Zhuhae

Zhuhae (Seomun: 珠海, Jinmun: 주해), formally the City of Zhuhae (Seomun: 珠海市, Jinmun: 주해시), is a city located in the southern coast of Zhenia's Balhae Province. Being home to 5,014,422 residents as of 1610 AC, it is the most populous city in Balhae Province as well as the eighth-largest city in the nation: of the city's 5 million residents, around 700,000 reside in the city's historic Zhuhae Island district, while the remainder primarily reside on the more recently-developed mainland portion of the city. Situated on the southern coast of the Balhae Peninsula, the city consists of Zhuhae Island and the adjoining mainland and sets of islands facing the Hanmaric Ocean to its southeast.

Starting around Zhuhae Island and around the island since antiquity, Zhuhae grew into prominence as it became the historic capital of the Republic of Zhuhae since the demise of the Zhen dynasty, lasting well over a millennium from 118 to 1379 AC. It rose to become a major financial and maritime hub, linking southern Zhenia to maritime trade routes extending towards the Western Hanmaric Ocean and Southeast Tarsis. It was a key trading center for numerous commodities found around the trade route, including silk, grain, paper, spice and classical art, while the city rose to show the first examples of early capitalism in Zhenian history during the 8th and 9th centuries AC. Long after reaching the republic's climax in the 11th century AC, it became a protectorate of Shindan in 1379 AC and was later annexed into Shindan in 1388 AC, during the Zhenian unification wars. Even after annexation into Shindan, Zhuhae remained as a major point for industrialization and trade as the southern gateway to mainland Zhenia, while it grew into an important military port following the rise of Yinguo and the subsequent stationing of the Third Fleet of both the Imperial Zhenian Navy and later the Republic of Zhenia Navy.

Located at the center of modern Zhenia's southeastern coast, Zhuhae has risen to become one of the most important ports in Zhenia, serving as a major maritime gateway to southern Zhenia as well as mainland Zhenia as a whole. Its world-class port, with concentrated sea traffic, is the third-busiest in the nation by cargo tonnage after Jinhae and Gwangseong. Its rich history and cultural heritage has also made the city a major tourist destination in recent years. The city draws numerous parallels with Gwangseong in the east with several similar aspects that define the city: hence, it is referred to as one of the 'two maritime pillars of Zhenia' alongside Gwangseong.

Republic of Zhuhae
Following the demise of the Zhen dynasty in 104 AC, Zhuhae and surrounding regions came under the control of Chang Museon, a prominent naval commander of the Zhen, although the city in practice was primarily run by a council of prominent aristocrats, merchants and military leaders in the region. Leveraging the city's geographic advantage and naval strength to deny access to any mainland rebel forces from invading the island, Chang Museon consolidated his rule over the city, slowly replacing members of the council with members of his clan. This, winning significant opposition from the council, resulted in a brief that ended with the ousting of Chang Museon and his permanent removal from the city, although most members of his clan survived in the city. The council formalized into the Jungam Council, which became the primary ruling body of the city for several centuries to come, and the council electing a Chancellor that would run the nation alongside them, thus declaring the Republic of Zhuhae in 118 AC. Although the political system of the Republic of Zhuhae was far from a republic in the modern sense of the word while access to power remained highly oligarchic and restricted, it is commonly referred to as a republic by modern historians to this day. Such a republican system was upheld, however, as council members with various interests prevented one another from gaining a monopoly of power, both in the council and the Chancellor's office.

While the independence of the Republic was challenged by neighboring states, including the Empire of Balhae, in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, Zhuhae successfully defended its independence leveraging its unique geography against Balhae. It was after the republic secured its independence that Zhuhae was able to prosper from a naval port to a flourishing trading hub directly facing the Hanmaric Ocean. Signing an alliance with Eastern Zhen admiral Chang Munmu, a descendant of the formerly ousted Chang Museon, of modern-day Gwangseong, the Republic of Zhuhae repelled piracy in the Gulf of Danguk as well as the East Zhenian Sea using its built-up naval strength. The clearance of the seas allowed for the flourishing of trading routes throughout the western Hanmaric Ocean, stretching from modern-day northeast Zhenia and Gwangseong to as south as modern-day Ayeran and as west as Abayad.

Geography
The city of Zhuhae is primarily divided into two by geographic location - the older, historical parts of the city is located on Zhuhae Island, a 45.9 km2 island consisting of both natural land and historically reclaimed land; the newer mainland section of the city, which has been built since the 14th century AC and is connected to Zhuhae Island via numerous bridges and tunnels constructed throughout history, while smaller islands near the mainland and around Zhuhae Island also constitute the city's area. Zhuhae Island is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Zhuhae, which is 14 kilometers in length and 1,103 meters in width at its narrowest point. The existence of the strait has promoted the growth of the city by offering a safe deep water port that had been augmented by further construction of causeways both in Zhuhae Island and the mainland parts of the city. The city's highest point is Mount Zhumunjin, which is located at the western borders of city proper, at 189.8 meters; its lowest point is in the reclaimed sections of Zhuhae Island, measuring at 0.3 meters below sea level.

Transport


As of 1610 AC, a combined total of 5 bridges and tunnels - one road-only tunnel and bridge respectively, two rail-only tunnels and one road-rail combined bridge - connect Zhuhae Island and the mainland to this day. The oldest still-existent bridge among them, the now road-rail combined Zhuhae Port Bridge, was completed in 1518 AC and has become one of the most famous icons defining Zhuhae to this day. Both of the rail-only tunnels pass almost 50 meters beneath the surface and are serviced by the city's rapid transit rail service.

Zhuhae is home to the southern terminus of the Trans Golden Arc Expressway and the Trans Golden Arc Line (both conventional and ZNX), with the city being considered the southern edge of the Golden Arc region. Both conventional and ZNX services on the Trans Golden Arc Line terminate in Zhuhae Central Station, which is also the single largest train station in Balhae Province. Zhuhae also remains a major hub for intercity rail transport in southern Zhenia, with Zhuhae Central Station alone being the sixth-busiest intercity train station in the nation as a whole. In addition to intercity rail, the Zhuhae Metro is the seventh-largest network in the nation, with the 7-line network covering 198.3 kilometers and 81 stations throughout the city and adjoining areas. Zhuhae is also served by an extensive bus network that also links surrounding cities with Zhuhae's urban business centers.

Zhuhae is primarily served by the Zhuhae Handeok International Airport, named in honor of Chang Handeok, the Zhuhae-born Shindanese naval commander and explorer who discovered western Veharia. It is a major hub for Air Zhenia and StarEast Airlines and offers direct connections to almost all major cities in the nation, while also offering international flights to most of Tarsis, Azora, Dyria and Veharia. As of 1610 AC, Zhuhae International Airport offers direct flights to more destinations in Yinguo and Southeast Tarsis than any other airport in the nation, although the record is expected to be surpassed by either Shin Jinhae International Airport or Daedo Capital International Airport by 1615.

The Port of Zhuhae is a major seaport for southern Zhenia, being one of the first major seaports in mainland Zhenia to have been developed as a key trading port.