T'UNG-LING

Pinyin Tongling, city and industrial centre located in southern Anhwei Province (sheng), China. Located on the southeast bank of the Yangtze River between An-ch'ing and Wu-hu, T'ung-ling grew into an industrial city of consequence only in the second half of the 20th century but has been a mining centre since at least the 7th century AD. The T'ung-kuan Shan copper mines take their name from the official mint and copper-mining bureau originally established there. Under the Sung dynasty (9601279) it was a special industrial prefecture named Li-kuo-chien. Under the Ming dynasty (13681644) iron mining and smelting also began, the operations being greatly expanded in the 18th century. In 1902 mining rights there were obtained by British interests, but no exploitation followed. Under the Japanese occupation during 193845, copper mining was revived on a moderate scale, the ore being sent to Manchuria for smelting. After 1949 the mines were modernized and a smelter built to produce crude copper, which was sent elsewhere for further refining. Large new copper deposits were discovered in the vicinity. In 195960 iron mining and smelting were again begun on a large scale, and a chemical industry was also established. T'ung-ling was dependent on the Yangtze River for transport until 1969, at which time a railroad was constructed to connect the city with Wu-hu. Pop. (1985 est.) 169,500.