Songhari

Songhari (: 宋奤氜市), is a city in Kodeshia. Songhari is the capital of Kodeshia, and has a population of 5,358,381 people. It is the most densely populated city in Zhongbin and, with its location on the coast of the Jade Sea, it is one of the most important trading centres in north eastern coast of Kodeshia. Located at the head of Songhari Bay, on the north eastern coast, Songhari was founded by Tzigan traders in a series of preliminary settlements starting with Tzogamo. The settlement quickly grew into an important coastal city as it became a central hub for trade between Kodeshi mainland and islands of the Jade Sea. The city has grown into the second largest port in Kodeshia.

Etymology
Songhari was originally called "Jinhui" or "Golden Water". In 1405, it was renamed to "Longjiang" which means “Dragon River” and became an important trading port for trade after merchant voyages brought there in 1414. On 21 April 1772, in the reign of Qianlong Emperor of the Liang Dynasty, the name was changed to “Songhari”, with the suffix “ji”.

History
The area around Songhari was the site of many ancient settlements, the largest and most significant of which is called the Old City. The Old City of Songhari was once home to a large and powerful culture of the Pre-Tzigan ethnic group. The Pre-Tzigan culture was centered in the area of Kuchu, the land of Kuchu. One of the first settlements of the area was in the village of Rizan. The name Rizan originated from a Pre-Tzigan word meaning “town of the tiger”. T

he Pre-Tzigan came to live in the area, and over time began to move their settlements to more desirable locations, including Kuchu, on the mainland. They also moved further inland, which led to the founding of the city of Kuchu. As the Pre-Tzigan moved into the mountains of Kuchu, they expanded their range, eventually colonizing Songhari, the area to the east of Kuchu. The Tzigan culture has not been very influential in Tzigan lands, as most Tziganers continue to speak Guoyu as a primary language, and a minority of the people in Kuchu speak Pre-Tzigan as their primary language. However, in the years following the Great Expansion, the Tzigan language and culture began to grow in prominence. It is unknown when Tzigan people first settled in the area.

Evidence from the excavation of a Jangan site near Songhari shows a continuous settlement there for at least 2,000 years. In the 4th and 5th centuries, the Tzigan population was still in the vicinity of Songhari. The Tzigan population grew slowly during the Tang Dynasty as a result of the population control policy imposed by the central government. The city began to develop around the 9th century. Around the beginning of the 17th century, Songhari grew steadily as it became a major sea port. The city’s economy began to develop rapidly. Under the Liang Dynasty, the city grew into an important trading port as well as a regional capital and centre for religious worship. The city became a large trading and industrial centre. The Liang Dynasty also commissioned the construction of a great wall in the eastern part of the city to protect from pirates from the sea. The wall was completed in 1834 and is in great condition. It was used as a defensive fortification until the 20th century.

During the Kodeshian Civil War the city saw the clash of the dismissed Imperial Parliament, Republicans, Nationalists, Democrats, Communists, and Conservative Religious factional parties supported this move forming a tenuous alliance with the military against the Emperor's seemingly tyrannical rule. The coup was supported by military factions in the many regions particular from Guo Guotai of the naval faction. However, rebelling units in some important cities did not gain control, and those cities remained under the control of the Emperor's government. Kodeshia was thus left militarily and politically divided. The hastily established New Republican Government was established against the Imperial Government fought for control of the country. Brutal clashes saw the Republicans side face the might of the Imperial forces. Though these battles were short lived they were nevertheless bloody and left the country a war torn mess. As the battles took place the Republican Government lost more of their support in their strongholds as the military moved in the people for backing. By the time the new Republican Government started to rule from the city as defecting Republican Navy units move into in the region, and the Republican's were now in a powerful military position. The only remaining Imperial Navy in Kodeshia were based in the city of Songhari Bay, and the new Republican Government swiftly launched a strong attack on the city. The Republican battleships sunk the remaining Imperial pre-dreadnought in the shallow Bay with the vessel capsizing then the Republican naval forces to bombarded Songhari, causing the Imperial forces to flee with the Emperor to the inland regions.

During the Great Kesh War The in 1950 at the height of the war Selengerian forces laid siege the capital of Kodeshia, Songhari with the intention of capturing it. The siege culminates in a long and bloody battle in which most of the Selengerian forces died along with many in the city to famine and bombardment. March 21 1950, Selengeria surprised Songhari by attacking the city with massive numbers of troops, armour, artillery and airpower. Selengerian forces sieged the city and massacring many of its residents and causing widespread destruction to many historical sites. The brutal and bloody siege would be a failure and mark the end of Selengeria's rapid advance into the country and would be pushed back from the capital and over the next nine years slowly face mounting resistance before the end of the conflict.

Geography
Songhari is situated along the south eastern coastline of Kodeshia,. Songhari has over 400 miles of coastline and a population of over 5,000,000 people. Songhari is also known as the "City of the Jade Sea", due to the beautiful beaches that stretch along the coast. The islands are also home to several wildlife and plant species, due to its natural beauty and strategic location in a small but rich sea region, Songhari is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Kodeshia. The city is home to a number of mountain ranges along the coastline, and a number of rivers that flow along the coastline of Kodeshia. Songhari Port is located approximately half way along the length of the city.

The port was built during the height of Songhari's prosperity, as a way to import goods from mainland Kodeshia, and also to export goods to the mainland. The city has two main gates to the town. The Western Gate is located at the north western side of the city and is used for travelling from Songhari to the mainland, and the Eastern Gate is located at the eastern side of the city, and is used for travelling from the mainland to Songhari. South Eastern mountains are divided into two ranges, the North Eastern Mountains and the South Eastern Mountains. The North Eastern Mountains is dominated by a mountain range called Shui'an Shan (水安山, meaning "River of Prosperity") which flows from the top of the range in the north of the city to the seashore in the south. The range is the first of the two peaks to rise from the mainland to the Jade Sea, as it has a higher elevation and is taller than the next mountain range. The North Eastern Mountains range is dotted with high mountains and contains vast plateaus on its northern face. The southern face of the North Eastern Mountains is dominated by a wide range of valleys.

The South Eastern Mountains is the second range of mountains that dominate the mountains of Songhari. The range is divided into two major ranges; the north face contains the Yantai Shan (閻洋山) and the east face contains the Dafeng Shan (大峰山). The Yantai Shan is dominated by a large plateau called Yantai Shan (閻洋山, meaning "Valley of Prosperity"), which rises out of the Jade Sea between the two mountains. The Yantai Shan is the second of the two peaks to rise from the mainland to the seashore, being lower than the next mountain range. The Dafeng Shan, which is separated from the Yantai Shan by a valley, rises from the Jade Sea, and also contains a plateau, the Zhongcheng Shan (中城山) ("Middle City Peak"). The South Eastern Mountains are a lower mountain range than the North Eastern Mountains, containing a number of smaller mountains, valleys, and plateaus. The South Eastern Mountains' north face contains a series of small rivers that flow south from the mountain to the seashore, forming several small mountain lakes in the process. The most prominent of these rivers is the Lishui River (禮水江), which rises in the Shui'an Shan and flows south to Songhari before emptying into the Jade Sea.

Climate
the climate is dominated by the southeast monsoon. Rainfall is frequent throughout the year, and is a seasonality feature common to most parts of the region. The average annual rainfall is 1076 mm. Summers are humid and temperatures are relatively cool; with average maximum temperatures of 21 degrees C and minimums of 14 degrees C. Winters are dry and slightly cooler than summers with average maximum temperatures of 16 degrees C and minimums of 8 degrees C. The average daytime temperatures in Songhari are 23 degrees C, with a daily range of 14 degrees C. The city is hot in summer and cool in winter.

Government
Songhari is the capital of Kodeshia, the administrative centre of Kodeshia's eastern province and also has a regional air traffic control service. Songhari is governed by the Mayor and the Executive Council, which is made up of a number of elected regional representatives. The current Mayor is a National Conservative Alliance (NCA) candidate Li Keqiang. The city government of Songhari is divided into a total of 15 districts, with a Mayor and one deputy mayor, and 9 city councillors for each district. The mayor of Songhari is Zhu Jianchao, and the deputy mayor is Su Junliang. Since 2013, the city has also hosted the government of the Kodeshian region, which is in charge of overseeing the region's public services, finance, and development plans. The city is surrounded by several towns, the largest of which is the township of Zhongbin in the east, the next city over is Wushu in the north, Zhongjiang in the south, and Shijiahe in the west.

Economy
Traditionally, trade in Songhari was based on the collection of marine products and the production of luxury items. Trade now includes such products as tea, tobacco and grain, and Songhari is the largest supplier of grain to Zhongbin. Local products include rice, salt, and spices. Today Songhari is one of the centres of trading and services industry, with the Songhari Wharf being the primary hub for all goods passing through Kodeshia from Akiteiwa. In the east of the city the Kodeshi Trade Association operates a retail complex and warehouse, and there is also a wholesale market. A major source of revenue for the city is the agricultural industry, with Kodeshia's eastern province growing many varieties of wheat, peas, and corn. Most local residents are employed in urbanised areas of the province, with smaller proportions of residents working in the agricultural or logging industry.

The city is also home to an aluminium smelter in Wushu, and an electricity generation facility. The city's main industry is mining, with the two smelting facilities producing a significant amount of aluminium to feed the city's electricity generation. Due to the presence of a large trading centre, Songhari is also home to one of the largest concentration of merchants in the entire nation, and its trading district is one of the largest markets in all of Kodeshia. The largest industries in the city are the two aluminium smelting facilities. These two facilities are the major sources of income for Kodeshia, providing the majority of the city's revenue, and a huge proportion of the city's budget. With its own electricity generation facility and its own water source, the city has been exempt from a large part of the national energy and water crisis.

While this has helped Kodeshia's economy in the early stages of the crisis, it has come at the cost of a reduction in the amount of available energy, which in turn has caused the electricity generation facilities to produce less power, and thus have a worse time keeping the power on. As the two smelting facilities, the city is also home to the nation's oldest university, the Songhari Imperial University. The institution is has seen an enormous rise in enrolment. Located in the very centre of the city is the government seat, the Eshkol. The city hall, where the majority of government business is conducted, is located on the same floor as the national assembly, however, as both are located in the Eshkol, it has been a tradition that the two meetings are held side-by-side. The government seat also houses the largest number of government facilities within the nation. It contains the primary administrative offices for both the government and the Imperial palace and many ancient temples.

Demography
It has an estimated population of 5,358,381 people, making it the third largest city proper of Kodeshia. The number of people live in surrounding suburbs is estimated to be 3,892,962. Making Songhari the most densely populated area of Zhongbin province and the third most densely populated in Kodeshia. As with the rest of Kodeshia, the urban population is heavily concentrated in the centre of the city, in both the old quarter of Tzogamo and the modern quarter of Tzogami. There are also some rural areas to the west of Tzogamo where Tzigan continue to live, but outside the city. As well as housing within the city, there are large suburban areas around the city and outside.

Culture
As the current and historical capital the city holds a great cultural significance to the Liang dynasty and official reglion of Taoism. Many ancient temples and the grand Imperial palace are located here as the political and cultural centre of the country. The city is most famous for its annual festival known as the Spring Festival. In the festival the city and surrounding areas come to life in a colourful festival atmosphere, with many ancient Chinese festivities brought to life such as traditional Dragon dances and the "Shuiyin" which is a dance and singing competition for two teams, known as "Xingqing" and "Rongqin" (literally "Sparrow" and "Owl"). The festival takes place in May or April and is known for its grand celebrations and colourful display of ancient Chinese festive traditions.

The city is home to Kodeshia's largest temple complex, the Songhari Temple. The temple complex was built over 300 years and is considered to be the centre of Taoism in Kodeshia. It was first constructed by Empress Zhang Yan (Zhao Zheng), and is considered one of the most important Taoist temples in the history of Kodeshia. The temple complex is also home to Taoism's most sacred text, the Taoist Canon and its most important shrine, the Golden Hall of Songhari. The temple is also home to the Kodeshia's most important annual traditional Kodeshi festival, which lasts a total of 6 days and is attended by large crowds of locals. The Spring Festival starts on the last day of the festival and is known for its grand and colourful display of ancient Kodeshi traditions.

In the festival the city and surrounding areas come to life in a colourful festival atmosphere, with many ancient Kodeshi festivities brought to life such as traditional dances. During the Spring Festival every year the city also hosts one of the two ancient Kodeshia's most popular festival called the "Zhen'ai Tongyi" which translates to "Welcoming the Return of Light" and is held every year on the last day of the festival. During this festival a huge fireworks display called the "Wen'ai Tu" (Welcoming the Return of Light) is held at the end of the festival to celebrate the new day, and to welcome and bless the visitors who return from their trip and families who haven't seen them in years.

The temple has a history dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty and was one of the most important Taoist temples in the city of Kodeshia. The Songhari Waterfront is renowned for its cultural, social and recreational facilities. The Grand Palace (觀世館) is home to the Grand Prince's Palace (大王宮), the administrative centre of Kodeshia. The Imperial Palace (帝宮) is where Emperor Daizong reigned from 715 to 719, where Empress Wu Zetian was exiled from 716 to 719 and where Empress Zhuangzong was deposed in 784. The palace grounds are maintained as a park of historical significance and it remains one of the most grandiose palaces of China. Sonshari has a wide variety of food from a wide range of different cultures. The local food is very sweet and has a distinctive taste with many unique tastes. The people of Songhari are known to be friendly and helpful.

Blessing of Spring is a festival held to celebrate the coming of spring and the start of planting season. During the festival, the people of Songhari go to an area near the Tzigan Village and receive the blessing of Spring from the Tzigan people. Sonshari was previously the only city that celebrated this festival, but it was recently added to the list of festivals for the Songhari culture.

Medical facilities
The city is one of the largest medical centres in Zhongbin, receiving patients from across the region and the continent. In addition, the city houses the main regional health centre and several hospitals. The main public hospital is the Songhari City hospital, it consists of 20 wards and 1,200 beds and provides a wide range of medical services, from emergency care to surgery and orthopaedics. It is run by the Kodeshi government. A second main hospital is the Songhari Children's hospital, a private medical centre that provides paediatric services. The hospital has about 70 beds, and is run by the hospital management company. There are a number of smaller private clinics and nursing homes. The city is also home to the Imperial Songhari Institute of Medicine, the first medical university established in Kodeshia, as well as a number of private medical centres and general practice clinics. The majority of Zhongbin is covered by the regional health system. Patients from outside the region must pay a considerable amount of money to receive treatment, a situation that is common to many other cities in the region.

Transportation
Songhari's transport system includes taxis, trams, subways, trolleys, and motor buses. Songhari is one of the three cities with the highest number of subway lines in Zhongbin. Songhari's subways are also one of the most advanced subways in the country. They use the European style of construction. There are of subways. The cost of construction was approximately Hz6.73146 trillion. There are more than 30 trams in the Songhari city area, and each tram can carry a total of 3600 people at any one time. The trams cost two thousand Huizis to ride. There are around 14 trolleys in Songhari, and each trolley can carry around 5600 people at any one time. The trolleys cost two thousand Huizis to ride. There are many motor buses in Songhari, and each motor bus can carry about 80 people at any one time. The motor buses cost two thousand Huizis to ride.

The city's airport is the Jiuquan Songhari Internationa; Airport, where it can connect the city to regional hubs, such as Lanzhou and Xianyang. The city's main railway station is Songhari Central Station, where regular services connect it to Lanzhou, Xining, and various destinations in the Qinghai Lake region. The Songhari-Chenghai Expressway, connects the city to Chenghai in the west, connecting it to other major cities in the southwest including Tongchuan and Shangyu. Other major highways in the city include the Kodeshi National Highway 109 which links it to Wujin and Xijin in the north, and the Kodeshi National Highway 211, which link the to Jiankang and Fuyang.

Twin cities
Songhari shares the title of twin city with several other cities or provinces around the world. (listed in order of dates).