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| Introduction |
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Tonghua is located in the southeastern part of Jilin Province, bordering North Korea to the south. It covers an area of 15,698 sq km. The population of the city amounted to 2.27 million at the end of 2009.
Tonghua has a temperate continental monsoon climate. The average temperature is 0.5°C. The average annual precipitation reaches 920 mm, while the average annual sunshine totals 2,155 hours.
Tonghua is rich in natural resources. It is one of the major timber-producing areas in China and forests cover 62.9% of the city’s lands. There are approximately 1,000 rivers and streams running through the city’s lands. Water resources total to 4.9 billion cubic meters. Additionally, Tonghua is replete with traditional Chinese herbal medicinal plants, and its ginseng output contributes almost one third of the country's total.
Transportation in Tonghua is very convenient. The Shenyang-Jilin Railway, the Meihekou-Ji'an Railway, the Tonghua-Dalizi Railway, State Highway 303, State Highway 201, and State Highway 202 run through the city and extend to most major cities throughout China.
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| Economic Features |
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Tonghua realized GDP of RMB 62.7 billion in 2010, representing a rise of 17.1% year on year. The city's GDP ranked fifth out of nine prefectures and prefecture-level cities in the province.
The agricultural sector generated value-added output of RMB 6.51 billion in 2010, accounting for 6.1% of the city's GDP. Output of grain amounted to 1.75 million tons, up 8.7% year on year.
In 2010, value-added output of secondary industry (industry and construction) amounted to RMB 32.68 billion and accounted for 52.1% of the city's total. Value added industrial output rose 27.2% to RMB 26.95 billion.
Pharmaceuticals, metallurgy, and food processing, the three pillar industries of Tonghua, realized value-added industrial output of RMB 8.63 billion, RMB 2.82 billion, and RMB 9.18 billion in 2010, respectively.
Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical, which is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, is principally engaged in the manufacture and distribution of patented Chinese and western medicines, biological products, and non-polyvinyl chloride (PVC) soft bag transfusion products. In 2009, the company realized net profit of RMB 46.82 million in 2009.
Tonghua Golden-Horse Pharmaceutical Industry Co, which is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, is also principally engaged in the manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals. In 2009, it realized net profit of RMB 29 million, up 68.8% year on year.
In 2010, the service sector generated value-added output of RMB 23.52 billion, contributing 37.5% to the city's GDP.
The city's foreign trade amounted to US$496.11 million in 2010, representing decrease 6.8% compared to the previous year. Exports increased 47% to US$214.04 million, while imports down 27% to US$282.07 million. Tonghua's major export goods, pine nuts (US$50.97 million), steel (US$23.65 million), and Alcohol (US$24.91 million),contributed 23.8%, 11.6% and 11% to the total, respectively..
Tonghua attracted contractual foreign investment of US$179.5 million in 2010, while the utilized FDI in the city reached US$50.08 million.
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| Cultural Highlights |
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Tonghua has a profound history. As early as 6,000 years ago, there were people living and multiplying here. It is the birthplace of ancient Koguryo Kingdom and the Manchu aristocrats. It was the capital of the Koguryo Kingdom for 425 years. There are a lot of important Koguryo artifacts and cultural sites in Tonghua.
Currently, 24 ethnic groups, including the Han, the Man, Koreas, and the Hui, live together in Tonghua. Tonghua Manchu Paper Cutting is one of three most famous folk paper cutting traditions in China. In addition, due to the abundant herbal medicines and pharmaceutical enterprises, Tonghua was appraised as a National Medical City by the China Quality Association for Pharmaceuticals in 2008.
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| Tourist Attraction |
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Tourist attractions in Tonghua include Donggou Ancient Tombs, Wandu Mountain Town, Jingyu Cemetery, Five Fairies National Forest Park, Qianye Lake, Yuhuang Mountain Park, Yalv River Border Tourist Area, and Longwan Nature Reserve.
Donggou Ancient Tombs and Wandu Mountain Town are National Key Cultural Heritage Landmarks.
In Tonghua, Suzi Ye (Perilla Fruit Leaf), Steamed Buns, and Saqima are popular dishes among the local Manchu people.
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