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Key Information

Daqing
"Daqing", as written in Chinese
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese大庆
Traditional Chinese大慶
PostalTaching
Literal meaningGreat Celebration
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDàqìng
Wade–GilesTa⁴-chʻing⁴
Mongolian name
Mongolian CyrillicДачин хот
Mongolian scriptᠳᠠᠴᠢᠩ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ
Transcriptions
SASM/GNCdačiŋ ꭓota
Manchu name
Manchu scriptᡩᠠᡴᡳᠩ ᡥᠣᡨᠣᠨ
RomanizationDaking hoton

Daqing (simplified Chinese: 大庆; traditional Chinese: 大慶; pinyin: Dàqìng) is a prefecture-level city in the west of Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China. The name literally means "Great Celebration" and refers to the tenth anniversary of the PRC.[2]: 2  Daqing is known as the "Oil Capital of China" and has experienced a phenomenal boom since oil was discovered at the Daqing Oil Field in 1959.[3]

Its population was 2,781,562 as of the 2020 census, of whom 1,574,389 lived in the built-up (or metro) area in four out of the total of five urban districts: Sartu, Longfeng, Ranghulu and Honggang.

History

[edit]

The region now known as Daqing Prefecture was a reasonably insignificant place until the Qing dynasty, known only as an unsettled hunting ground of Dörbet Oirat tribes due to its wetland and prairies. The region began to grow slightly after the Russian Empire constructed the Chinese Eastern Railway (KVZhD) through the area in 1898.[4] The railway has a station at Sartu in today's Sartu District. It was not until 1959 that oil was discovered in the region as part of the large scale oil exploration put into motion across the Northeast China Plain.[3]

The Daqing oilfield was discovered in the late 1950s, and drilling began in 1958. A town with the same name was founded in 1959 to house workers extracting oil and gas from the oilfield and to host industries which could take advantage of the energy and petrochemicals, shortly before the 10th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. The oilfield and the town had the same administrative body until 1983.[5]: 52 

The successful construction of the Daqing oil field despite harsh weather conditions and supply limitations became a model held up by the Party as an example during subsequent industrialization campaigns.[6]: 52–54  The project also delivered critical economic benefits because without the production of the Daqing oil field, crude oil would have been severely limited after the Soviet Union cut off supplies as a result of the Sino-Soviet split.[6]: 53 

Original plans for Daqing included the development of a "new socialist mining district" (rather than a city) with families in which the husband would work in industry and the wife would work in agriculture.[7]: 313  Ultimately, the city expanded incrementally with clusters forming around developing refineries and oil wells.[5]: 52  All settlements used a single-story mud technique called scientific gandalei, with multistory brick buildings being introduced in the late 1960s.[5]: 53 

The name Daqing literally means "Great Celebration".[5]: 52  On 26 May 1960, Anda City was established at former Anda town (today's Anda City in Suihua prefecture), administering Daqing oilfield area. Five months later, the administrative organs of the oilfield relocated in Sartu. On 23 June 1964, the city was established Anda special administrative region, with Anda county administering its surrounding area.

The first two years of the Cultural Revolution resulted in major disruptions to China's petroleum industry and an oil shortage by 1967.[2]: 159  In March of that year, the People's Liberation Army was called to Daqing to maintain order so that oil production could proceed.[2]: 159  This made Daqing one of the first places brought under military control during the Cultural Revolution.[2]: 159  In May 1968, the Daqing Revolutionary Committee was established.[2]: 159  Iron Man Wang Jinxi became its vice director.[2]: 159–160  The oil field continued to be a major driver of economic growth during the Cultural Revolution period.[2]: 160 

In the mid-1970s, Daqing was administratively organised into three large towns (about 50,000 people each) along the major railway, 60 industrial-agricultural villages (about 10,000 people each), and 164 "residential points" around the villages.[5]: 53–54 

The Daqing Oil District became a city in 1980.[2]: 200  Its first master plan set a goal of growing Daqing into "a new industrial city" through a development strategy of "relative dispersion with several modest concentrations.[2]: 200  Academic Hou Li summarizes that as a result "new settlements became much more concentrated. The three existing towns, thirty-four central villages, and 260 settlement points were restructured into six workers' towns, twenty-four central villages, and twenty-seven resident villages."[2]: 200 

The city revised its master plan in 1989, setting a new goal of building an oil city centered in Saertu, Dongfeng, and Longfeng.[2]: 200  This plan shifted Daqing's urban planning focus away from decentralization to centralization.[2]: 200 

In 1990, the city received the top recognition in the Heilongjiang Province Science and Technology Awards.[2]: 200  In 1994, its population reached one million.[2]: 200  After the mid-1990s, urban expansion in Saertu was halted in order to provide more space for oil production.[2]: 1  Urban construction was instead transferred to East Town and West Town areas.[2]: 1 

Daqing has been advocated as a model of good practice in industry[5]: 52  and healthcare by the Chinese government.

Learn from Daqing in industry

[edit]

The fact that Mao Zedong promulgated his Supreme Directive, Learn from Daqing in Industry, in the 1960s reflects how important a role Daqing has historically played in industry in China.[8] Learn from Daqing in industry (Chinese: 工业学大庆; pinyin: gōngyè xué dàqìng) was a slogan during the Cultural Revolution telling the people to use the city as an example for industrial production.[8][9]

Daqing was promoted as a model communist industrial city.[5]: 54  Daqing's development had resulted in an integration of rural and urban and community self-sufficiency.[5]: 53  Premier Zhou Enlai summarized its achievements with the phrase, "Integration of workers and peasants, integration of urban and rural areas, good for production, and convenient for livelihood."[5]: 55  Equality was achieved through distribution of resources, public land management, standardised housing, and communal work.[5]: 54  Men worked in the oil fields and received state salaries and pensions. Women and older children worked in agricultural production and supplied food for the community.[5]: 53  As mechanisation of agriculture increased over time, small factories were established.[5]: 53  Students participated in production, either through agriculture or work-studfy in factories.[5]: 53  Services like public canteens, medical clinics, nurseries, and schools were collectively run.[5]: 53 

The film Entrepreneurial Pioneers (创业), made in the early 1970s, is a literary rendition of the history of Daqing. During the Mao era, Daqing's agricultural counterpart was Dazhai, a village in the hilly Xiyang county, Shanxi Province, for which Chairman Mao issued the directive In agriculture, learn from Dazhai, also in the 1960s.[10]

Administrative divisions

[edit]

Daqing is divided into 9 county-level divisions: 5 districts, 3 counties and 1 autonomous county.

Map
Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Population
(2010 census) 		Area
(km2) 		Density
(/km2)
Sartu District 萨尔图区 Sà'ěrtú Qū 328,808 549 599
Longfeng District 龙凤区 Lóngfèng Qū 352,404 510 691
Ranghulu District 让胡路区 Rànghúlù Qū 564,534 1,394 405
Datong District 大同区 Dàtóng Qū 234,557 2,235 105
Honggang District 红岗区 Hónggǎng Qū 169,522 812 209
Zhaozhou County 肇州县 Zhàozhōu Xiàn 387,463 2,445 158
Zhaoyuan County 肇源县 Zhàoyuán Xiàn 388,828 4,198 93
Lindian County 林甸县 Líndiàn Xiàn 244,578 3,591 68
Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County 杜尔伯特蒙古族自治县 Dù'ěrbótè Měnggǔzú Zìzhìxiàn 233,838 6,427 36

Climate

[edit]

Located in the north temperate zone, Daqing has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa) and is affected by the Siberian high and the East Asian monsoon. Generally, winter is bitterly cold with occasional snowfalls, and spring and autumn are prevailed by monsoons. The vast majority of the annual rainfall occurs during summer. The diurnal temperature variation can be up to 14 °C (25 °F) during the growing period. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −18.5 °C (−1.3 °F) in January to 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) in July, and the annual mean is +4.2 °C (39.6 °F). A majority of the annual precipitation falls in July and August alone. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 53% in July to 70% in February, the city receives 2,726 hours of bright sunshine annually. Extreme temperature ranges from −39.2 °C (−38.6 °F) to 39.8 °C (103.6 °F)

Climate data for Daqing, elevation 147 m (482 ft), (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −11.7
(10.9) 		−6.9
(19.6) 		2.9
(37.2) 		13.5
(56.3) 		21.5
(70.7) 		26.7
(80.1) 		28.5
(83.3) 		26.9
(80.4) 		21.5
(70.7) 		12.3
(54.1) 		−0.3
(31.5) 		−10.3
(13.5) 		10.4
(50.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −16.5
(2.3) 		−12.2
(10.0) 		−2.5
(27.5) 		7.8
(46.0) 		15.8
(60.4) 		21.4
(70.5) 		24.0
(75.2) 		22.2
(72.0) 		16.0
(60.8) 		6.9
(44.4) 		−4.8
(23.4) 		−14.6
(5.7) 		5.3
(41.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −20.6
(−5.1) 		−17.0
(1.4) 		−7.5
(18.5) 		2.2
(36.0) 		10.3
(50.5) 		16.4
(61.5) 		19.6
(67.3) 		17.9
(64.2) 		11.1
(52.0) 		2.2
(36.0) 		−8.6
(16.5) 		−18.3
(−0.9) 		0.6
(33.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 2.4
(0.09) 		3.8
(0.15) 		8.8
(0.35) 		18.9
(0.74) 		49.0
(1.93) 		100.7
(3.96) 		145.8
(5.74) 		97.3
(3.83) 		50.3
(1.98) 		19.1
(0.75) 		6.2
(0.24) 		5.9
(0.23) 		508.2
(19.99)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 3.6 2.7 4.3 5.7 9.6 13.5 13.1 11.3 7.8 4.8 4.1 5.3 85.8
Average snowy days 5.5 4.9 5.5 2.3 0.1 0 0 0 0 1.1 5.5 8.1 33
Average relative humidity (%) 64 58 51 44 52 64 73 73 65 56 60 66 61
Mean monthly sunshine hours 181.6 194.2 237.5 230.9 235.3 220.9 211.8 211.9 222.6 199.8 158.7 152.4 2,457.6
Percentage possible sunshine 65 66 64 56 51 47 45 49 60 60 57 58 57
Source: China Meteorological Administration[11][12]

Demographics

[edit]

Daqing has a population of 2.9 million, of them mainly Han Chinese, with a few population of other 31 minority ethnic groups including Manchu, Mongolian, Korean, and Hui nationalities. The population density is 112.69/km2, urban population density 205.07/km2.[13]

Economy

[edit]
Well Sa-55 first drilled by Wang Jinxi and his colleagues
Wildcat in Daqing

Daqing's economy highly depends on petroleum and related industries. Daqing's oilfield is China's largest and the world's fourth most productive. Petroleum accounts for 60.8% of GDP. In 2011, Daqing's gross domestic product (GDP) was RMB374 billion yuan, representing a rise of 12.1% year on year. Primary industries output (including agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and the fisheries) increased by 13.5% to RMB13.29 billion. Secondary and value-added industries and construction output experienced an increase of 10.1%, reaching RMB307 billion, while the tertiary industry output increased 22.9% to RMB53.74 billion.[14] In 2015 Daqing had a GDP of RMB 298.35 billion.[15]

Foreign trade

[edit]

Daqing exports over 10 million tons of crude oil each year. Over 160 varieties of paraffin wax, ethylene, tar oil and benzene are exported to more than 10 nations and regions including the US, the UK, Thailand and Hong Kong.

In 2011, total import and export volume in Daqing reached US$2.16 billion, up by 40.1%.[14] Export volume was US$550 million and import volume was US$1.61 billion. Daqing's main exports include six categories of petrochemical products, construction materials, processed foodstuffs, office furniture and mechanical and electronic equipment.[16]

Banking and insurance

[edit]

There were 32 banking institutions in Daqing by the end of 2006; none were foreign-invested banks.[16] In 2011, savings deposits in Renminbi and foreign exchange totaled 170.5 billion RMB.[14] The local finance sector plays an important role in building up Daqing's Century Oilfield and in developing new industries.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Agricultural Bank, China Construction Bank, Bank of China, China Communications Bank, the Everbright Bank, Guangdong Development Bank, the Daqing Urban Commercial Bank, Daqing Rural Credit Cooperative Union and the County Urban Credit Cooperative are the major banks serving Daqing.

Transportation

[edit]
Daqing Passenger Hub

Railway

[edit]

Daqing is a major railway hub in western Heilongjiang province and is located on the junction of Harbin-Manzhouli Railway and Tongliao-Ranghulu Railway. Daqing has three major railway stations: Daqing station, Daqing West station (formerly Ranghulu railway station) and Daqing East station. Trains from Daqing connect the city with Beijing, Harbin, Dalian and several other cities in China. The newly built Harbin–Qiqihar Intercity Railway has stops at both Daqing West station and Daqing East station.

Airport

[edit]
Main article: Daqing Sartu Airport

Daqing Sartu Airport was opened on 1 September 2009.[17] There are flights to several large cities including Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Qingdao and Shanghai.

Highway

[edit]

Daqing is linked to the national highway network through the G45 Daqing–Guangzhou Expressway and G10 Suifenhe-Manzhouli Expressway.

Culture

[edit]
Daqing Museum
The Iron Man Wang Jinxi Memorial Hall

Daqing spirit

[edit]

Generated by the history of the city, Daqing has a culture centering around the "Daqing Spirit, the Daqing People," which is said to represent deep personal commitment in pursuing national goals, self-sufficient and frugal living, and urban-rural integrated land use.[2]: 3  Daqing's urban-rural landscape was said to embody the ideal communist society described by Karl Marx because it eliminated (1) the gap between town and country, (2) the gap between workers and peasants, and (3) the gap between manual and mental labor.[2]: 3 

"Daqing Spirit, Daqing People" was the title of an April 20, 1964 article in People's Daily which extolled the success of Daqing oil field workers.[2]: 148  The most influential of many articles praising Daqing that appeared in state media around that time, "Daqing Spirit, Daqing People" was the first text to compare Daqing to Yan'an, the revolutionary base area where the Communist Party re-grouped following the Long March before going on to win the Chinese Civil War.[2]: 148 

Wang Jinxi (Chinese: 王进喜; pinyin: Wáng Jìnxǐ, known as "Iron Man" Wang), a petroleum worker on the Daqing Oilfield who led No. 1205 drilling team, was honored as a national hero due to his contributions to the petroleum industry of China. Daqing was established by the central government as a model for the secondary industry during the 1960s. In order to illuminate the entrepreneurial history of Daqing and its people, several films were made by companies in China.[18]

In 1964, chief director of the Central Experimental Theater Sun Weishi and her husband, the actor Jin Shan, traveled to Daqing to live and work with the oil workers and their families.[2]: 141  The next year, the Communist Party journal Red Flag published an article by Sun which praised the Daqing people.[2]: 141–142  After living in Daqing for two years, Sun Weishi returned to Beijing to produce the play The Rising Sun, which was based on the experiences of people in Daqing, particularly Daqing women.[2]: 142 

Sports

[edit]
Daqing Olympic Park Stadium

The most popular sport in Daqing is association football. The largest sports venue by capacity is the 32,000-capacity Daqing Olympic Park Stadium. The city also has an indoor speed skating arena.

Sister Cities

[edit]

Domestic

[edit]

International

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Daqing

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Daqing is a in western province, northeastern , situated on the Songnen Plain and bordering . With a population of approximately 2.94 million as of 2023, it serves as a major hub for China's , primarily due to the , the country's largest, which has produced over 2.43 billion tons of crude oil since its discovery in 1959. The field's rapid development under harsh conditions transformed Daqing from an underdeveloped rural area into an industrial center, symbolizing national self-reliance in energy production during the early years of the . The Daqing Oil Field was discovered in 1959 through exploratory drilling, with commercial production commencing in 1960 and reaching full-scale output by 1963 at 3 million tons annually, representing more than half of China's total oil production at the time. This achievement enabled China to achieve oil self-sufficiency and become a net exporter in the 1970s, bolstering economic independence amid geopolitical isolation. Sustained high production—exceeding 50 million tons per year from 1976 for 27 consecutive years—underscored efficient management and technological adaptations, though output has since declined to around 30 million tons annually in recent years amid maturing reservoirs. The city's economy remains dominated by oil extraction, petrochemicals, and related sectors, generating a GDP of 286 billion RMB in 2023. Daqing's development featured pioneering efforts, including the legendary 1205 Drilling Team led by Wang Jinxi, whose "iron man" ethos of overcoming extreme winter drilling challenges became a propaganda model for socialist industrialization. Efforts to diversify include shale oil exploration and natural gas production, which surpassed 6 billion cubic meters in 2024, alongside urban infrastructure like Olympic facilities, reflecting adaptation to post-peak oil realities while preserving its status as an energy powerhouse.

Geography

Location and terrain

![Location of Daqing City yellowyellow in Heilongjiang lightgraylight gray and China](./assets/Location_of_Daqing_Prefecture_within_Heilongjiang_ChinaChina
Daqing is a prefecture-level city situated in the western part of Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China, occupying the central portion of the Songnen Plain. The city's administrative area spans approximately 45°46′ N to 47°27′ N latitude and 123°31′ E to 125°42′ E longitude, covering a total land area of 21,219 square kilometers. It lies between the cities of Harbin to the southeast and Qiqihar to the northwest, forming part of the broader Harbin-Changchun urban cluster in the Songnen Basin. The terrain of Daqing is predominantly flat, characteristic of the Songnen Plain, a major in China's Northeastern Plain formed by sediments from the Songhua and Nenjiang rivers. The average elevation across the prefecture is around 230 meters, though the urban center sits at approximately 146 meters above , facilitating extensive oil extraction and agricultural activities. Landscape features include vast plains interspersed with wetlands, scattered lakes such as Sanyong Lake, and minimal topographic relief, which has supported the development of the region's since the mid-20th century.

Climate

Daqing experiences a (Köppen Dwb), characterized by long, severely cold and dry winters, a short transitional spring and autumn, and warm, humid summers with the bulk of annual precipitation. The region's location in the northern temperate zone of province contributes to significant seasonal temperature swings, influenced by Siberian air masses in winter and effects in summer. The average annual temperature is 4.5 °C (40.1 °F), with extremes ranging from lows below -29 °C (-20 °F) in winter to highs exceeding 32 °C (90 °F) in summer. Winters, spanning November to March, feature average January temperatures around -18 °C (0 °F) or lower, with frequent cover and wind chills amplified by northerly s. Summers, from June to August, see average July highs near 28 °C (82 °F), though heat waves can push temperatures higher. Spring and fall are brief and variable, with rapid warming or cooling. Annual precipitation averages 509 mm (20.0 in), concentrated in the summer months, peaking at about 99 mm (3.9 in) in due to convective showers and thunderstorms. Winters are arid, with a rainless period extending from mid-October to mid-April, relying on snow for moisture. Relative averages 60-70% annually, higher in summer, while are from the northwest in winter and southeast in summer. Climate data derive from long-term observations at Daqing's meteorological stations, reflecting stable patterns with minimal recent shifts attributable to urban heat effects from oil field development.

History

Pre-oil era and discovery

The territory that later formed Daqing consisted of remote, sparsely populated swamplands and grasslands in the Songliao Plain of Province, primarily used for limited and by local communities with little industrial or urban development prior to the mid-20th century. This underdeveloped area, part of larger administrative units like Anda County, featured black soil conducive to farming but was hindered by harsh winters, flooding, and isolation, resulting in negligible economic activity beyond subsistence. In response to China's status as an "oil-poor" nation reliant on imports, the government initiated extensive geological surveys and exploration across the during the late , focusing on sedimentary basins like Songliao for potential reserves. operations commenced in 1958 under the Ministry of , targeting anticlinal structures identified through seismic and aeromagnetic data in the central depression of the basin. These efforts built on earlier small-scale finds in but aimed to uncover major fields in the east to support industrialization. The was discovered on September 26, 1959, when Well Songji-3, located in the southern portion of the Songliao Basin's central depression, produced a significant commercial oil flow of over 100 cubic meters per day from formations at depths exceeding 2,000 meters. This breakthrough, achieved amid challenging conditions including subzero temperatures and rudimentary equipment, confirmed reserves estimated initially at billions of barrels, ending decades of scarcity and prompting immediate scaling of operations. The timing, just before the 10th anniversary of the , elevated its national significance as a symbol of in resources.

1960s development and national model status

The Daqing oilfield's development intensified in the early 1960s following its discovery on September 26, 1959, when exploratory well Songji-3 produced a commercial oil flow in the Songliao Basin. Large-scale construction and exploitation commenced in 1960, with the field achieving basic exploration and development within less than three years despite harsh winter conditions and logistical challenges. By 1963, Daqing reached full-scale production, yielding 22.2 million tons of crude oil annually and contributing to China's shift toward oil self-sufficiency. In September 1964, designated Daqing as a national model for industrialization during a meeting, praising its embodiment of , collective effort, and rapid progress under socialist principles. This endorsement spurred the widespread "In industry, learn from Daqing," which propagated Daqing's practices—such as integrated oilfield management, worker discipline, and technological adaptation—as exemplars for factories and enterprises nationwide. That year, Daqing accounted for nearly half of China's total oil output, underscoring its pivotal role in alleviating the country's dependence on imported amid geopolitical tensions. Daqing's model status facilitated , with the oilfield dispatching over 56,000 cadres and workers, along with 4,900 pieces of machinery (more than one-third of its ), to support development at other domestic fields starting in 1963. This dissemination extended Daqing's operational model, emphasizing labor-intensive techniques and ideological motivation, though it also reflected centralized planning priorities that prioritized output over long-term sustainability. The field's promotion through reinforced its symbolic importance in Mao-era narratives of industrial triumph.

1970s-1980s peak production and economic contributions

During the , Daqing Oilfield's crude oil production expanded rapidly through intensified development and application of waterflooding techniques, culminating in a peak annual output of approximately 50 million metric tons by 1976. This level, equivalent to about 1 million barrels per day, marked the onset of a production plateau that persisted through the 1980s, sustained by ongoing infill drilling and enhanced recovery methods despite increasing water cut in reservoirs. Daqing's output constituted roughly 50 percent of China's total crude oil production during this era, providing a critical buffer against domestic energy shortages and enabling the country to achieve net oil exporter status from the mid- onward. The field's contributions extended to foreign exchange generation, as exported Daqing crude—priced competitively below benchmarks—helped finance imports of industrial machinery and technology, with petroleum exports accounting for 12-13 percent of China's total export earnings in the late 1970s and rising to two-thirds by 1985. Economically, Daqing served as China's first tax-paying enterprise model, channeling substantial fiscal revenues to the state through oil sector taxes, which ranked highest among industries in the . These funds supported national infrastructure and debt repayment efforts, underscoring the oilfield's role in bolstering coffers amid post-Cultural reconstruction. By the mid-, the field's operations indirectly contributed around 3 percent of national state revenue, reflecting its outsized influence on China's resource-dependent economy.

Post-1978 reforms and diversification attempts

Following the national economic reforms initiated in , Daqing faced mounting pressures from stagnating oil production and rising extraction costs, prompting early adjustments to reduce dependency on crude oil output. Between and , electricity consumption per ton of oil produced in Daqing's fields increased 1.6-fold, while overall costs escalated, signaling the onset of in the aging reservoirs. These trends aligned with broader Chinese shifts toward market-oriented policies, leading Daqing's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to explore downstream integration and horizontal expansion beyond primary extraction. Initial efforts focused on leveraging oil revenues to import foreign technology for petrochemical processing, building on pre-reform proposals like the 1976 "Great Leap Outward" initiative, which aimed to develop chemicals, fertilizers, and synthetic fibers but was curtailed by political shifts. Diversification accelerated in the amid national SOE reforms, with vertical strategies emphasizing to process local crude into higher-value products. In 1999, the Daqing Petroleum Administration Bureau underwent restructuring, splitting into Daqing Oilfield Company Limited—a China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) subsidiary handling upstream extraction and —and a reorganized administration for manufacturing and services; this coincided with mandated production cuts of 1.5–2 million tons annually to extend field life. capacity expanded notably, reaching 600,000 tons of production per year by 2012, supported by increased local refining quotas from 7.573 million tons in 1990 to over 12 million tons by 2012. Horizontal diversification targeted non-oil sectors, including (utilizing regional ), pharmaceuticals, new materials, , and logistics, alongside petroleum-related services like fabrication. National policies bolstered these attempts, particularly the 2003 "Revitalizing the Northeast Old Industrial Base" plan, which provided tax incentives, , and support to transition resource-dependent cities like Daqing. By 2004, fiscal reforms relieved SOEs of non-core social functions (e.g., , ), allowing reinvestment into diversification, while a high-tech industrial zone was established with six pillar industries. Service sectors, such as and , emerged as priorities, with goals to exceed 60% non-oil industrial output. Despite progress, challenges persisted, including from over-extraction—such as a 3,750 km² underground water funnel—and persistent SOE dominance, which accounted for 70.3% of industrial in . Fiscal constraints limited local revenue to 6.6% of GDP that year, hindering broader private-sector growth. By , non- sectors comprised 54% of Daqing's gross regional product (GRP), with GDP reaching 142,000 RMB, reflecting partial success in mitigating decline—production had fallen from a 1976 peak of 50 million tons to 40 million tons by 2009—but underscoring ongoing vulnerability to dynamics in a state-heavy .

2000s-present: Decline, transitions, and revitalization efforts

Following the peak crude oil production of 56 million tonnes in 1997, Daqing Oilfield experienced a steady decline, averaging 2.9% annually through 2007 when output fell to 41.6 million tonnes, driven by maturation and natural depletion despite enhanced recovery techniques. By the , production stabilized around 30-32 million tonnes per year through tertiary recovery methods, but Daqing's share of national output dropped from 43% in 1995 to 16% in 2024 as newer fields emerged elsewhere in . This maturation prompted , the field's operator, to intensify waterflooding and chemical flooding, achieving annual tertiary recovery exceeding 10 million tonnes for 21 consecutive years by 2023, cumulatively yielding 300 million tonnes. To counter the oil downturn, Daqing shifted toward expansion and integrated , with gas output surpassing 6 billion cubic meters in 2024—a record high—and rising 175 million cubic meters year-on-year in 2021. In the first half of 2025, crude output edged up by 10,900 s year-on-year, supported by these efforts and pilot projects like Gulong, where targeted 20,000 barrels per day by 2025 from proven reserves exceeding 1 billion barrels. upgrades further aided transitions, including a 3.5 million per year extension commissioned in 2020 and plans to reach 23.2 million tonnes annual processing capacity by 2025, emphasizing Russian crude imports and petrochemical output. Economic diversification accelerated post-2000 to mitigate oil dependency, with non-oil sectors like , automobiles, high-end , , and information prioritized under plans. This restructuring contributed to GDP growth of 4% in the first half of 2019, as secondary and tertiary industries expanded, reducing petroleum's dominance from over 60% of GDP in earlier decades. Rural revitalization initiatives focused on modern , integrating industrial chains for , , and to bolster and export-oriented farming in Heilongjiang's black soil region. These efforts have yielded mixed but progressive results, with Daqing's showing resilience through upstream-downstream integration and overseas equity investments, though challenges persist from global transitions and domestic shifts. PetroChina's ESG reports highlight sustained investments in low-carbon technologies and localization, positioning Daqing as a hub for and renewable integration by 2025. Overall, while remains central, diversification has prevented sharp contraction, aligning with national resource city transformation policies.

Government and administration

Administrative divisions

Daqing is a in province subdivided into nine county-level administrative divisions: five urban districts, three counties, and one . These divisions manage local governance, including urban development in the core oilfield areas and rural administration in peripheral regions. The five districts—Saertu (萨尔图区), Longfeng (龙凤区), Ranghulu (让胡路区), (大同区), and Honggang (红岗区)—primarily encompass the central urban and industrial zones, with Saertu serving as the seat of the municipal government and hosting key infrastructure. The three counties—Zhaozhou (肇州县), Zhaoyuan (肇源县), and Lindian (林甸县)—cover largely agricultural and transitional areas surrounding the urban core. The Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County (杜尔伯特蒙古族自治县) provides ethnic autonomy for the Mongol population in the northeastern part of the , incorporating traditional lands alongside modern economic activities. Additionally, Daqing includes functional zones such as the Daqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, which operates under the municipal administration but supports specialized economic functions without county-level status.
Division TypeName (Pinyin/Chinese)
DistrictsSaertu District (萨尔图区)
Longfeng District (龙凤区)
Ranghulu District (让胡路区)
Datong District (大同区)
Honggang District (红岗区)
CountiesZhaozhou County (肇州县)
Zhaoyuan County (肇源县)
Lindian County (林甸县)
Autonomous CountyDorbod Mongol Autonomous County (杜尔伯特蒙古族自治县)

Governance structure and policies

Daqing's governance adheres to the hierarchical structure of the , where the Communist Party of China (CPC) exercises leadership over state organs at the prefecture-level municipal scale. The CPC Daqing Municipal Committee constitutes the paramount authority, directed by the municipal Party Secretary, who determines policy priorities, cadre appointments, and ideological orientation. Its Standing Committee, generally consisting of around 11 members, incorporates deputy secretaries alongside secretaries for discipline inspection, organization, propaganda, and political-legal affairs, facilitating collective decision-making on matters like and social stability. This party apparatus integrates with the Daqing Municipal People's Congress, the nominal legislative body that elects the People's Government while operating under CPC guidance. The Daqing Municipal People's Government functions as the administrative executive, led by the —who typically holds concurrent deputy Party Secretary status—and supported by several vice mayors overseeing specialized domains. Organizational units include bureaus for development and reform (coordinating economic strategies), (managing budgets amid oil revenue fluctuations), natural resources (regulating extraction), ecology and environment (addressing from activities), and (maintaining order in a historically company-town setting). These entities implement directives from higher CPC levels, with fiscal and regulatory powers devolved from Province but constrained by central oversight on resource sectors dominated by state-owned enterprises like (CNPC). Municipal policies prioritize transitioning from oil dependency, following national guidelines for resource-based cities identified as maturing or exhausted since the early , when Daqing's crude output began declining post-50 million tons annual peak in 1997. Strategies emphasize diversification into , , modern , and digital services, with targeted investments exceeding 100 billion yuan in non-oil projects by 2020 to counter losses from shrinking extraction. High-quality development initiatives promote "smart ," integrating AI and green technologies for sustainable , as modeled in scenario analyses projecting reduced carbon intensity through practices in chains. These align with central directives for northeast revitalization, including upgrades and SOE reforms to enhance competitiveness beyond hydrocarbons. Policies revive elements of the historical "Daqing spirit"—emphasizing diligence and —adapted for contemporary drives and innovation incentives, though implementation faces challenges from path dependency and aging workforce demographics.

Demographics

Daqing's population underwent explosive growth beginning in the late after the discovery of major oil fields in , transforming a sparsely populated agricultural area into a hub for industrial migration. Workers and support staff were recruited nationwide, leading to a surge from an estimated 180,871 residents in 1950 to over 2.5 million by the . This expansion peaked at 2,904,532 in the 2010 national census, driven by state-directed resettlement and the city's status as a model for socialist development. Subsequent decades saw stagnation and decline amid the maturation of oil reserves, economic diversification challenges, and broader northeastern China's depopulation trends, including net out-migration of younger cohorts to coastal provinces for better opportunities and low fertility rates exacerbated by the one-child policy's legacy. The 2020 census recorded 2,781,562 residents, a 4.27% drop from 2010, with usual residence figures further declining to 2,700,000 by 2023. Average household size fell from 2.86 persons in 2010 to 2.35 in 2020, reflecting smaller families and aging demographics. progressed, with the built-up area housing about 1.57 million, though total contraction offset proportional gains.
Census YearTotal Population
20102,904,532
20202,781,562
Ethnically, Daqing's residents are overwhelmingly , aligning with province's composition of approximately 95% Han as of 2000 census data, due to historical Han migration overwhelming indigenous minorities. The remaining share consists of small communities from 31 ethnic minorities, primarily Manchu (the largest local group, with provincial roots in the region's Manchu banner history), alongside , , and Hui, typically under 5% combined and concentrated in rural or border-adjacent districts. No city-specific ethnic breakdown from recent censuses indicates significant deviation from provincial norms, underscoring the homogenizing effect of mid-20th-century industrial influxes.

Urbanization and migration patterns

The discovery of substantial oil reserves at Daqing in 1959 initiated a period of state-directed , drawing hundreds of thousands of workers, veterans, and technical experts from various regions of to the site in the early . This influx, organized under the Chinese Communist Party's industrialization drive, rapidly urbanized the formerly sparse, marshy, and agriculturally limited area, with migrants establishing modular worker settlements, drilling platforms, and ancillary infrastructure amid harsh northern conditions. By prioritizing production over conventional , the development created integrated "borderless" zones blending industrial, residential, and farming functions, accommodating over 40,000 initial core teams that expanded into self-sustaining communities. Population growth accelerated accordingly, rising from under 200,000 in the pre-discovery era to approximately 2.9 million by , driven primarily by in-migration tied to oilfield expansion and family relocations that supported on-site and services. Urban districts proliferated outward from the oil core, forming five major areas by the late , though expansion halted in central Saertu after the mid-1990s to preserve extraction space, shifting construction eastward. This pattern exemplified resource-driven , where migration was not market-led but centrally allocated via the hukou system, embedding workers in enterprise-based communities rather than free mobility. In recent decades, as output declined post-2000s, Daqing has experienced net shrinkage, dropping to 2.7 million by 2023, indicative of out-migration from resource-dependent sectors amid diversification efforts. The registration-based rate stabilized at 53.2% in , lower than China's national average, reflecting challenges in retaining youth and skilled labor in a maturing economy, with some outflow to coastal hubs despite local revitalization policies. Resource-based cities like Daqing show elevated shrinkage risks, with only limited counter-migration from non- industries.

Economy

Petroleum industry dominance

The Daqing Oilfield, discovered in 1959 and developed under the auspices of the (CNPC), has formed the cornerstone of the city's economy, establishing Daqing as China's premier petroleum production hub. Cumulative crude oil output exceeds 2.53 billion tons, representing 36% of the nation's onshore production since inception. This field alone accounts for approximately 20% of China's current domestic oil production, underscoring its national significance. Annual crude production has stabilized at around 30 million tons in recent years, supplemented by over 5 billion cubic meters of , as reported for 2022. The sector dominates local industrial output, with and activities contributing 72.2% of Daqing's industrial as of 2013, a figure reflective of persistent structural reliance despite diversification efforts. CNPC's Daqing operations, including subsidiaries, employ tens of thousands directly in extraction, , and support functions, while fostering ancillary industries that amplify economic dependence on hydrocarbons. This dominance has historically propelled Daqing's growth, funding and , but also engendered vulnerability to fluctuating global oil prices and maturing reserves, with production peaking in the at over 50 million tons annually before stabilizing through enhanced recovery techniques. extensions, encompassing nearly 500 enterprises with aggregate refining capacity supporting regional supply chains, further entrench the industry's primacy, generating substantial revenue that underpins fiscal stability. The in Daqing has developed as a direct extension of the local oilfield, leveraging abundant crude oil feedstock to produce a range of downstream chemical products. Major facilities, such as the PetroChina Daqing Company complex established in 1988, process crude oil into , fertilizers, , chemical fibers, and other derivatives. This company alone maintains an annual crude oil refining capacity of 10 million metric tons, supporting production of key intermediates like and . Production outputs have scaled significantly over time; for instance, output reached 1.058 million tons by October 2019, surpassing prior records through capacity expansions and optimizations. Daqing hosts nearly 500 enterprises, including 77 with annual revenues exceeding 20 million yuan, contributing to an overall capacity of 19 million tons annually across more than 250 product varieties in eight categories, such as solvents, resins, and additives. Specialized firms like Daqing Zhonglan Co. Ltd. focus on niche outputs including methyl tert-butyl (MTBE), nonyl phenol, and methylene ethyl , enhancing the sector's diversity. In response to maturing oilfield reserves and declining crude production— which fell below 800,000 barrels per day by 2015—Daqing initiated reforms in to overhaul its and operations, aiming to shift toward high-value products and consolidate capacity. A five-year plan targeted increasing local throughput to 23.2 million tons, building on existing combined capacities with nearby facilities like Harbin's at 13 million tons, while emphasizing imports of heavier crudes suitable for cracking. These efforts reflect a strategic pivot to sustain economic viability amid upstream constraints, with crude processing capacities having expanded from 1 million tons in earlier decades to current levels through unit additions like and MTBE plants.

Diversification into non-oil industries

In response to declining oil reserves and production peaking in the late , Daqing initiated economic diversification strategies in the mid-2010s, emphasizing high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, bio-pharmaceuticals, and to reduce reliance on . These efforts included establishing the Daqing High-tech Industrial Development Zone, which by 2019 hosted over 1,000 enterprises, including more than 100 high-tech firms focused on innovation-driven growth. Non-oil industrial output reached 1.2 trillion yuan in 2016, reflecting an 8.7% year-on-year increase, while the non-oil sector's contribution to GDP rose to 62% that year, up from prior dependence on extraction activities. By the first three quarters of , the non-oil accounted for 72.2% of Daqing's total economic output, supporting a 4% GDP expansion in the first half of that year—outpacing the national average of 2.9%. Agriculture has emerged as a pillar of diversification, leveraging Daqing's fertile black soil for modernized grain and production; the maintains large-scale output of crops and animal products under coordinated urban-rural initiatives. Equipment manufacturing, integrated into the broader Ha-Da-Qi , targets machinery for farming and other sectors, aligning with national rural revitalization strategies. industries capitalize on local agricultural yields, producing high-end products for domestic and export markets. Despite these advances, diversification faces structural hurdles, including Heilongjiang province's reliance and Daqing's overall GDP contraction to 281.58 billion yuan in 2024 from 286.25 billion in 2023, signaling uneven progress amid national economic slowdowns. Local policies continue to prioritize technological upgrades in these sectors to sustain momentum.

Trade, banking, and fiscal challenges

Daqing's activities are predominantly oriented toward products and derivatives, reflecting its . The city's sector processes both domestic crude from the local oilfield and imported supplies, notably via the China-Russia crude pipeline, which has positioned Daqing as a key hub for handling Russian exports since operations commenced in 2011. Exports focus on six main categories of , supported by expansions such as the 2020 five-year plan to increase capacity and high-value chemical output, aiming to mitigate dependency on raw crude . However, remains vulnerable to global commodity price swings; for instance, low prices in 2015-2016 exacerbated export revenue declines, as margins tightened amid oversupply and reduced demand from downstream industries. Imports, including and , primarily originate from , underscoring bilateral ties but also exposing Daqing to supply disruptions from geopolitical events, such as Western sanctions on Russian post-2022. Efforts to diversify through non-oil sectors, including and , have progressed slowly, with still comprising the bulk of outbound shipments due to entrenched advantages. This structure perpetuates imbalances, as needs for advanced technology and feedstock outpace value-added exports in emerging fields. Fiscal management in Daqing grapples with acute resource dependency, where extraction and contribute roughly half of the city's GDP and a substantial portion of local revenues. Declining output from the maturing Daqing oilfield—down to approximately 800,000 barrels per day by 2014 from a peak exceeding 1 million—has eroded fiscal buffers, compounded by volatile international prices that directly impact contributions to municipal coffers. In response, local authorities have resorted to debt financing, issuing 20,326 million RMB in special-purpose government bonds in 2023 to fund and diversification initiatives amid Heilongjiang province's broader fiscal strains from . These measures highlight causal vulnerabilities: high extraction costs in water-flooded reservoirs reduce net revenues, necessitating subsidies or bonds that elevate debt servicing burdens without resolving underlying production declines. Banking operations, dominated by branches of major state-owned institutions like the Industrial and Commercial Bank of , prioritize lending to the petroleum sector, which absorbs the majority of credit for exploration, refining upgrades, and expansions. Challenges arise in channeling funds toward diversification, as banks exhibit caution toward higher-risk non-oil ventures in a marked by industrial shrinkage and slowing growth post-oil peak. Local face amplified pressures from provincial dynamics, where Heilongjiang's reliance on resource taxes limits fiscal transfers, constraining bank for SME support in nascent sectors like equipment fabrication. This misalignment hampers broader economic resilience, as credit allocation favors short-term energy stability over long-term structural shifts.

Infrastructure

Transportation networks

Daqing maintains an integrated transportation system centered on rail, , and air links, facilitating connectivity to major Chinese cities and supporting industrial . The city's handle passenger and freight traffic, with rail dominating long-distance travel and highways enabling regional access. The Daqing Saertu Airport (IATA: DQA), inaugurated on September 1, 2009, as a grade 4C facility, serves as the primary aviation hub, located approximately 20 kilometers from the city center. It features a and operates domestic flights, positioning it as the second-largest airport in Province. Construction began in to accommodate growing demand from the oil sector and urban expansion. Rail infrastructure includes key stations such as Daqing East and Daqing West, integrated into the - Intercity Railway, a 286-kilometer line operational since around 2010 with intermediate stops enhancing regional mobility. The - high-speed railway, which passes through Daqing, reduced travel time between and to under five hours upon its completion phases, with Daqing East handling bullet trains since at least 2022. These lines connect Daqing to , , and further to , supporting both passenger services and oil-related freight. Highway networks feature the G45 Daqing-Guangzhou Expressway, a north-south artery linking Daqing to southern and integrated into the national system for efficient goods . Local facilities like the Daqing West Integrated Highway Passenger Station, operational by 2022 in Ranghulu District, and the Daqing Highway Passenger Transportation Hub at Century Avenue and Longfeng Street, manage bus services with multi-story terminals for intercity routes. These expressways and hubs accelerated urban development post-construction, handling increased traffic from economic diversification.

Urban development and utilities

![Daqing Olympic Park Stadium cropped 01.jpg][float-right] Daqing's urban development originated in the early as a national project tied to the exploitation of its vast reserves, transitioning from a rudimentary socialist to a structured under the oversight of the Ministry of . The city's planning emphasized a modernist grid layout to house workers and support industrial operations, with five major urban expanding outward from the central fields in tandem with growth. This radial expansion accommodated rapid influxes from rural migration, fostering a cohesive urban fabric integrated with extraction sites, though initial designs prioritized functionality over aesthetic or commercial diversity. Utilities infrastructure in Daqing reflects its and harsh , with predominantly sourced from fossil fuels linked to oilfield operations to meet demands for processing and residential use. Supplemental renewable capacity includes a 18.73-megawatt water-surface at the Daqing Oilfield, generating annually the equivalent of 8,400 tons of standard combustion and contributing to grid diversification. District heating networks, vital for winter heating, supply over 8.6 million square meters via combined systems featuring 50 substations, often leveraging from industrial processes. Water supply systems contend with substantial industrial withdrawals for extraction—reaching 72 million cubic meters annually in key areas—and require energy-intensive treatment and distribution amid regional scarcity. management has evolved from early untreated discharges into swamps during initial phases to more regulated frameworks, though integrated water-energy-food nexus modeling highlights ongoing coordination needs for sustainable urban provisioning. supports urban districts but faces pressures from and loads, prompting analyses in broader Chinese urban contexts.

Environmental impact

Oil extraction effects on land and water

Oil extraction in the Daqing Oilfield has caused significant soil contamination, primarily from leaks of waste oil and oily sewage containing petroleum hydrocarbons such as alkanes (C12–C28), aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes. These pollutants alter soil structure and properties, with experimental soil column studies showing maximum migration depths of 25 cm, where lighter components (C12–C22) penetrate more readily than heavier ones (>C22), and most residues accumulate above 10 cm in disturbed soils. In the surrounding Daqing lakes region, exploitation has led to serious soil pollution, intensifying overall eco-environmental degradation from west to east, with eastern areas most affected by human activities. Groundwater quality in the oilfield is poor, with most samples classified as Class IV under China's groundwater standards (unsuitable for without treatment), evaluated via the Nemerow Index and hierarchical methods. Inorganic pollutants dominate, including excesses in total hardness, , chloride (Cl⁻), sulfate (SO₄²⁻), nitrite, and nitrate nitrogen from both natural geogenic sources and human activities; oil-related organic occurs via leakage from pipelines, wells, and surface spills, though it contributes less overall than inorganics. Shallow aquifers exhibit higher vulnerability, with 34.48% rated as severely or extremely polluted, compared to 20% in deeper confined waters. Surface waters in the Daqing lakes have deteriorated due to oilfield activities, including crude oil drops, wastewater discharge, , and associated drainage works. Land subsidence rates reaching 31 mm per year have been measured around the oilfield periphery, attributable to fluid extraction and pressure depletion rather than directly within production zones. These effects underscore the trade-offs of prolonged waterflooding and extraction practices in a region with limited , reliant on injected river water and local aquifers for operations.

Air quality and health consequences

Air quality in Daqing has been significantly influenced by its dominant petroleum industry, which generates emissions of particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and volatile organic compounds through oil extraction, flaring, refining, and petrochemical processing. Between 2017 and 2021, monitoring data from state-controlled stations indicated PM₂.₅ concentrations ranging from 24.16 to 55.46 μg/m³ in winter and 25.31 to 32.80 μg/m³ in spring, with PM₁₀ levels reaching 44.28–112.14 μg/m³ in winter; hazard quotients (HQ) for PM₂.₅ exceeded 1 (up to 1.645) in some seasons, signaling non-carcinogenic health risks beyond safe thresholds. SO₂ and NO₂ levels were elevated in northern areas proximate to oil fields, decreasing southward, while overall pollutant trends showed gradual declines amid national emission controls. By 2023–2025, real-time air quality indices (AQI) in Daqing typically registered as moderate, with PM₂.₅ averaging 11–13 μg/m³, reflecting improvements from stricter regulations but persistent seasonal spikes linked to industrial activity and regional transport from sources including North China and Russia. These pollutants, particularly fine particulates and gaseous emissions from petroleum operations, pose documented health risks to residents. Inhalation of airborne hydrocarbons and dust from oil processing has been associated with adverse respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological effects, including elevated incidences of blood disorders, liver damage, and premature mortality. Daqing-specific analyses indicate that PM₁₀ elevations contribute to a 0.6% increase in daily non-accidental deaths per 10 μg/m³ rise, with PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ driving non-carcinogenic hazards, especially during winter and spring when concentrations peak due to inversion layers and heating demands. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from oil-related sources further exacerbate carcinogenic risks via long-range atmospheric and soil-air exchange, affecting urban and downwind populations. Broader epidemiological evidence from Chinese industrial cities links such exposures to higher rates of ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer, with air pollution accounting for substantial premature deaths nationwide, though Daqing's oil-centric emissions amplify local vulnerabilities.

Mitigation and sustainability initiatives

Daqing Oilfield has implemented ecological restoration projects combining and wetland restoration to address from decades of extraction, particularly in areas like the Gudao Oilfield, where cover has been evaluated for recovery effectiveness using and soil analysis metrics. These efforts focus on reclaiming salinized and eroded soils, with targeting species adapted to local conditions to stabilize terrain and reduce dust emissions. In the Guowu Lake area, restoration initiatives since 2008 include monitoring, reconstruction, and protection measures to mitigate impacts on wetlands disrupted by oil infrastructure, establishing the site as a voluntarily contributing biosphere reserve under guidelines. Similarly, the Laohushan reserve employs -specific protections, long-term ecological monitoring networks, and targeted conservation for key species, aiming to preserve amid ongoing extraction activities. (CNPC), the primary operator, has also planted campaign forests in Daqing to enhance and combat , integrating these with broader drives. Sustainability measures extend to technological applications like CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR), initiated experimentally in Daqing in 1963, which captures and injects CO2 to boost extraction while sequestering emissions, contributing to reduced intensities compared to conventional methods. Under China's Plan for Resource-Based Cities (2013–2020), Daqing has pursued green industrial transitions, including energy efficiency upgrades and diversification to lower environmental footprints, though evaluations indicate persistent challenges in achieving high indices due to resource dependency. Urban projects, such as composite humanistic forest landscapes in the main city area, blend ecological restoration with recreation to improve air quality and .

Society and culture

Daqing spirit and ideological campaigns

The Daqing spirit, also known as the spirit of Daqing oil workers, originated during the intensive development of the Daqing Oil Field starting in 1959, encapsulating principles of patriotism, collectivism, arduous struggle, and selfless dedication to national industrialization under socialist ideology. This ethos was exemplified by Wang Jinxi (1923–1970), a drilling team leader dubbed "Iron Man" for feats such as personally mixing cement in a mud pit with his team under freezing conditions in September 1960 to secure the first productive well, symbolizing triumph over natural and technical adversities through human will and collective effort. Wang's No. 1205 Drilling Team became a national model, with his background from impoverished Gansu province underscoring the narrative of proletarian heroism transforming China from oil scarcity to self-sufficiency. Ideological campaigns promoting the Daqing spirit intensified in the early 1960s as part of Mao Zedong's push for rapid industrial growth amid post-Great Leap Forward recovery. In late 1963, nine lessons derived from Daqing's operational successes were codified, stressing dialectical materialism, self-reliance, and the application of Mao Zedong Thought to overcome bureaucratic inertia and technical challenges in petroleum extraction. The flagship "In Industry, Learn from Daqing" movement, initiated by Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai in 1964, directed factories and enterprises nationwide to emulate Daqing's methods of mass mobilization, on-site problem-solving, and rejection of expertise-dependent approaches in favor of ideological fervor. This campaign contrasted with personality-focused drives like "Learn from Lei Feng" by targeting systemic industrial practices, involving delegations visiting Daqing to study techniques and attitudes, and integrating propaganda posters and media to propagate slogans such as holding high the banner of Mao Zedong Thought for the Third Five-Year Plan. During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), the Daqing spirit served as a tool for ideological purification, with Daqing held up as a bastion against "capitalist roaders" in industry, enforcing political study sessions and work-style reforms modeled on oil field austerity and productivity metrics. Official accounts from state-affiliated sources emphasize voluntary dedication yielding over 50% of China's crude oil output by the 1970s, crediting the spirit for ending oil imports; however, these narratives, produced by entities like the , reflect party-directed historiography that prioritizes heroic collectivization over potential coercive elements inherent in Mao-era mobilizations. The campaigns extended beyond oil, influencing sectors like and , where Daqing-style "battles" against production shortfalls were staged, though independent assessments note exaggerated outputs and human costs in harsh northeastern conditions. Post-Mao, the spirit persisted in diluted form as a patriotic emblem, invoked in modern to evoke resilience without the era's radicalism.

Local landmarks and daily life

Prominent local landmarks in Daqing center on its heritage and natural features. The Iron Man Wang Jinxi Memorial Hall, established in 1971 as China's first museum dedicated to a worker, commemorates Wang Jinxi, the drilling team leader who led the 1960 breakthrough in tapping the ; it houses 5,324 artifacts, including over 200 historical photographs documenting his life and the industry's early struggles. The Daqing Museum features exhibits on the region's natural environment, ancient mammals, and human fossils, with a collection exceeding 100,000 specimens from 43 species, illustrating prehistoric life in . Sanyong Lake serves as a and recreational area, offering scenic views and opportunities for outdoor activities amid the surrounding wetlands. The Daqing Olympic Park Stadium, opened in 2012 with a capacity of 32,000 seats including 58 skyboxes, hosts sports events and reflects the city's modern infrastructure development. Daily life in Daqing revolves around its identity as China's oil capital, with a significant portion of the population employed in the sector since the field's discovery in , fostering a culture of industrial dedication embodied in the "Daqing spirit" of self-reliance and perseverance. The city spans five urban districts that have expanded radially from the oil fields, providing modern amenities in a relatively clean environment with frequent clear skies, contrasting with more polluted northern Chinese cities. Average monthly living costs stand at approximately $600, supporting affordable housing and routines centered on work, family, and recreation in parks like Longfeng Wetland, where residents engage in sports such as and during summers. Culinary habits feature hearty northeastern dishes, with local markets and eateries emphasizing bold flavors tied to the region's agricultural and resource-based economy.

Sports and education

Daqing hosts several institutions of higher education, reflecting its industrial focus on and regional needs in and teacher training. , originally established as Daqing Petroleum Institute, specializes in and related fields, serving as a key training ground for the local oil industry. Daqing Normal University offers undergraduate programs across disciplines including , , , , management, and art, with 45 majors distributed among 14 colleges. , with an enrollment of approximately 16,000 students, emphasizes agricultural sciences and related vocational training. These institutions collectively provide around 72 study programs, including 39 bachelor's degrees, supporting the city's workforce development in , , and . In sports, Daqing's primary venue is the Olympic Park Stadium, a multi-purpose facility with a capacity of 32,031 seats, constructed between 2010 and 2012 at a cost of 560 million CNY. The stadium, featuring a distinctive red steel ring and wicker-inspired roof, forms part of a larger that includes indoor halls, with the total project costing 1.55 billion CNY and providing 3,000 parking spaces. Locally, the Heilongjiang Dragons Daqing women's basketball team competes in the (WCBA), achieving regular season runner-up in 2006 and semifinals appearance that year, playing home games at Heilongjiang University Stadium with 5,000 capacity. The city also hosts provincial student events, such as the 17th Student Sports Meeting of Province in 2021 at Northeast Petroleum University, promoting youth athletic participation.

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