Haikou

Infobox Settlement
name =Haikou
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settlement_type =Prefecture-level city
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translit_lang1=Chinese
translit_lang1_type=Chinese
translit_lang1_info=海口
translit_lang1_type1=Pinyin
translit_lang1_info1=Hǎikǒu


imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Haikou Century Bridge


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map_caption = Location of Haikou Prefecture (yellow) within Hainan


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pushpin_map_caption = Location in China
pushpin_mapsize = 250
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = China
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Hainan
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area_total_km2 =2304.84
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population_as_of =2006
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population_total =830192
population_density_km2 =auto
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timezone = China Standard
utc_offset = +8
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latd=20 |latm=02 |lats=34 |latNS=N
longd=110 |longm=20 |longs=30 |longEW=E

postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 570000
area_code = 898
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website = http://www.haikou.gov.cn/
footnotes = Haikou ( _zh. wd|海wd|口; pinyin: Hǎikǒu), situated at the north of Hainan island, is the capital of Hainan Province of the People's Republic of China and has an estimated population of 830,192 (2006), therefore by far the largest city on the island.

History

Haikou originally grew up as the port for Qiongshan, the ancient administrative capital of Hainan Island, which is situated some 5 km inland. It became a military post in the 13th century and was fortified under the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The port is situated to the west of the mouth of the Nandu, Hainan's chief river. Although it has no good natural harbor, it has always been the principal port of the island.

After Qiongshan was opened to foreign trade under the Treaty of Tianjin (1858), Haikou began to rival the old administrative city. Haikou was created a separate administrative county in 1926; it overtook Qiongshan in population in the 1930s.

Haikou was much developed as a port during the Sino-Japanese War (1937–45) when the Japanese occupied Hainan Island from early 1939 to 1945. Since 1949, Haikou has retained its position as Hainan's main port, handling more than half of its total trade; it has replaced Qiongshan as the island's administrative capital.

Haikou was made a prefecture-level city as well as the capital of the newly-created Hainan Province in 1988.

Geography

Haikou has an area of 2,304.84 square kilometers. [cite web| url=http://www.haikou.gov.cn/zlhk/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=33602 |title=Geography of Haikou |publisher=Official website of Haikou government| date=2008-04-01|accessdate=2008-06-11|language=Chinese] It is situated on the north coast of Hainan Island, facing the Leizhou Peninsula, across the Hainan Strait (15 km wide); in an area that reaches from Zengmu Ansha in the south to the Qiongzhou Strait in the north; bordering the sea areas of the South China Sea and facing Vietnam in the west across Beibu Bay.

Administrative districts

*Longhua District
*Xiuying District
*Qiongshan District
*Meilan District

Economy

The GDP per capita was US$3,049 in 2007, ranked no. 43 among 659 Chinese cities.

Haikou exports great quantities of agricultural produce and livestock. There is a small amount of industry, including canning, textiles, rice hulling, and light engineering.

ister cities

*flagicon|SCO Perth, Scotland
*flagicon|USA Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
*flagicon|POL Gdynia, Poland
*flagicon|AUS Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

References

External links

* [http://www.haikou.gov.cn/ Haikou Government website]
* [http://www.asia-planet.net/china/haikou.htm Detailed information about Haikou]