Economy

Qingyuan is a major economic and transportation hub. The Beijing–Guangzhou Railway, National Highways 106 and 107, and the Bei or North River cross through the city. The maritime infrastructure in Qingyuan plays a vital role in transporting goods to other regional centers in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. The major ports are Qingyuan Port, Yingde Port, Lianzhou Port, and Yangshan Port.

Geography

Qingyuan's administrative area ranges in latitude from 23° 31' to 25° 12' N, and in longitude from 111° 55' to 113° 55′ E, just north of the Tropic of Cancer and about 200 km (120 mi) from coast of the South China Sea. More than half of the area is mountainous, and elevations increase from southeast to northwest.Qingyuan has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate, with an average annual temperature of 20.7 °C (69.3 °F), 1,900 mm (75 in) of rainfall, 1662.2 hours of sunshine, and a frost-free period of 314.4 days.[5]

Demographics

According to the 2010 Census, Qingyuan has a population of 3,698,394 inhabitants, 550,715 more than in 2000 (an annual growth rate of 1.63%). Han Chinese comprise over 95% of the entire population, while there are some areas inhabited by the Zhuang and Yao minorities.

History

Under the Qing, the area was known as Qingyuan County. It was later promoted to prefecture-level city status.