Shamen Town (in ) is a town-level administrative unit under Yuhuan, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China. It is situated northeast of Yuhuan, bordering the East and South with the East China Sea, and connecting to Longxi, Chumen, and Qinggang to the west, and Chengnan of Wenling to the north. It covers an area of 36.69 square kilometers and administratively includes 23 village-level divisions. Shamen is the central town of the province of Zhejiang, known for its emphasis on education and eco-friendly initiatives. In 2017, the total population of the town was 25,884.
Originally named Tongli Township (in ), Shamen was established as a town in 1986. Its name originates from the abundant sea sand at the entrance of the village of Shamen, where the town government is located. Within Shamen, there is the Sibian Xiaolu vigilant defense fortress site, a Zhejiang Provincial cultural relic protection unit. Additionally, the mainland China's first training and teaching center for Taiwan universities is also established there. Shamen has evolved into an industrial powerhouse within Yuhuan.
Administrative development
Establishment
During the Qing dynasty, the area under the jurisdiction of Shamen belonged to the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Dou. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was known as Tonglin and later divided into the First to Fourteenth Bao. From the first year of the Republic of China to the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was known as Tonglin Township. In 1950, Tonglin and Guoli were established as two townships, and in 1952, these townships and Baishan were set up separately. In the first half of 1956, the three townships were merged into Tongli Township, taking one character from each of the names Tonglin and Guoli. Later, it was reorganized from a township into an administrative region, and renamed Tongli People's Commune. In 1984, following political and communal separation, it reverted to being Tongli Township. In 1986, it was reclassified as Shamen Town.
Administrative subdivisions
The government office of Shamen is situated at No. 31, Shamen Village Road, which is the origin of the name "Shamen" for the town. Its name derived from the abundant coastal sand when the area used to be tidal flats. Shamen Village serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of Shamen Town.
Geographical environment
Overview
Shamen is located in the plains of the Yuhuan-Chumen peninsula. It belongs to a coastal plain and a semi-coastal mountainous area. Situated in the northeast of Yuhuan, it is 29 kilometers away from the county seat. To the east and southeast lies the East China Sea, while to the west, southwest, it connects with Longxi, Chumen, and Qinggang, and to the north, it borders Chengnan Town of Wenling City.
The area spans 8.61 kilometers north to south and 9.23 kilometers east to west, with a total area of 36.69 square kilometers, including 35.47 square kilometers of land and 1.22 square kilometers of water.
Climate
The jurisdiction of Shamen falls within a subtropical monsoon climate zone, influenced by the ocean, characterized by mild and humid weather. The average annual temperature is 17.7 degrees Celsius, with an annual precipitation of 1577.5 millimeters and a frost-free period of approximately 300 days. The average temperature remains around 17°C annually, with August being the warmest at an average of 27°C, and January being the coldest at an average of 8°C. The average annual precipitation is 2023 millimeters, with rainfall in June reaching 334 millimeters and 74 millimeters in January.
Infraestructure
By the end of 2011, Shamen had a total of 6 kindergartens, 2 primary schools (Yuhuan Shamen Central Primary School and Yuhuan Shamen Guoli Primary School) and 1 middle school (Yuhuan Shamen Junior High School. There also had 1 post office, 1 telecommunications company with 2 service outlets, 1 water supply plant,
All neighbourhood committees in Shamen have access to broadband, running water, television, and other basic infrastructure, as well as centralized waste and sewage treatment. The planned Taizhou City Regional Railway S1 Line and the provincial highway 203 will also pass through Shamen. The Tiantong Highway, a county road, is 14 kilometers long and runs through Shamen from the central street to Yaokeng at the junction with Wenling. This road has a width of 4.5 to 6 meters, with a gravel surface, classified as a fourth-level road, completed in two phases in October 1973 and October 1974. Additionally, there are 3 bus routes in the town, covering a mileage of approximately 25 kilometers, providing public transportation to all village committees in the jurisdiction.
Economy
Fishing industry
Due to its proximity to the East China Sea, Shamen has a developed fishing industry with complex facilities such as Lingmen Fishing Port. Lingmen Fishing Port is a national second-level fishing port within Shamen. With an area of 48,000 square meters, it can accommodate 250 fishing boats and facilitates processing, distribution of aquatic products, and also serves tourism. In 2011, the total production output in Shamen reached 18,000 tons. In 2017, Shamen had a total of 407 companies. By the end of 2017, Shamen Binhai Industrial City had 261 settled enterprises, including 117 in production, solving employment for over 16,000 people.
Pinghuan Bridge is an ancient bridge located in Bailingsha Village, Shamen, locally known as "Gongqiao Tou," and is also one of Yuhuan's cultural heritage sites. It was reconstructed in 1878 (during the fourth year of the Qing Dynasty's Guangxu period), with an unknown initial construction date, serving as an essential route between Yuhuan and Wenling.
Natural sites
Riao Beach is situated in the northeastern part of Shamen, stretching 700 meters long and approximately 30 meters wide, covering an area of 21,000 square meters. It faces Shitang in Wenling. The bay forms a "W" shape, and the gravel is spread across Outer Shan'ao.
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|1992
|23051
| rowspan="6" |
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|1993
|23101
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|1994
|23135
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|1995
|23197
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|1996
|23290
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|1997
|23200
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|2000
|20066
|
|Fifth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China
The figures may not be precise.
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|2010
|25958
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|Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China
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|2011
|25828
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Distinctions
- Shamen is the central town of Zhejiang Province and is considered a strong educational town.
- In June 2007, it was acknowledged by the Leading Group for Zhejiang Provincial Ecological Construction as a 'Provincial Ecological Town in Zhejiang Province.