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Shiling, Guangzhou
Shiling (simplified Chinese: 狮岭镇; traditional Chinese: 獅嶺鎮; pinyin: Shīlǐng Zhèn) is a town in Huadu District, Guangzhou.[3][4] In the 1970s the government began centrally planned industrialization of Shiling as a leatherworking town. The town is now a major center for the leatherworking industry in China.[1] The town spans an area of 136.31 square kilometres (52.63 sq mi),[1][5] and is home to 300,000 residents.[1][2] EtymologyIts name means "Lion Ridge", so called because of the local mountain ridge that is shaped like a lion.[citation needed] Shiling Town has long consisted of small farms abutting the mountains from which it gets its name. GeographyShiling Town is located in Huadu District, a district of Guangzhou.[3][4] Shiling is 34 kilometres (21 mi) from downtown Guangzhou. Administrative DistrictsShiling is divided into three neighborhood committees and seventeen village committees.[6] HistoryArcheological records indicate that the area around present-day Shiling was engaged in worship of the Chinese deity Pangu as far back as 500 CE.[7] Shiling was founded as a hamlet (圩) in the Qing dynasty some time during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1736–1795).[citation needed] Hong Xiuquan, leader of the Taiping Rebellion, developed his revolutionary theory and wrote many of his famous works while staying in Shiling (c. 1845 - 1847) at the Yuan Floral Hall (袁氏花厅), the ruins of which are still visible.[8] Shiling was reorganized into a commune (公社) in 1953, into a region (区) in 1983, and most recently into a town (镇) in 1986.[citation needed] DemographicsAs of 2017, the town reported a resident population of 300,000 people, of which, 58,000 were registered residents under the hukou system.[1] A 2018 government public the town's hukou population at 64,355.[5] EconomyIn 2017, the town achieved a total GDP of 10.759 billion Yuan, a 7.5% from the previous year.[1] The town's primary sector makes up 3.5% of Shiling's GDP, the secondary sector makes up 61.0%, and the tertiary sector makes up 35.5% of the GDP.[1] FarmingShiling was originally and remains an agricultural community. Primary produce are rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, nursery stock and the breeding of poultry and fish.[9] Leather industryLeather production in Shiling began in the 1970s,[10] when the central government promoted industrial development of Shiling focused on the leatherworking industry, by encouraging farmers to integrate leather production into their lifestyle.[citation needed] Prior to the 2000s, Shiling primarily produced low and medium quality leather goods for Chinese markets.[10] Beginning in the year 2000, the city began hosting the Shiling Leather and Leather Goods Festival (狮岭皮革皮具节), a trade fair for the leather industry.[10] During the late 2000s, the local government made a concerted effort with local businesses to increase the quality of the town's leather goods, and to internationalize the city's industry.[10] Part of this effort included the creation of a post-doctoral research institute devoted to leather research, and a design institute meant to train people to become leather workers and leather designers.[11] Shiling's leather industry now comprises 8,000 enterprises producing leather, employing approximately 300,000 employees.[2] Over 2,600 brands manufacture their leather goods in Shiling, including Guess, Coach, and Walmart.[2] The Shiling leather industry was worth 4.7 billion yuan in 2002 [12] and 9 billion in 2009.[13] Suburban real estate developmentDuring the 2000s, the town experienced significant development along the G94 Pearl River Delta Ring Expressway.[8] The real estate developments in Shiling have been advertised as a "golden corridor" (黄金走廊) and "tomorrow's satellite city" (明日卫星城).[8] TourismDespite its reputation as an industrial center, the local government has made an effort to promote the town's tourism industry in the 21st century.[8] The town's government has promoted local mountains and historical sites as destinations, while also hosting cultural festivals centered on local folk culture.[8] Pangu TempleThe northern part of Shiling hosts a temple dedicated to Pangu built in 1809, and rebuilt in 1901 after being burned.[14] The temple was neglected for many years, renovated (1984–86) and reopened.[7] The temple is promoted as a tourist attraction and pilgrimage site. The temple is noted for being the site of a large lion dance, waterfall, and clean spring water from Longkou spring, which is believed to have healing properties.[14][7] A festival is held on the birthday of Pangu, the 12th day of the 10th month of the Chinese lunar calendar.[7] Mountain ResortsFollowing the tourist draw of the Pangu temple, other resorts have been opened in the nearby mountain areas. Transportation Two major highways run through Shiling: the Guangqing Expressway and the Zhaohua Expressway.[1] Three major railways run through Shiling: the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, the Wuhan-Guangzhou Railway, and the Guangzhou-Qingyuan Railway.[1] Notes and references
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