Yongkang (Chinese: 永康; pinyin: Yǒngkāng), formerly known as Lizhou (Chinese: 丽州; pinyin: Lìzhōu), is a county-level city located in the central part of Zhejiang, in the People's Republic of China. It is southeast of the Jinhua City boundary and approximately 180 km (111.8 mi) from Hangzhou. It has an area of 1,049 km2 (405 sq mi) and a population of 964,203 as of the 2020 census, including more than 100,000 non-resident workers. According to a 2010 census, its built-up (or metro) area of Yongkang City and Wuyi County was home to 1,426,659 inhabitants.[2] Yongkang is known as the "hardware capital of China."

Yongkang
永康市
Yungkang
Xijin Bridge
Yongkang is located in Zhejiang
Yongkang
Yongkang
Location in Zhejiang
Coordinates: 28°54′N 120°02′E / 28.900°N 120.033°E / 28.900; 120.033
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceZhejiang
Prefecture-level cityJinhua
Area
 • County-level city1,046.02 km2 (403.87 sq mi)
 • Urban
1,046.02 km2 (403.87 sq mi)
 • Metro
2,610.12 km2 (1,007.77 sq mi)
Population
 (2020 census[1])
 • County-level city964,203
 • Density920/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
 • Urban
964,203
 • Urban density920/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,426,665
 • Metro density550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
321300
Area code0579
Websitehttp://www.yk.gov.cn/

History edit

 
A map of the Yongkang government building during the Qing dynasty

The Chinese name Yongkang means "eternal well-being." The city was formally established in 245 CE in the Wu Kingdom, during the Three Kingdoms (220–280 CE) period.[citation needed] In the last two decades, the city has become known for both its aggressive promotion of tourism and its booming hardware manufacturing industry. It is widely considered "the hardware capital of China,"[3] though Shenzhen has also been given the title.[4][5] In 2003, Yongkang's GDP ranked 47th out of over one thousand counties nationwide.[citation needed]

Lizhou was the ancient name of Yongkang. According to legend, when the mother of Sun Quan, the King of Wu, was ill, she went on a pilgrimage to pray for "eternal well-being" at a temple in Lizhou. After she recovered, Sun Quan was very pleased and named the area Yongkang ("eternal well-being") after her speedy recovery. At that time, it was a part of Wushang City; however, during the Tang dynasty, Yongkang was independently recognized under the name Lizhou, eventually becoming the general administrative area of Yue Prefecture.

In 1992, the State Council approved Yongkang as a county-level city.[6][citation needed]

Administrative divisions edit

Subdistricts:[7]

Towns:

Economy edit

Since ancient times, Yongkang has been known for its hardware production. After 30 years of reform and modernization, Yongkang evolved from traditional to modern hardware, accelerating the pace of industrial upgrading and product branding. The county then became known domestically and abroad as a "hardware capital."

The city of Yongkang has always enjoyed the name "City of Metals," as metals and machinery are its flagship industry. Other industries in the city have grown consistently, including the production of electric tools, building materials, and automobile/motorcycle accessories. Additionally, the city is a national base for the production of anti-theft doors, electric bicycles, scooters, and thermal cups.

Due to fears of industrial theft, the Yongkang door industry, which has maintained its growth since 1997, has now become the eighth-largest Yongkang hardware industry. It has 454 enterprise portal products and produces four anti-theft doors every day, accounting for 1% of the national output of anti-theft doors. 52% of the national output of stainless steel tableware and 45% of the national output of the daily-use weighing apparatus come from Yongkang, along with a third of the national output of power tools. Packaging drums, non-slip case scales and other products accounted for more than 90% of the domestic market. Scooters, gas stove burners, pumps and saw blades are its primary exports.

Geographical edit

Yongkang is located in the central part of Zhejiang, in the People's Republic of China. It is southeast of the Jinhua City boundary and approximately 180 km (111.8 mi) from Hangzhou. It has an area of 1,049 km2 (405 sq mi).

Climate edit

Climate data for Yongkang (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 27.6
(81.7)
29.9
(85.8)
34.9
(94.8)
35.0
(95.0)
37.5
(99.5)
38.5
(101.3)
41.4
(106.5)
41.2
(106.2)
40.7
(105.3)
36.5
(97.7)
32.1
(89.8)
27.3
(81.1)
41.4
(106.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.6
(51.1)
13.4
(56.1)
17.6
(63.7)
23.8
(74.8)
28.1
(82.6)
30.3
(86.5)
35.1
(95.2)
34.3
(93.7)
29.8
(85.6)
24.9
(76.8)
19.3
(66.7)
13.2
(55.8)
23.4
(74.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.2
(43.2)
8.5
(47.3)
12.5
(54.5)
18.4
(65.1)
23.1
(73.6)
25.9
(78.6)
30.0
(86.0)
29.3
(84.7)
25.2
(77.4)
19.9
(67.8)
14.3
(57.7)
8.2
(46.8)
18.5
(65.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8)
5.1
(41.2)
8.8
(47.8)
14.3
(57.7)
19.1
(66.4)
22.6
(72.7)
26.0
(78.8)
25.6
(78.1)
21.7
(71.1)
16.1
(61.0)
10.6
(51.1)
4.7
(40.5)
14.8
(58.7)
Record low °C (°F) −8.2
(17.2)
−5.2
(22.6)
−4.3
(24.3)
1.2
(34.2)
9.2
(48.6)
12.1
(53.8)
18.4
(65.1)
18.2
(64.8)
12.5
(54.5)
2.7
(36.9)
−2.3
(27.9)
−9.5
(14.9)
−9.5
(14.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 81.0
(3.19)
81.8
(3.22)
149.7
(5.89)
143.5
(5.65)
163.9
(6.45)
269.8
(10.62)
130.2
(5.13)
157.3
(6.19)
104.5
(4.11)
59.9
(2.36)
73.3
(2.89)
63.5
(2.50)
1,478.4
(58.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 13.4 13.1 17.2 15.7 16.2 18.0 12.6 14.1 11.4 8.2 10.3 10.3 160.5
Average snowy days 3.1 2.1 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 1.3 7.1
Average relative humidity (%) 75 73 72 69 70 76 68 70 72 71 74 73 72
Mean monthly sunshine hours 90.4 94.8 110.4 136.1 146.8 126.4 227.7 204.8 151.3 147.0 117.8 113.6 1,667.1
Percent possible sunshine 28 30 30 35 35 30 54 51 41 42 37 36 37
Source: China Meteorological Administration[8][9]

Cityscape edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "China: Zhèjiāng (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  2. ^ "China: Zhèjiāng (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  3. ^ "China's 'hardware capital' grinds to a halt amid coronavirus fears". Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  4. ^ "SHENZHEN: HARDWARE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD". Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Made in Shenzhen: The Silicon Valley of Hardware". Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  6. ^ county
  7. ^ 金华市-行政区划网 (in Chinese). XZQH. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  8. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  9. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 25 June 2023.

External links edit