The Smallest City in Liaoning Supplies All Northeast China with Crabs!

In the stunning autumn of Northeast China, beyond the kaleidoscopic forests, fiery red maple leaves, and misty mountain streams, the most unexpected and unconventional scenery is undoubtedly Panjin's Red Beach.

Did you know that among Liaoning's cities with the highest GDP per capita, besides major cities like Shenyang and Dalian, there's also Panjin—a city with just over 30 years of history, home to the breathtaking Red Beach and the smallest area in the province. It even surpasses the long-renowned steel cities of Benxi and Anshan in wealth. While most people first hear of it because of its rice, few realize its river delicacies, seafood, and fruits are among the finest in the Northeast, capable of astonishing visitors from afar...

So, what kind of magical place is Panjin? What makes it uniquely important to Liaoning and China?

From the "Southern Wasteland" to the Rise of Greater Panjin

Although Liaoning has always had the closest ties to the Central Plains and the richest historical heritage among the three northeastern provinces, ancient Panjin had little noteworthy history. The reason is simple: it was once a vast coastal wasteland formed by receding seas—endless reeds, muddy marshes, and saline-alkali lands, earning it the name "Southern Wasteland."

Panjin's initial prosperity came with the construction of the Gouying Railway in the late Qing Dynasty. "Gou" refers to Goubangzi, a "roasted chicken hub" along the main railway line in Jinzhou, while "Ying" points to Yingkou, a bustling coastal town thriving from trade and Liao River shipping. This railway, overseen by Zhan Tianyou, crossed the Shuangtaizi River, giving rise to the promising town of Shuangtaizi. Local gentry deemed it "a natural fortress with gathered energy," and the administrative office of Panshan Ting, originally governing the area from an ancient northern post road, relocated there. This marked the railway's official replacement of the post road as the engine of regional development. Later, Panshan Ting was upgraded to Panshan County, and Shuangtaizi became known as "Panshan," forming Panjin's earliest urban foundation.

In early 20th-century Panjin, besides Shuangtaizi's railway-driven growth, the riverside port town of Tianzhuangtai also flourished thanks to busy Liao River shipping. For wartime grain storage, Zhang Xueliang established the Yingtian Company in Tianzhuangtai to develop nearby paddies. Using tractors ("fire plows") and diesel engines to irrigate with Liao River water, Panjin became the Northeast's earliest adopter of mechanized farming.

This tradition of paddy farming never faded in Panjin. Over a century, generations of farmers, especially settlers post-1949, tamed the saline-alkali lands through relentless effort. Leveraging abundant water and flat terrain, they transformed barren marshes into today's vast fertile fields. Panjin rice's fame stems not just from ideal natural conditions and modern techniques but also from generations of sweat and dedication.

Panjin's true rise came with oil exploration. After the founding of New China, geologists discovered oil here, and by the 1960s, workers from Daqing and elsewhere began tapping these reserves. The Liaohe Oilfield established its headquarters here, soon becoming China's largest producer of heavy and high-pour-point crude. The oil boom drew waves of people and resources, turning endless fields and reed marshes into a burgeoning industrial hub with rising buildings, expanding streets, and sprawling oil facilities.

In 1984, Panjin officially became a city. The oil-driven new urban area, Xinglongtai District, faced off across the river with the historic Shuangtaizi District ("Old Panshan"), forming the city's modern core. Surrounding them were vast rice paddies, reed fields, and countless oil facilities. With timing, geography, and human effort aligned, Panjin grew into a fully-fledged city.

Notably, due to the Liao River's modern diversion and upstream dams, the river—which once flowed into Yingkou (before Panjin existed)—shifted to the Shuangtaizi River in the mid-20th century, making it the de facto Liao River. Thus, young Panjin became the sole estuary of Liaoning's mother river—a geographic coincidence that unintentionally mirrors the city's century-long rise from the "Southern Wasteland."

The "Little Jiangnan of the Northeast" Lives Up to Its Name

Beyond the Red Beach, reed marshes, and fiery oilfield vistas, Panjin's culinary offerings are a highlight for visitors.

First, as home to China's northernmost coastline, Panjin naturally excels in seafood. Local clams, dubbed "the world's freshest" by Emperor Qianlong, are stewed with shredded eggplant—a humble yet exquisite Northeastern dish. Coastal locals also relish "lu xiapazi" (marinated mantis shrimp) and "lu xie" (marinated crabs), akin to Chaozhou's raw seafood marinades. From south to north, China's seafood lovers agree on one thing: raw marinades are unbeatable.

Yet Panjin's aquatic pride lies not in the sea but in rivers. The Liao River's estuary creates a unique brackish ecosystem teeming with fish like the "river knife fish" (a prized migratory species usually associated with the Yangtze) and plump pufferfish. Locally, knife fish is pan-fried, and pufferfish simmered in rich cream—dishes that shock first-time visitors: these "Jiangnan-exclusive" delicacies are Panjin staples, earning it the "Little Jiangnan" title.

Of course, Panjin's most famous freshwater product is the river crab (aka "hairy crab" in the south). Since ancient times, crabs swarmed its marshes—so much so that locals joked they "crawled into pots." Poor fishermen lacked grain and meat but never crabs, leading to dishes like "crab tofu" (crab meat mashed and molded like tofu). Today, crabs thrive in rice paddies, benefiting both crop and crustacean. In season, families buy them by the dozen, steaming them to golden perfection—their pure, rich flavor unmatched by any sea crab.

Beyond seafood, Panjin's coastal plants also star in dishes. The most famous is cattail stem (featured in *A Bite of China*), a reed-root core stir-fried with meat for a crisp, fragrant bite. Like all Northeasterners, Panjin locals make wild vegetable buns—but with seaside seepweed, blending maritime and rustic flavors. Thanks to unique wetlands, Panjin's aquatic fare differs markedly from coastal cities like Dalian or Dandong.

Thus, though young, Panjin richly deserves its reputation as a "land of abundance and beauty." This National Day holiday, countless travelers will marvel at the Red Beach and savor river crabs, forever cherishing Panjin as a hidden gem.

由此可见，盘锦这座城市虽然十分年轻，但绝对担得起“丰饶秀美”这四个字。这个十一长假，想必又有无数的旅人领略了红海滩的奇绝，品尝了河蟹的鲜美，盘锦，也注定会成为他们心中珍藏的宝藏之地。