Dunhua (Korean: 돈화) is a county-level city of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in southeastern Jilin province, China. It has more than 480,000 inhabitants (as of 2002) and was the capital of Balhae between 742 and 756, known at the time as "Junggyeong". During the Qing dynasty it was called Áodōng (敖东) in Chinese and Odoli in Manchu.

Geography and climate

Dunhua is situated amongst the Changbai Mountains, its administrative area spanning 42°42′−44°30′ N latitude and 127°28′−129°13′ E longitude, reaching a maximal north–south extent of 200 km and east–west width of 142 km. Its total area of 11957 km2 makes it, by area, the largest county-level city of the province. Dunhua has a four-season, monsoon-influenced, humid continental climate (Köppen Dwb), with long, very cold winters, and short, but warm, humid summers. Spring and autumn constitute very short transitions with some, but usually not heavy, rainfall. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −16.2 °C in January to 20.2 °C in July, while the annual mean is 3.8 °C and a total precipitation of 633.7 mm, more than 60% of which falls from June through August. Liuding Mountain is located 5 km south of Dunhua. The mountain is one of the AAAAA Tourist Attractions of China, and contains tombs from the Balhae kingdom, a large monastery and a 48 meter tall statue of the Buddha.

Administrative divisions

Dunhua has four subdistricts, 11 towns, and five townships.

Sister cities