Gongchangling District 弓长岭区

Setting and landscape

The ground is higher in the south than the north, with ridges running in bands across the district. The Tang River (汤河) flows north through its length. Two large reservoirs sit at either end: the Tanghe Reservoir (汤河水库), which the district government calls the only unpolluted reservoir in Liaoning, and the Shenwo Reservoir (参窝水库), which it describes as the largest reinforced-concrete gravity-dam reservoir in Liaoning.

Beneath the hills lie iron ore, barite, silica, marble and limestone, and the Gongchangling iron ore is one of the main supplies for Ansteel (鞍钢). Cold and hot springs rise 300 m apart; the hot water reaches 72°C. The China Mineral Water Association named the district a "home of Chinese mineral water" in 2006, Gongchangling mineral water is a national geographical-indication product, and in 2011 the Ministry of Land and Resources named it a "hot-spring city".

History and sights

Anping (安平) is the former ground of Yifeng county (宜丰) under the Western Han and of Anping county under the Jin; the site of the old town survives, and the area remained the centre of the hill country south-east of Liaoyang through later dynasties. The district government counts more than 200 historic spots, among them Huabiao Mountain (华表山) and the Huabiao pillar (华表柱), the old pines of Sifangtai (四方台), the Buddhist temples of Longfeng (龙峰寺) and Chaoyang (朝阳寺), and Gusao City (姑嫂城), the subject of a local legend. The soldier Lei Feng (雷锋) joined the army from Gongchangling.

Food and local products

Tanghe "nourishing fish head" (滋补鱼头) was named one of Liaoning's ten flavour foods by the Liaoning Tourism Association, and Sanxing mutton soup (三星羊汤) is listed by the provincial tourism system as a noted Liaoning snack. Pieces of local Songhua stone (松花石) are shown as natural pictures, and carved ornamental stones have become popular souvenirs.

Getting oriented

The Liaoyang–Benxi railway (辽溪铁路) runs through the urban area. The district lies 25 km south-east of Liaoyang city, 34 km south-west of Benxi (本溪) and 35 km north-east of Anshan (鞍山).

Highlights

• Shenwo Reservoir 参窝水库: Holds 791 million cubic metres behind a reinforced-concrete gravity dam.
• Tanghe Reservoir 汤河水库: Holds 723 million cubic metres; described by the district government as Liaoning's only unpolluted reservoir.
• Tanghe fish head 汤河滋补鱼头: Rated one of Liaoning's ten flavour foods by the Liaoning Tourism Association.
• Sanxing mutton soup 三星羊汤: Listed as a noted Liaoning snack.