Yongkang (Chinese: 永康; pinyin: Yǒngkāng), formerly known as Lizhou (Chinese: 丽州; pinyin: Lìzhōu), is a county-level city located in the central part of Zhejiang, in the People's Republic of China. It is southeast of the Jinhua City boundary and approximately 180 km (111.8 mi) from Hangzhou. It has an area of 1,049 km2 (405 sq mi) and a population of 964,203 as of the 2020 census, including more than 100,000 non-resident workers. According to a 2010 census, its built-up (or metro) area of Yongkang City and Wuyi County was home to 1,426,659 inhabitants.[2] Yongkang is known as the "hardware capital of China."

History

A map of the Yongkang government building during the Qing dynasty

The Chinese name Yongkang means "eternal well-being." The city was formally established in 245 CE in the Wu Kingdom, during the Three Kingdoms (220280 CE) period.[citation needed] In the last two decades, the city has become known for both its aggressive promotion of tourism and its booming hardware manufacturing industry. It is widely considered "the hardware capital of China,"[3] though Shenzhen has also been given the title.[4][5] In 2003, Yongkang's GDP ranked 47th out of over one thousand counties nationwide.[citation needed]

Lizhou was the ancient name of Yongkang. According to legend, when the mother of Sun Quan, the King of Wu, was ill, she went on a pilgrimage to pray for "eternal well-being" at a temple in Lizhou. After she recovered, Sun Quan was very pleased and named the area Yongkang ("eternal well-being") after her speedy recovery. At that time, it was a part of Wushang City; however, during the Tang dynasty, Yongkang was independently recognized under the name Lizhou, eventually becoming the general administrative area of Yue Prefecture.

In 1992, the State Council approved Yongkang as a county-level city.[6][citation needed]

Administrative divisions

Subdistricts:[7]

Towns:

Economy

Since ancient times, Yongkang has been known for its hardware production. After 30 years of reform and modernization, Yongkang evolved from traditional to modern hardware, accelerating the pace of industrial upgrading and product branding. The county then became known domestically and abroad as a "hardware capital."

The city of Yongkang has always enjoyed the name "City of Metals," as metals and machinery are its flagship industry. Other industries in the city have grown consistently, including the production of electric tools, building materials, and automobile/motorcycle accessories. Additionally, the city is a national base for the production of anti-theft doors, electric bicycles, scooters, and thermal cups.

Due to fears of industrial theft, the Yongkang door industry, which has maintained its growth since 1997, has now become the eighth-largest Yongkang hardware industry. It has 454 enterprise portal products and produces four anti-theft doors every day, accounting for 1% of the national output of anti-theft doors. 52% of the national output of stainless steel tableware and 45% of the national output of the daily-use weighing apparatus come from Yongkang, along with a third of the national output of power tools. Packaging drums, non-slip case scales and other products accounted for more than 90% of the domestic market. Scooters, gas stove burners, pumps and saw blades are its primary exports.

Geographical

Yongkang is located in the central part of Zhejiang, in the People's Republic of China. It is southeast of the Jinhua City boundary and approximately 180 km (111.8 mi) from Hangzhou. It has an area of 1,049 km2 (405 sq mi).

Climate

Climate data for Yongkang, elevation 103 m (338 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 27.6
(81.7)
29.9
(85.8)
34.9
(94.8)
35.0
(95.0)
37.5
(99.5)
38.5
(101.3)
41.4
(106.5)
42.3
(108.1)
40.7
(105.3)
36.5
(97.7)
32.1
(89.8)
27.3
(81.1)
42.3
(108.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.6
(51.1)
13.4
(56.1)
17.6
(63.7)
23.8
(74.8)
28.1
(82.6)
30.3
(86.5)
35.1
(95.2)
34.3
(93.7)
29.8
(85.6)
24.9
(76.8)
19.3
(66.7)
13.2
(55.8)
23.4
(74.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.2
(43.2)
8.5
(47.3)
12.5
(54.5)
18.4
(65.1)
23.1
(73.6)
25.9
(78.6)
30.0
(86.0)
29.3
(84.7)
25.2
(77.4)
19.9
(67.8)
14.3
(57.7)
8.2
(46.8)
18.5
(65.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8)
5.1
(41.2)
8.8
(47.8)
14.3
(57.7)
19.1
(66.4)
22.6
(72.7)
26.0
(78.8)
25.6
(78.1)
21.7
(71.1)
16.1
(61.0)
10.6
(51.1)
4.7
(40.5)
14.8
(58.7)
Record low °C (°F) −8.2
(17.2)
−5.2
(22.6)
−4.3
(24.3)
1.2
(34.2)
8.9
(48.0)
12.1
(53.8)
18.4
(65.1)
18.2
(64.8)
12.5
(54.5)
2.7
(36.9)
−2.3
(27.9)
−9.5
(14.9)
−9.5
(14.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 81.0
(3.19)
81.8
(3.22)
149.7
(5.89)
143.5
(5.65)
163.9
(6.45)
269.8
(10.62)
130.2
(5.13)
157.3
(6.19)
104.5
(4.11)
59.9
(2.36)
73.3
(2.89)
63.5
(2.50)
1,478.4
(58.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 13.4 13.1 17.2 15.7 16.2 18.0 12.6 14.1 11.4 8.2 10.3 10.3 160.5
Average snowy days 3.1 2.1 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 1.3 7.1
Average relative humidity (%) 75 73 72 69 70 76 68 70 72 71 74 73 72
Mean monthly sunshine hours 90.4 94.8 110.4 136.1 146.8 126.4 227.7 204.8 151.3 147.0 117.8 113.6 1,667.1
Percentage possible sunshine 28 30 30 35 35 30 54 51 41 42 37 36 37
Source: China Meteorological Administration[8][9]All-time May record low[10]

Cityscape

See also

References

  1. "China: Zhèjiāng (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  2. "China: Zhèjiāng (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  3. "China's 'hardware capital' grinds to a halt amid coronavirus fears". Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  4. "SHENZHEN: HARDWARE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD". Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. "Made in Shenzhen: The Silicon Valley of Hardware". Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  6. county
  7. 金华市-行政区划网 (in Chinese). XZQH. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  8. 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  9. 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  10. "Sina Visitor System" #天气##冷空气##大回暖# 【南方清凉过头】5月第一天早上,在冷空气与夜晚晴空辐射降温共同发力下,南方多地经历了5月少有的清凉早上!截至目前南方总计有江西浙江安徽湖北广东5省30个气象站打破或打平5月最低气温纪录,其中上饶国家站9.7度为当地首次在5月气温个位数,此外城市中还有九江8.4度、衢州9.2度、河源12.3度打破5月最低纪录;上海郊区的奉贤和青浦7.1度距5月最低纪录也都不到1度,差点就破纪录了!不过接下来随着暖空气迅速反击,大回暖和雨水明天就将全面来袭。 (in Simplified Chinese). 中国气象爱好者 on Weibo. Retrieved 1 May 2026.