LIEN-YN-KANG

formerly Hsin-hai-lien, Pinyin Lianyungang, or Xinhailian, city and seaport in northern Kiangsu sheng (province), China. The city is situated near the mouth of the Ch'ang-wei River and at the northern end of a network of canals centred on the Yn-yen River, associated with the innumerable salt pans of the coastal districts of northern Kiangsu. Lien-yn-kang was founded as Hai-chou in AD 549 at a point somewhat farther east. It was already a centre of salt production in the 7th century. In Ming times (13681644) the fu (prefecture) was subordinated to Huai-an, but from 1726 onward it was independent. At the time of the foundation of the republic in 1911, it became a hsien (county) seat. Opened to foreign trade in 1905, it became a collecting centre not only for salt but also for agricultural produce from inland, which was shipped to Tsingtao, in Shantung province, and to Shanghai. Its modern growth began with the construction of the Lung-hai Railway, an eastwest route running through Pao-chi, in Shensi province, in the Wei River valley. Hai-chou was the eastern terminus, and a harbour was constructed in the estuary at Ta-p'u. This, however, rapidly silted up; and in 1933 the railway was extended to the coast at a village called Lao-yao, where a new port called Lien-yn-kang was constructed in a location protected by Tung-hsi-lien Island. The port, however, which was built in 193336 by a Dutch company, encountered unexpected difficulties and rapidly silted up. Part of the port was used by the Lung-hai Railway, the management of which was inefficient, and part by the Chung-hsing Company to export coal from the Ts'ao-chuang mines. Although the port was linked with places as far west as Hsi-an (Ch'ang-an) in Shensi and was the centre of a network of canals, it did not grow rapidly, and it remained under the customs administration of Tsingtao. The real growth of the city began with the Japanese occupation in 1938. Although the Chinese, before withdrawing, had demolished much of the port, it was rebuilt and dredged. It handled large exports of coal, phosphates, iron ore, salt, and grain to Japan. After 1949 Hai-chou and its older river ports of Hsin-p'u and Ta-p'u were merged. They became the municipality of Hsin-hai-lien. Subsequently its name was changed to Lien-yn-kang. The city has continued to grow as a port, and its facilities have been improved. It has also become a fishing port and a centre of the salt industry. There has been some industrial growth, and in 1984 Lien-yn-kang was designated one of China's open cities in the new open-door policy inviting foreign investment. Pop. (1988 est.) 317,000.