Section I Historical Evolution

Human beings inhabited Qinhuangdao as early as in the late Paleolithic age.It was the central area of Guzhu State in the Shang Dynasty, and belonged to Liaoxi County in the Warring States Period.In 215 BC, Emperor Shihuang of the Qin Dynasty reached Jieshi during his easternward tour and,engraved Inscription on Jieshi Gate.He also built a temporary imperial palace, and then sent Lu Sheng, a Yan person, to the sea to seek immortal elixir.Hence the name Qinhuangdao was obtained.It belonged to You Prefecture(Youzhou) in the Western Han Dynasty.From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Western Jin Dynasty, it belonged to Liaoxi County, You Prefecture.It was under the jurisdiction of Daihe and Yuguan from the Sui Dynasty to the Southern and Northern Dynasties; of Ping Prefecture (Pingzhou) and Ying Prefecture (Yingzhou) in the Tang Dynasty; of Nanjing lu (administrative division) and Zhongjing lu in the Liao Dynasty.Later, it belonged to Ping Prefecture of Zhongdu lu and Zong Prefecture (Zongzhou) of Beijing lu in the Jin Dynasty, to the General Governance of Ping Prefecture and Rui Prefecture (Ruizhou) of Liaoyang in the Yuan Dynasty, and to Shandong Province in the early Ming Dynasty.In 1644, Li Zicheng started a war with the Qing troops led by Wu Sangui and Dorgon at Shanhaiguan, known as the “Jiashen War.” In the Qing Dynasty, it was subordinate to Yongping Governance of Tongyong lu of Zhili Province.After the founding of the Republic of China,it belonged to Zhili Province.

On November 27, 1948, Qinhuangdao was liberated from the Kuomintang occupation and Qinyu City was established in December of the same year.

In March 1949, Shanhaiguan City was transferred to Liaoxi Province,and Qinyu City was changed into Qinhuangdao City.

In 1953, Shanhaiguan City was set as Shanhaiguan District of Qinhuangdao City.

In April 1984, Qinhuangdao City was identified by the State Council as one of the 14 coastal cities to be further opened up in China.