Yanbian

Yanbian, officially Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, is an autonomous prefecture in the southeast of Jilin Province, in Northeast China. Created for the Korean ethnic minority (Joseonjok), it is the only Korean autonomous prefecture in the People's Republic of China.

Geography and administration: It lies on the border with North Korea, along the Yalu and Tumen rivers, and is part of Jilin Province. The prefecture's administrative seat is in Yanji, the regional capital. It is subdivided into several counties and county-level cities, with Yanji serving as the political and cultural center.

Demographics and culture: Ethnic Koreans form the largest minority group in Yanbian, alongside Han Chinese and other minorities. The area is known for bilingual signage and education in Korean and Mandarin. Korean cultural traditions, cuisine, and festivals remain influential.

Economy and transport: The prefecture has a mixed economy based on agriculture (grain, corn, vegetables), forestry, light industry, and border trade with North Korea and other regions. It contains border ports and is connected by rail and road networks to the rest of Jilin and northeastern China.

History: Yanbian was established as the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in 1952 to recognize the local Korean population and their cultural autonomy within China.