Daqing (Chinese: 大庆; pinyin: Dàqìng; formerly spelled "Taching") is a prefecture-level city in the west of Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China. The name literally means "Great Celebration". Daqing is known as the Oil Capital of China and has experienced a phenomenal boom since oil was discovered here in 1959.Its population was 2,904,532 at the 2010 PRC National Census, of whom 1,415,268 lived in the built-up area (or metro) in 4 out of the total of 5 urban districts, i.e.