Country China Population 694,247 (2000) | Province Shandong | |
Map of Linqing
Linqing (Chinese: 临清; pinyin: Línqīng) is a county-level city under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Liaocheng in western Shandong Province, China.
Contents
- Map of Linqing
- Linqing tan tui
- Geography and climate
- History and economy
- Demographics
- Ecclesiastical history
- Ordinaries
- Notable natives
- References
Linqing tan tui
Geography and climate
It is located north-northwest of Liaocheng. The city is situated at the confluence of the Wei River and the Grand Canal. It is 380 kilometres (240 mi) from Beijing on the Jingjiu railway line to Hong Kong. Elevation within Linqing County ranges from 29 metres (95 ft) to 38 metres (125 ft) above sea level. The area of the county is 955 km². The annual average temperature is 12.8℃, the highest recorded temperature 41.4℃, and the lowest recorded temperature - 22.1℃. Annual mean precipitation is 590.4 millimeters. There are 205 frost-free days per year on average and the average annual sunshine is 2661 hours.
History and economy
Linqing has played an important role in the history of China. In Ming and Qing times it was a great center for the distribution of textiles, grain and bricks and is also famous as the place where the tiles of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City were produced. Today the city's flourishing economy is based on a number of light industrial enterprises.
Aside from the Grand Canal, sights include a distinctive promontory, a stupa (Chinese: 舍利塔; pinyin: Shèlì Tǎ), a Ming-Dynasty Hui mosques (Linqing Northern Mosque, Chinese: 临清清真北寺; pinyin: Línqīng Qīngzhēn Bĕisì, Linqing Eastern Mosque, Chinese: 临清清真东寺; pinyin: Línqīng Qīngzhēn Dōngsì), and ruins of the old customs house (Chinese: 钞关; pinyin: Chāo Guān), Linqing City Museum (in a historical building ensemble known as the Chinese: 鳌头矶; pinyin: áo Tóu Jī). In particular, the Sheli Pagoda near the Grand Canal is a well-known local landmark.
Demographics
The city proper has about 143,000 residents (January 2000), whereas Linqing as a whole had 709,328 inhabitants in 1999.
Ecclesiastical history
Once visited by the missionary and sinologist Matteo Ricci, Linqing has been the seat of a Latin Catholic Mission sui juris of Linqing 臨清 (中文) / Lintsing since it was split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Tsinanfu (濟南府) on 24 June 1927.
It was promoted to Apostolic prefecture of Linqing 臨清 (中文) / Lintsing / Lintsingen(sis) (Latin) (pre-diocesan jurisdiction, not entitled to a titular bishop) on 5 April 1931.
It remains exempt, i.e. directly dependent on the Holy See and its missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The see has been vacant, without Apostolic administrator, since the third incumbent's death in 1981.
Ordinaries
(all Latin Rite)
none available
(Chinese secular priests)