Before the 1950s, the area now known as Daqing was a sparsely populated grassland and wetland region on the Songnen Plain. The turning point came in 1959 when, after years of geological surveying, the first commercially viable oil well — Songji Well No. 3 — was successfully drilled. The discovery came at a critical time for China, which faced severe oil shortages due to the Soviet Union's withdrawal of technical assistance.
The development of the Daqing Oilfield was a massive national project. Thousands of workers, soldiers, and technicians were mobilized from across China. Living in rudimentary conditions, they built the oil field from scratch. The heroic efforts of Wang Jinxi, who became known as "Iron Man" for his extraordinary determination, were widely publicized by the government to inspire the nation.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Daqing's oil production grew steadily, and a proper city gradually emerged around the oil field. By the 1980s, Daqing had become a modern planned city with residential districts, schools, hospitals, and cultural facilities.
In the 21st century, Daqing faces the challenge of gradually declining oil reserves. The city has embarked on economic diversification, developing petrochemical refining, advanced manufacturing, and tourism while preserving its unique oil heritage.
