Historical Evolution

Weifang boasts a long history. The ancestors had been living here before 6,000 years ago. In the dynasties of Xia and Shang, there were tribes like Zhenguan, Zhenxun, Han, Pingshou. At the beginning of Zhou dynasty, King Wu founded the country, and appointed Jiang Ziya as the governor, and Yingqiu the capital (in the present Changle county). In the Spring and Autumn Period, the now downtown belonged to states like Qi, Lu, Qi, Ju. In Warring States period, the present area was mostly subordinate to Qi, while Wulian, Zhucheng to Lu. In Qin dynasty, the present Weifang area was subordinate to prefectures of Jiaodong, Linzi and Langya successively. In Han Dynasty, the present city area was under the jurisdiction of prefecture governments of Qingzhou and Xuzhou. In the period of the Jin Dynasty and Sixteen States, the present city area was governed by Houzhao, Qianyan, Qianyan, Qianqin and Houyan successively. In the peaceful 282 A.D., the present Weifang area was under the jurisdiction of Qingzhou and Xuzhou States, Beihai and Le’an Kingdoms and Chengyang and Dongwan prefectures. In the Song State of the Southern dynasty,  the present Weifang belonged to 2 states, namely Qingzhou and Xuzhou. In the Wei State of the Northern Dynasty, the present Weifang belonged to 3 small states, namely Qingzhou, Jiaozhou and Nanqingzhou. In Sui Dynasty, the present Weifang belonged to 2 prefectures, namely Beihai and Gaomi. In Tang Dynasty, the present Weifang was under the jurisdiction of 2 states of Henan prefecture, namely Qingzhou and Mizhou. In Song Dynasty, the present Weifang belonged to 3 states of Jingdong Donglu, namely Qingzhou, Weizhou and Mizhou. In Jin dynasty, the present Weifang belonged to Yidu Prefecture, Weizhou and Mizhou of Shandong Donglu. In Yuan Dynasty, the present Weifang belonged to Yidu Lu, Xuanwei Si, Shandongxi prefecture, Shangdong, Zhongshu Province. In Ming Dynasty, the present Weifang belonged to 2 prefectures namely Qingzhou and Laizhou of Shandong Chengxuan Provincial Government. In Qing Dynasty, the present Weifang was under the jurisdiction of 2 prefectures, namely Qingzhou and Laizhou of Shandong Province. 

In the Period of the Republic of China, in the early years of the Republic, the administrative divisions of the National People’s Government followed the system of Qing dynasty. In 1913 (the second year of the Republic), prefectures and states (equal to county) in Qing dynasty were replaced by three-level system: province, prefecture and county. The nine counties, which were formerly called Weixian, Changyi, Gaomi, Yidu, Shouguang, Changle, Linqu, Anqiu, Zhucheng, and which now are administered by Weifang City, were subordinate to Jiaodong prefecture (Yantai was the seat) at that time. In 1925 (the 14th year of the Republic), Laijiao prefecture and Ziqing prefecture were established in the place of the former Jiaodong prefecture. Weixian, Changyi, Gaomi, Anqiu, Zhucheng were subordinate to Laijiao prefecture, while Shouguang, Yidu and Linqu were under the jurisdiction of Ziqing prefecture. In 1927 (the 16th year of the Republic), circuit was abolished and county was under the direct control of the province. Thus all the counties (cities, districts) subordinate to Weifang today were under the direct control of Shandong Province.

On April 27th, 1948, Weixian was liberated. On April 29th, Weifang Municipalitly (under the direct control of the province), with the abbreviation for Weicheng and Fanzi, was set up. The seat of the municipality was located in Weicheng. It covers 6 districts: the county town of Weixian county, Dongguan, Nanguan, Beiguan, Fanzi, and Wangliu. In June of 1949, Weifang Municipality was changed into Weifang City, but still kept its position as a city under the direct control of the province. In June of 1948, Changwei Special Prefecrure was established with five counties as its subordinates: Changle, Weixian, Anqiu, Shounan and Yilin. The seat is in Changle. In December of 1948, Yidu, a county directly subordinate to Shandong Province, was put under Changwei Special Prefecture’s administration. In July of next year, the seat of the Special Prefecture was moved to Yidu.

After the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, the present Weifang City were called Changwei Special Prefecture, Changwei Prefecture, Weifang Prefecture and Weifang City successively, under which were counties. From 1949 to January of 1958, district and township were set up under county. From January to March of 1958, district was dissolved and merged into township. In September, 1958, People’s Commune was established. In 1983, with the reform of economic system, the reform of administrative organs was also carried out. The new administrative system of “city administering county” was put into practice. Thus people’s commune was replaced by township, which was under the jurisdiction of county.

On May 25th, 1950, the seat of Changwei Special Prefecture was moved from Yidu to Weifang. Changyi, Changnan, Weibei, which had been subordinate to Xihai Commissioner’s Office of Jiaodong Administrative Office, and Shouguang, Yishou, which had been subordinate to Qinghe Commissioner’s Office of Bohai Administrative Office, were put under Changwei Special Prefecture’s administration. In the same year, the name of Weifang City was abolished. In 1951, it was re-established as Weifang City.

In July of 1952, Yilin county, Yishou county, Wei’an county were abolished.  On July 24th, 1953, Linzi county, which had been subordinate to Zibo Special Prefecture, was put under Changwei Special Prefecture’s administration. Weibei county, Qiunan county and Shounan county were abolished too. Then Changwei Special Prefecture covered Weifang city (county level), Changle, Weixian, Changyi, Changnan, Anqiu, Shouguang, Yidu, Linqu, Linzi and Yangjiaogou Directly Subordinated District.

In March, 1955, Boshan county was put under Changwei Special Prefecture’s administration from Zibo City. In the same year, Yangjiaogou Directly Subordinated District was abolished and merged into Shouguang county. Then Changwei Special Prefecture covered: Weifang city (county level), Changyi, Weixian, Changnan, Shouguang, Changle, Yidu, Linqu, Anqiu, Linzi, and Boshan.

In 1956, Jiaozhou Special Prefecture was abolished. Jiaoxian, Jiaonan, Zanma, Wulian, Zhucheng, Gaomi, the six counties which had been administered by Jiaozhou Special Prefecture, and Pindu county which had been administered by Laiyan Special Prefecture, were put under Changwei Special Prefecture’s administration. In the same year, Zangma county was abolished, and Changnan county was merged into Changyi county. Then Changwei Special Prefecture covered one city and 15 counties: Weifang city (county level), Weixian, Yidu, Changyi, Shouguang, Changle, Linzi, Linqu, Anqiu, Zhucheng, Gaomi, Wulian, Boshan, Jiaonan, Pindu, and Jianxian.

In October of 1958, Weixian county was merged into Weifang city (county level); Boshan county was put under Zibo Special Prefecture’s administration; Linzi county was merged into Yidu county; Jiaonan, Jiaoxian were put under Qingdao City’s administration. Then Changwei Special Prefecture covered one city and 10 counties: Weifang city (county level), Yidu, Chang yi, Gaomi, Anqiu, Zhucheng, Wulian, Shouguang, Changle, Linqu, and Pingdu.

In 1961, Jiaonan county and Jiaoxian county were administered by Changwei Special Prefecture again. Linzi and Weixian restored to their organizational system and were administered by Changwei Special Prefecture again.

On March 13th, 1967, Changwei Special Prefecture was named as Changwei Prefecture governing 1 city and 14 counties: Weifang city (county level), Yidu, Changyi, Gaomi, Zhucheng, Changle, Linqu, Shouguang, Anqiu, Weixian, Wulian, Pindu, Jiaoxian, Jiannan, and Linzi.

In December of 1969, Linzi county was administered by Zibo City. In 1977 Huang prefecture district was established, which was administered by Changwei Prefecture. In 1978, Jiannan county, Jianxian county and Huang prefecture district were administered by Qingdao City. Then Changwei Prefecture covered 1 city and 11 counties: Weifang city (county level), Yidu, Changle, Anqiu, Linqu, Weixian, Shouguang, Changyi, Gaomi, Zhucheng, Wulian, and Pingdu.

In July of 1981, Changwei Prefecture was named as Weifang Prefecture, still administering one city and 11 counties.

In October of 1983, A new system “province administering city (prefecture level); city (prefecture level) administering county” was formed. Thus Weifang Prefecture was abolished and replaced by Weifang City (prefecture level). Then, Pindu county was administered by Qingdao City. The former Weifang city (county level) and Weixian county were combined, and then divided into three districts: Weichang district, Hanting district, Fangzi district. At that time Weifang City covered three districts--- Weichang, Hanting, Fangzi, and nine counties---Yidu, Shouguang, Changle, Linqu, Changyi, Gaomi, Anqiu, Zhucheng, Wulian.

On March 1st, 1986, Yidu county was replaced by Qingzhou city (county level), which was administered by Weifang City. In July, 1987, Zhucheng county was replaced by Zhucheng city (county level), which was administered by Weifang City. On December 7th, 1992, Wulian county was administered by Rizhao City. In June of 1993, Shouguang was renamed from the county to the city; in January of 1994, Anqiu was renamed from the county to the city; in May of 1994, Gaomi was renamed from the county to the city; in May of 1994, some villages were drawn from Weicheng District and Hanting District to form the Kuiwen District; in June of 1994, Changyi was established as a city from a county. In 1991, Weifang High-tech Industrial Development Zone was established; in 1995, Weifang Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone was established; in 2008, Xiashan Ecological Economic Development Zone was established; in 2011, Weifang Comprehensive Bonded Zone was established. So far, Weifang City has jurisdiction over 4 districts of Kuiwen, Weicheng, Hanting and Fangzi, 6 county-level cities of Qingzhou, Zhucheng, Shouguang, Anqiu, Gaomi and Changyi, 2 counties of Linqu and Changle, and 4 economic zones including Hi-tech Zone, Binhai, Xiashan and Bonded Zone. Since then, the administrative division of Weifang City has been basically stable.