SSU-P'ING

Pinyin Siping, city, southwestern Kirin sheng (province), China. Centrally situated in the northern Liao River Plain, Ssu-p'ing was a place of little importance until the completion in 1902 of the railway between Ch'ang-ch'un and the port of Dairen (now L-ta) in what is now Liaoning province. It then became a commercial centre in an area with a rapidly growing population. Its importance was further increased with the construction in 1923 of a northwest rail link to Pai-ch'eng and to Tsitsihar (in what is now Heilungkiang province) and the opening in 1934 of a railway running south to T'ung-hua and to northern Korea. After 1907, under the administration of the South Manchurian Railway Company, there was considerable development. A new town was built after 1921, known as Ssu-p'ing-chieh. After 1932, under the Japanese occupation, some agriculture-based industry (brewing, oil pressing, flour milling) grew up, and in the latter part of World War II the Japanese built a refinery for the production of synthetic petroleum from coal. After the war Ssu-p'ing was virtually destroyed in four major battles between the Chinese Communist and Nationalist forces. After 1949 the city was developed as a second-rank industrial centre. The petrochemical industry was reestablished, and various engineering plants, producing agricultural machinery and machine tools, were established. Diversified chemical manufactures have been concentrated there. The city also retains its former light industries based on local agriculture. Pop. (1990) 317,223.