Why Shandong

Shandong is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China, and is part of the East China region. Shandong Province is situated in the eastern part of China on the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It borders on the Bohai and Huanghai seas in the east, and overlooks the Korean Peninsula and the Japan Archipelago across a vast stretch of sea.

Geography

Shandong is on the lower reaches of the Huanghe River (Yellow River) in the eastern part of the North China Plain. The Shandong Peninsular borders on the Bohai Sea in the northwest and the Yellow Sea in the northeast and south, with a coastline running about 3,000 kilometers. The whole province covers an area of over 153,000 square kilometers and has population of 91.80 million (2006), Shandong province's total population is the second only to Henan Province in all China's provinces, consisting of the Han, Hui, Manchu and other nationalities. The city of Jinan is the seat of the provincial capital.

Climate

It is rainy in summer and clear and dry in winter. It is milader and more humid in Shandong Province than in other parts of the North China Plain. The average annual temperature in the province is between 11 °C and 14.5 °C (51.8 ºF and 58.1ºF). January is the coldest month with an average temperature between -5 °C and -1 °C. In the hottest month of July, the temperature averages between 24 °C and 27 °C (75.2 ºF and 80.6 ºF). Generally speaking, the temperature is lower in the east and higher in the southwest. The average annual rainfall is between 560 and 1,170mm, with most of the rain falling in summer.

History

Shandong Province has a time-honored history with a rich culture. Chengziya of Longshan Township of Zhangqiu County, is an important historical site of the "Longshan culture" of the Neolithic Age. Large quantities of cultural relics were unearthed there. The pottery excavated in white, grey, black, red and yellow in color, and is characterized by its dark brightness, exquisite craftsmanship, toughness and eggshell thinness. Culture which belongs to the same system as that of the relics in Chengziya of Longshan Township is generally call the the "Longshan culture" or "Black-Pottery culture". Like Yangshao and Xiaotun cultures, Longshan culture can be traced back to the same origin of the Cathaysian culture.

Population and Nationalities

Shandong is the second most populous province of China, after Guangdong, just slightly ahead of Henan, with a population of more than 100.05 million at the 2017. Over 99% of Shandong's population is Han Chinese. Minority groups include the Hui and the Manchus. Shandong citizens are also known to have the tallest average height of any Chinese province. As of 2010, 16-18 year old male students in Yantai measured 176.4 centimeters (5 ft 9.4 in) while female students measured 164 cm (5 ft 5 in).

Economy

Shandong ranks first among the provinces in the production of a variety of products, including cotton and wheat as well as precious metals such as gold and diamonds. It also has one of the biggest sapphire deposits in the world.[10] Other important crops include sorghum and maize. Shandong has extensive petroleum deposits as well, especially in the Dongying area in the Yellow River delta, where the Shengli Oil Field (lit. Victory Oilfield) is one of the major oilfields of China. Shandong also produces bromine from underground wells and salt from sea water. It is the largest agricultural exporter in China.