Nihei

**Nihei** (倪黑; *níhēi*) is a city located in Fengdong District, in Feng Prefecture. As of 2018, the city has a population of 240,000. It is situated roughly 50 miles off the north-west coastline of Kanton, and overlooks the East China Sea.

## History

Nihei was settled by vassals of the Tiao clan in the late 900s, and was established as a fishing village. Its original name was in fact Luanbo, however this moniker was changed to Nihei in the 1400s for unknown reasons. Despite its prosperous industry, Nihei grew rather slowly in population and remained as little more than a hamlet for decades.

During the riots of the Mian Period, many residents of Nihei agreed to join forces against the upperclass alongside villagers from other settlements along the west coast. The damage caused by these uprisings brought a huge detrimental impact on Nihei's population, and it did not truly grow until the 1500s. However, around the start of the Wang Period, Nihei underwent a surge in population due to the boom of the fishing industry. It was from this point that the village began to flourish and transform into a larger settlement. By the end of the 1700s, Nihei had already gained a population of around 45,000 and had expanded its area greatly.

By the coming of the industrial revolution in the early 20th century, Nihei turned its economy towards the processing of marine products, and many factories were built in its northern 'industrial zone'. This brought about a period of renewed prosperity for the town, and it officially gained city status in 1976. From there, Nihei's population plateaued considerably, and has not risen dramatically for over 40 years.

### 20th century

In 1940, Nihei's first university (Nihei University) was established, providing higher education for the city's growing population.

In 1958, Nihei suffered from coastal flash flooding which highly damaged the town's western ward and destroyed over 350 buildings. The floodwater carried vehicles and other loose items through the streets and could not be drained for over 5 days due to complications. Over 1,500 people lost their homes and belongings.

In 1976, Nihei was granted city status with a population of 134,000. This brought about slight changes and improvements to infrastructure.

In 1980, the Nihei Institute of Business and Finance opened its doors to the public.

### 21st century

In 2006, Nihei was connected by rail to the neighbouring towns of Nianquan and Daihuan.

## Geography

Nihei is located on the far west side of Feng Prefecture, north of the Xiao River. The terrain surrounded the city was originally very hilly and filled with rocks, however it has since been manually flattened out to accommodate a growing population.

The local climate is characterised by cold and wet conditions, with very little sun even in the summer months. Rain and ice are very common, especially in spring and autumn, though snow is rare due to the city's coastal location. Thick sea mists frequently bring complications for fishermen in November and January.

## Economy

The city's economy relies on the traditional fishing industry, though in modern times the tertiary sector has grown considerably. Canning factories and processing plants offer additional employment for the populace.