Kanchan

**Kanchan** (侃禅; *kǎnchán*) is a city located in Xingjiang District, Xingsu Prefecture. As of 2018, it has an estimated population of 300,000.

Historically, Kanchan has been the site of heavy agriculture; nowadays its workforce is mostly employed in the light industry. It also has an airport, Kanchan Airport, which occupies about a third of the town's area. The airport is national and serves multiple government areas.

Kanchan has a reputation for its cleanliness and peaceful atmosphere, which attracts visitors to its town centre. In fact, a quarter of the town is occupied by the aptly-named Flower District, which is reknowned for its beauty and aesthetic. The district was once an industrial zone, but has been refurbished and transformed into a more natural environment.

## History

### Early history

After being claimed by the Kanshu clan in 934, the village quickly became filled with residents, growing larger along with the influence of its ruling family.

In the mid-1200s, Kanchan saw a great rise in Qiren beliefs, resulting in a large number of shrines and small temples being built all over the region. In actuality, this wave of religiousness was washing over much of Xingsu at this time, and Kanchan did not see as much of a dramatic change as other places such as Hongkai, Xingshui and Genju. In the 1400s, Kanchan became a fully-fledged town, experiencing another rapid growth spurt in the early 1500s.

### 20th century

In 1924, Kanchan gained city status with a population of 104,000. The Kanchan City Council was also set up in order to create new infrastructure and ensure Kanchan's continued prosperity.

In 1931, Kanchan suffered from a terrible fire that began in its southern ward and spread over 15% of the city. Over 600 people lost their lives, with over 10,000 homes and buildings being destroyed as a result. In 1933, a memorial was made from debris of the blaze to pay respects to those who had lost their lives; a service is held annually on 16th November to remember the tragedy.

In 1956, Kanchan College was finally opened to the public after six years of preparation. The university, while offering high quality education, was often thought to be a 'poorer cousin' to the more successful and well-financed Jindan University.

In 1967, Kanchan's main industry of weaving and cloth manufacture began to gain traction due to a growing demand for cheaper, factory-made clothing. Numerous factories were set up in response to this change; a new era of light industry was formed which is still thriving today. Unlike Hongkai, Kanchan's factories were relatively safe and free from danger, and their work continued until the early 80s at which point the machinery began to get outdated.

In 1979, Kanchan's tourism industry began to boom due to the large number of ancient shrines and temples left untouched on its outskirts. As it was a period of religious revival in Kanton, many neo-Qiren zealots were enthralled by the old buildings, and Kanchan underwent a rapid growth period which resulted in Kanchan Airport being built in 1985. In 1998, Kanchan became connected to both Shenmian and Guiyan by fast-travel rail.

### 21st century

In 2003, Kanchan's first subway system was installed two years after Guiyan. The system, named Kanchan Sub-rail, connects the entire city in a singular circuit.

In January 2004, Kanchan's industrial region was transformed into the now-famous Flower District, in an effort to protect wildlife and create a more natural environment for residents.

## Geography

Kanchan lies south of Hongkai, its sister city, and west of the Tao River. The main city centre is located on a flat plain which stretches for three miles around, and the land is firm and well-drained.

Kanchan's closest city is Hongkai; the two are connected by bus and train.

Kanchan has a cool climate, though it does not typically receive high levels of snowfall or precipitation. Summers are mild, though there has been an annual heatwave for three consecutive years now. April and June are the wettest seasons for Kanchan, and roads often get extremely icy through December and January.

## Economy

Kanchan's main industry is the tertiary industry; major industries include retail, clothing manufacture, tourism, office work and cosmetics production. The city is not known for having any particularly famous or iconic exported product, though historically it was a producer of traditional clothing.