’s high-speed railway station, with an area of 1.6 sq km. While serving as a transportation hub integrating high-speed trains, rail transportation, and public buses, the area will develop businesses such as office spaces for lease, business services and recruitment agencies. As an open, innovative modern gateway, the area will become an important business cluster in the inter-city economic belt of Shanghai and Nanjing.
Chaoyang Road CBD[6]
The CBD covers an area of 5.55 sq km in the old city center of Kunshan. The area will be furnished with enhanced amenities and infrastructure according to a plan featuring “one ring, two axes, three centers and four zones”. The project aims to revive and transform the old city center into an exquisite and livable model business district.
Tinglin Park Traditional Culture Zone[6]
The zone is located at the foot of Yufeng Mountain, with a planned area of 0.73 sq km. It is designed with cultural and art parks, culture-oriented businesses and ecological and leisure facilities. It will epitomize the natural beauty and cultural richness of the city.
S1 Rail Line Corridor[6]
The line is 41 km long and will be completely constructed underground with 28 stops. The line will pass by all the major zones of the city and will significantly alleviate local traffic congestion. The project will be integrated with the surface transportation system and serve as a strong boost to the city’s renewal.
Geography
editTopography
editThe area is relatively flat, but there is a gentle slope stretching from the south-east to north-west. The northern part consists of dense polder, while the southern part is dotted with various lakes. The major lakes are Dianshan Lake, Yangcheng Lake, Cheng Lake and Kuilei Lake. The Wusong River winds through the city, while smaller rivers criss-cross it in a grid pattern.
Climate
editClimate data for Kunshan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 21.7 (71.1) |
26.4 (79.5) |
28.9 (84.0) |
33.3 (91.9) |
35.6 (96.1) |
37.1 (98.8) |
38.6 (101.5) |
39.2 (102.6) |
36.4 (97.5) |
32.5 (90.5) |
27.7 (81.9) |
22.5 (72.5) |
39.2 (102.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) |
10.3 (50.5) |
14.6 (58.3) |
20.6 (69.1) |
25.8 (78.4) |
28.5 (83.3) |
32.7 (90.9) |
32.2 (90.0) |
28.2 (82.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
17.4 (63.3) |
10.8 (51.4) |
21.0 (69.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.3 (39.7) |
6.1 (43.0) |
10.2 (50.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
21.1 (70.0) |
24.6 (76.3) |
28.8 (83.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
24.3 (75.7) |
18.9 (66.0) |
13.2 (55.8) |
6.8 (44.2) |
16.9 (62.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) |
2.9 (37.2) |
6.6 (43.9) |
11.8 (53.2) |
17.2 (63.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
25.7 (78.3) |
25.5 (77.9) |
21.2 (70.2) |
15.4 (59.7) |
9.7 (49.5) |
3.5 (38.3) |
13.5 (56.4) |
Record low °C (°F) | −8.0 (17.6) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
0.0 (32.0) |
6.8 (44.2) |
12.3 (54.1) |
18.6 (65.5) |
16.6 (61.9) |
10.5 (50.9) |
2.5 (36.5) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
−7.9 (17.8) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 67.5 (2.66) |
62.7 (2.47) |
86.7 (3.41) |
78.4 (3.09) |
92.3 (3.63) |
198.6 (7.82) |
152.1 (5.99) |
182.3 (7.18) |
101.2 (3.98) |
66.5 (2.62) |
56.3 (2.22) |
45.1 (1.78) |
1,189.7 (46.85) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 10.4 | 10.0 | 11.9 | 10.9 | 11.0 | 13.7 | 11.8 | 12.4 | 9.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 125.5 |
Average snowy days | 2.6 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 6.1 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 76 | 75 | 73 | 72 | 72 | 80 | 79 | 80 | 79 | 76 | 75 | 73 | 76 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 116.2 | 118.1 | 142.4 | 165.4 | 175.7 | 128.8 | 193.4 | 192.5 | 163.3 | 163.1 | 135.6 | 132.6 | 1,827.1 |
Percent possible sunshine | 36 | 38 | 38 | 43 | 41 | 30 | 45 | 47 | 44 | 47 | 43 | 42 | 41 |
Source: China Meteorological Administration[7][8] |
According to an analysis of the local meteorological bureau, from 1961 to 2008, the annual and seasonal air temperatures were the increasing trends, especially in spring. The total precipitation remained static relatively, however, much concentrated in summer and winter.[9]
Economy
editThe composition of local GDP have changed drastically since 1978. In 1978, the primary sector, the secondary sector and the tertiary sector accounted for 51.4%, 28.9% and 19.7% of Kunshan's GDP, respectively. However, in 2015, the primary sector only accounted for 0.9% of Kunshan's GDP, while the secondary sector accounted for 55.1% and the tertiary sector accounted for 44.0%.[10] Kunshan is also home to over 1,000 hi-tech companies that have helped shape the city’s four economic pillars—optoelectronics, semiconductors, intelligent manufacturing, and RNAi and biomedicine.[6]
The total GDP of Kunshan was 316 billion RMB,[11] the highest of any Chinese county-level city in 2016.[12]
Kunshan is also home to many Taiwanese who have invested over the decades since China's opening up to the world in the late 70s.[13] Kunshan is also known as "Little Taiwan" because of the large Taiwanese community there.[13] In 2020, there were more than 100,000 Taiwanese people in Kunshan.[14]
The Chinese subsidiary of American Megatrends, American Megatrends Information Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. (
Culture
editKunqu Opera
editKunshan is the origin of Kunqu, also known as Kunqu opera. Kunqu is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the local melody of Kunshan, and subsequently came to dominate Chinese theater from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Today, Kunqu is performed in many cities in China.
Kunshan Culture & Art Center
editKunshan Culture & Art Center, situated west of downtown, is usually used as the venue for considerable local performances and conventions. The center is composed of a performing arts center, a convention center, a movie theater. Its first phase of the project is set in about 17.6 acres of land.[16]
Cuisine
editKunshan is known for its Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, which are prized for their sweet flesh and fatty roe. Yangcheng Lake, famous for its hairy crabs, is located in Kunshan.[17]
Recreation and tourism
editKunshan is one of the most visited tourist destinations among the Yangtze River Delta with over 20 million visits in 2016.[18]
The 2013 World Cyber Games were held in Kunshan in order to draw in tourism and positive press.[19]
-
Zhouzhuang Ancient Town
-
Qiandeng Ancient Town
-
Jinxi Ancient Town
-
Bacheng Water Town
Education
editThere are two institutions in Kunshan issuing at least bachelor's degree:
- Duke Kunshan University
- Applied Technology College of Soochow University
The city also hosts a variety of primary and secondary schools, both public and private:
- Canadian International School Kunshan[20]
- Kunshan Middle School[21]
- Kunshan West High School[22]
- Kunshan Zhenchuan High School
Transportation
editRoad
editExpressways
edit- G2 Beijing–Shanghai Expressway
- G1501 Shanghai Ring Expressway
- S5 Changshu–Jiaxing Expressway
- S48 Shanghai–Yixing Expressway
- S58 Shanghai–Changzhou Expressway
National Highway
editRailway
edit- Kunshan Railway Station is a railway station on Jinghu Railway situated in the south of the downtown. It principally handles freight.
- Kunshan South Railway Station is a junction where Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway and Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity High-Speed Railway link at. Besides, both Yangcheng Lake Railway Station and Huaqiao Railway Station are on the Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity High-Speed Railway.
Metro
editA plan made to construct two metro lines running through the city center was approved by the Jiangsu provincial government.[23][24] Kunshan is the first county-level city with a metro line. Line 11, Shanghai Metro has been extended to Huaqiao, Kunshan in 2013. Line 11 of Suzhou Rail Transit opened in June 2023.
Notable people
editLiterature
edit- Einar Tangen: Cities of China – Kunshan. The Kunshan Way. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2010; ISBN 978-7-119-06432-1.
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Tabulation of the 2010 Population Censue of the People's Republic of China by County: Kunshan. China Statistics Press. 2012. ISBN 978-7-5037-6659-6.
- ^ Wang (1990), pp. 73–74.
- ^
讀史 方 輿 紀要 , Vol. 24.崑 山 ,府 西北 二 十 三 里 。其西為 長谷 ,亦 曰華亭 谷 ,有水 縈繞百 餘 里 ,為 泖湖之 上 源 ,故 泖湖亦 兼谷 泖之名 。杜 佑 曰:「華 亭 縣 以華亭 谷 而名。」陸 機 臨命嘆曰:「華 亭 鶴 唳,可 復 聞乎?」蓋 其地嘗出鶴 也。山 之 得 名 ,亦 以陸機 兄弟 生 於此,取 崑 山出 玉 之 義 - ^ Wang (1990), pp. 11–68.
- ^ "Development Zones and Towns". Kunshan Municipal People's Government. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Kunshan releases "Five Zones, One Line" plan for urban renewal". Retrieved 2018-11-17.
- ^
中国 气象数 据 网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 25 June 2023. - ^
中国 气象数 据 网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 25 June 2023. - ^ "Characteristics of climate change from 1961 to 2008 in Kunshan, Jiangsu province". Journal of Meteorology and Environment. 26 (5): 53–56. 2010.
- ^ "Kunshan Statistic Yearbook (2015)". Archived from the original on 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2017-06-22.
- ^ "Main Economic Indicators of Kunshan (Jan-Dec 2016)".
- ^ "Release of Scientific Development Index of Studies of Small to Medium Sized City in China 2017".
- ^ a b Chien, Shiuh-Shen & Zhao, Litao. (2008). The Kunshan Model: Learning from Taiwanese Investors. Built Environment. 34. 427-443. 10.2148/benv.34.4.427.
- ^ "Why commercial ties between Taiwan and China are beginning to fray". The Economist. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ "International Offices." American Megatrends. Retrieved on February 17, 2019. "China:
安 迈信息 科技 (昆 山 )有限 公司 江 苏省昆 山 市 长江中路 198号 1号 楼 2101室 安 迈信息 科技 (昆 山 )有限 公司 , 邮编215301 (American Megatrends Information Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd., Room 2101, Building 1, No. 198, Changjiang Middle Road, Kunshan City, Jiangsu, China 215301)" - ^ "Kunshan Culture & Art Center". www.ks.gov.cn.
- ^ "Chinese Takeout: The "Cult of Crab" Surrounding Yangcheng Lake". RADII | Stories from the center of China’s youth culture. 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^
昆 山 :2016年 昆 山 接待 游 客 突破 2000万 人 次 . www.jstour.gov.cn (in Chinese). - ^ Szablewicz, Marcella (March 2016). "China's E-Sports Paradox". Slate Magazine.
- ^ "Home - CISK". www.ciskunshan.org. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
- ^ "Kunshan Middle School Proposal / United Design Group". ArchDaily. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
- ^ "Kunshan West High School Master Plan | Kunshan China | Integrated Planning and Design". World Landscape Architecture. 2013-07-24. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
- ^ "
省 政府 关于昆 山 市城 市 总体规划的 批复". Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-13. - ^ "
昆 山 市城 市 总体规划 (2009—2030)". Retrieved 25 March 2014.
Sources
edit- Wang, Daowei, ed. (1990). 《
昆 山 县志》 [Kunshan County Chorography] (in Chinese). Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House. ISBN 7-80519-404-1.
External links
edit- City of Kunshan
- City of Kunshan (in Chinese)
- Kunshan City English guide (Jiangsu.net)
- Kunshan City Guide
- Kunshan Leaps to the Head of China's Top 10 Richest Counties Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine