Binzhou is a prefecture-level city in northern Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. Binzhou sits on the northern bank of the Yellow River with two arms extended to the southern bank. The city also has a short coastline bordering the Bohai Bay. Humans have been living in the area around Binzhou since the Neolithic era. It was called "Pugu country" in the Shang Dynasty, and was a county in the Qin Dynasty. It was first called Binzhou in era of the Five Dynasties because it borders the Bohai Sea. Nowadays, it has more than 3.7 million inhabitants. The major Industries are based on oil, chemicals and textiles.