I-CH'UN

Pinyin Yichun, city, central Heilungkiang sheng (province), China. I-ch'un is situated in the densely forested area of the Hsiao hsing-an (Lesser Khingan) Range, at the intersection of the I-ch'un River, from which it takes its name, and the T'ang-wang, a tributary of the Sungari River. Until 1949 it was a minor market town under T'ang-yuan hsien (county). Since 1949 it has grown at an astonishing rate as a major centre of the lumber industry. It is situated in the mountains among virgin forests, and at first its population had to be supported by importing foodstuffs; only in the late 1950s did local agriculture begin to develop. Almost the entire industrial output of the city consists of timber and timber products. Pop. (1988 est.) 770,000.