Fenghua was established as a county in the Tang dynasty, in the territory of Mingzhou. Its name means "Accepting Reform" and adopted during imperial times. During the Song dynasty, immigration from the north increased exponentially, peaking during the loss of northern China to the JurchenJin dynasty during the Jin–Song wars. In 1129, Fenghua was raided by Jurchen cavalry in pursuit of Emperor Gaozong. Local militia at Xiaowangmiao (蕭王廟) fought off the invaders.
In late imperial times, Fenghua established itself as a meeting point for trade between the agrarian communities to the north, in Yinxian (鄞縣), and the mountain-based communities in the south. In exchange for grain and cereals, the hill peoples would trade bamboo, timber and other cash crops such as tea and tobacco. In the east of Fenghua, around Xiangshan (象山), there existed also a number of fishing communities.
As with the rest of China, the 19th century brought about tumultuous changes. The Opium Wars with Britain devastated the economies of the coast. Around this time, many Fenghua men sought opportunity in the rising cities of Harbin, Weihaiwei and Shanghai. They later became famous in the 1920s for their dominance of the tailoring profession in downtown Shanghai, known as the "Feng Bang" (奉幫). But by far Fenghua's most famous son was GeneralissimoChiang Kai-shek, Chairman and later Director-General of the Kuomintang (KMT) (1926-1927, 1936–1975) and President of the Republic of China (1948-1975). Chiang's family were originally salt merchants in the township of Xikou (old pronunciation "Qikou"), a town in the west of Fenghua district.
Today, Fenghua is a centre for light manufacturing and small scale farming. It boasts a number of premier garment and textiles factories, including the Romon brand widely recognised in China. It is also home to the vast industrial facilities of Ningbo Bird, a leading Chinese mobile phone manufacturer. As the port city of Ningbo is further integrated into the burgeoning economic region of Shanghai, Fenghua will attract increased foreign investment and continue to grow.
In 1996, Fenghua District was jointly named "Hometown of Chinese Peach" by the Development Research Center of the State Council and other departments. Fenghua peach is also known as "China's first peach". Fenghua peach industry continues to develop rapidly and has become one of the pillar industries for Fenghua farmers to increase their income.
In 2008, the district's gross domestic product was RMB 18.8 billion (per capita RMB 39,100), an increase of 8.1% from the previous year.
Tourism
Largely as a result of Chiang's fame, Fenghua attracts a large number of tourists. Aside from Chiang's former residence and related nostalgia, Fenghua has relatively few relics from the past. The great Xuedou Temple (雪竇寺), once one of the ten great monasteries of Chan Buddhism, was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Other sites, along with numerous local shrines, clan halls and genealogies, also perished in those chaotic years.
To encourage the growing tourist trade, Fenghua municipality has made efforts to preserve remaining items of cultural interest. In 1988, for example, it rebuilt Xuedou Temple and also restored the Temple of King Xiao at Xiaowangmiao.
References
^ abc"Administrative Divisions". 宁波市奉化区人民政府 English. Retrieved 29 September 2019. Fenghua's total land area covers 1,249 km2, its sea area covers 96 km2, governing 6 towns and 5 residential districts, with a population of 490,000.
^2018年统计用区划代码和城乡划分代码：奉化区 [2018 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Fenghua District] (in Simplified Chinese). National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2019. 统计用区划代码 名称 330213001000 锦屏街道 330213002000 岳林街道 330213003000 江口街道 330213004000 西坞街道 330213005000 萧王庙街道 330213100000 溪口镇 330213103000 尚田镇 330213104000 莼湖镇 330213106000 裘村镇 330213107000 大堰镇 330213108000 松岙镇
^奉化市历史沿革 [Fenghua City Historical Development] (in Simplified Chinese). XZQH.org. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2019. 2010年末，奉化市面积1268平方千米，人口48.2万人，辖5个街道、6个镇、21个社区、15个居民区、355个行政村。
^行政区划. 宁波市奉化区人民政府 (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 29 September 2019. 2003年12月，江口镇、西坞镇和萧王庙镇改为街道。全市设6镇5街道。 2019年1月，新成立方桥街道。全区设6镇6街道
^宁波市奉化区政区图. 宁波市奉化区人民政府 (in Simplified Chinese). July 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
^"Crop doctors are busy serving farmers". 宁波市奉化区人民政府 English. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019. For two consecutive days in May 29th, 3 Farm doctors at the District Central Farm Hospital came to the field of Li Feng, a large grain farmer in Song Ao town.
