Daqing: The Chinese Oil Capital Built to Embody a Communist Ideal
In short: Daqing was once an obscure hunting ground, but the 1959 discovery of a massive oil field transformed it into a critical industrial hub. Beyond its economic output, the city was meticulously designed as a social experiment to bridge the divide between urban and rural life, becoming a national model for self-sufficiency.
The city of Daqing, located in Heilongjiang province, derives its name from the tenth anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Before its rapid industrialization, the region was an unsettled hunting ground for the Dörbet Oirat tribes. Its trajectory shifted dramatically in 1959 when oil was discovered during large-scale exploration across the Northeast China Plain. This discovery proved vital for China, providing a necessary energy source after the Soviet Union ceased supplies following the Sino-Soviet split.
Daqing was promoted as a model communist city, intended to eliminate the gaps between town and country, workers and peasants, and manual and mental labor. Early urban planning reflected this vision: husbands worked in the oil industry while wives and older children managed agricultural production. This integration was supported by communal services like public canteens, clinics, and schools. The city's development was so central to national identity that Mao Zedong issued a directive to 'Learn from Daqing in Industry,' and the city was frequently compared to the revolutionary base of Yan'an.
The city's physical layout evolved from clusters of single-story mud buildings to more concentrated residential zones. By the mid-1970s, it comprised three large towns, 60 industrial-agricultural villages, and 164 residential points. While the city's master plan shifted toward centralization in 1989, the 'Daqing Spirit'—characterized by frugal living and deep commitment to national goals—remained a defining cultural pillar. Today, Daqing remains China's largest oil field and the world's fourth most productive, with petroleum accounting for over 60% of its GDP.
The city's history is deeply intertwined with figures like 'Iron Man' Wang Jinxi, a national hero who led the No. 1205 drilling team. During the Cultural Revolution, the People's Liberation Army was deployed to Daqing in 1967 to maintain order and ensure production continued. Despite its industrial focus, the city has maintained a diverse population, including 31 minority ethnic groups, and continues to function as a major railway and petrochemical hub, exporting products to over 10 nations.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Daqing
- Also: Wikidata — Daqing · CC0
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