Dongying: A Model City of Ecological Civilization on the Yellow River Delta

Dongying City lies in the Yellow River Delta in northern Shandong Province, where the Yellow River, the mother river of the Chinese nation, empties into the Bohai Sea. It is home to Shengli Oilfield, China’s second-largest oilfield. The city derived its name from Dongying (East Camp) and Xiying (West Camp), military camps set up here when Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty stationed troops during his eastern campaign.

Dongying is a city of ancient roots and youthful vitality, where the time-honored Qilu culture and Yellow River civilization blend harmoniously into one. Human settlement dates back over 5,000 years in Guangrao County to the south, which boasts numerous Neolithic relics of the Dawenkou and Longshan Cultures. Lijin County in the west took shape as land emerged during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods. Most areas of Kenli County and Hekou District in the north are new land formed by Yellow River sediment deposition in modern times, with a history of merely around a century. Shijia Village in Niuzhuang Town, Dongying District, is the birthplace of Lü Opera, one of China’s eight major opera genres.

This fertile land of the Yellow River Delta has nurtured countless outstanding figures since ancient times, including Sun Wu, the "Sage of Military Strategy"; Western Han Confucian scholars Ouyang Sheng and Ni Kuan; as well as Qi Gongzhi, Li Shunchen and Cheng Yong. In modern and contemporary history, distinguished personalities such as Deng Tianyi, Li Yunsheng, Li Zhuru and Li Yutang all hailed from Dongying. As a harmonious convergence of Qilu culture and Yellow River civilization, the region has long been known as the "Golden Delta".

Dongying boasts unique tourism resources. Key scenic spots in the south feature ecological sightseeing and military culture centered on Sun Wu: Sun Tzu Cultural Tourism Zone, Sun Wu Garden, Southern Song Grand Hall, Boqin Platform and Fu Family Archaeological Site.

The northern part consists of the alluvial modern delta plain formed by the Yellow River, featuring magnificent wild landscapes. Highlights include: