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Weihai

Prefecture-level city in Shandong, People's Republic of China

  • 8 min read
  • 6 chapters
山东 威海 幸福门
Nyx Ning · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Compared with the 2,804,771 people in the 2010 Chinese census, there has been a total increase of 101,777 people over the past decade, an increase of 3.63%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.36%. Weihai's population was 2,906,548 as of the 2020 Chinese census, of whom 1,164,730 lived in the current built-up (or metro) area of (Huancui District) even though Wendeng district to the south with 563,529 inhabitants is soon being conurbated. There are two county-level cities within Weihai; Rongcheng had a built up area with 714,211 inhabitants, while Rushan had 464,078 inhabitants in 2020.

History

Imperial era

Prehistorically, it was inhabited by Dongyi tribes, and it was annexed into China proper by the state of Qi in 567 B.C.

In 221 BCE, during Qin Shi Huang's reign, he implemented the commandery-county system in former six-country area. The area of the present-day city first belonged to Qi Commandery and later to Jiaodong Commandery, under the jurisdiction of Chui County. The Records of the Grand Historian records: In the 28th year, the First Emperor traveled east to inspect the commanderies and counties." In Han dynasty, it was under Donglai Commandery.

Before the 14th century, Weihai was a minor fishing settlement. In 1398, it became a military stronghold (wei), under the name Weihaiwei, to defend against raids by pirates. The fortification at Weihai was constructed in 1403, and contained walls almost 2 miles (3.2 km) in circumference.

During the Ming dynasty, the area was part of Deng Prefecture under the Shandong Provincial Administration, with two counties established: Wendeng and Rongcheng. In 1735, Chengshan Garrison was abolished and reorganized as Rongcheng County, with its seat located at present-day Chengshanwei in Rongcheng City, under the jurisdiction of Deng Prefecture. At the same time, Weihai and Jinghai Garrisons were abolished and incorporated into Wendeng County. In 1895, the Japanese occupied it in the Battle of Weihaiwei. The Japanese then returned Weihaiwei to China on 24 May 1898, after which it was occupied by the British.

British Weihaiwei

The core of Weihai (now Huancui District) was ruled by the British from 1 July 1898 to 1930 under a lease agreement with the Chinese empire, with Port Edward (the center of the original Weihai city, now in Huancui District) serving as the capital. A Royal Navy base was built on Liugong Island.

Weihaiwei became an integral part of China after it was returned to the Republic of China on 1 October 1930, but Liugong Island and its facilities were leased back to the U.K. until 1940.

Weihaiwei was occupied by the Japanese from 1938 to 1945. Most British forces and supplies were withdrawn from Liugong Island, following a Japanese military landing and occupation of the island in 1940.

Modern era

The region was formally incorporated into Shandong province on 10 May 1945. In 1949, Weihaiwei City was established, and its name was shortened to Weihai after the Communist revolution.

In May 1950, the Wendeng Special District was established, administering eight counties: Weihai, Rongcheng, Wendeng, Kunyu, Rushan, Haiyang, Muping, and Fushan. In February 1956, the Wendeng District was abolished, and the present-day Weihai area was placed under the jurisdiction of the Laiyang District. In October 1958, the Laiyang District was reorganized as the Yantai District, which was renamed the Yantai Prefecture in February 1967, with the present-day Weihai area under its administration.

On June 15, 1987, separated from Yantai, Weihai was elevated to a prefecture-level city, with the former county-level Weihai City designated as Huancui District. The three counties of Rongcheng, Wendeng, and Rushan placed under the administration of Weihai City.

Since 2003, a replica of the Chinese battleship Dingyuan has been anchored here as a museum ship and memorial for Chinese veterans of the First Sino-Japanese War.

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