Anhui

Anhui is an inland province in East China. Its capital and largest city is Hefei. The land is between the Yangtze and Huai rivers. It touches Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Henan, and Shandong.

Many people live in Anhui, about 61 million. Most are Han Chinese. People speak different languages there, such as Lower Yangtze Mandarin, Wu, Hui, Gan, and some Central Plains Mandarin.

The name Anhui comes from old cities called Anqing and Huizhou, now part of Huangshan City. The short name for the province is Wǎn, after an ancient area called the Wan state. The government of Anhui helps manage 16 cities, 62 counties, and many smaller areas.

History

Anhui became a province in 1667 during the Qing dynasty. Its nickname, "Wan," comes from an ancient small state in the same area. People have lived in Anhui for more than 20,000 years. We know this from old ruins and discoveries made by scientists.

Over time, Anhui has been part of many different areas and ruled by many dynasties. It was once joined with nearby Jiangsu before becoming its own province again. In the 1900s, Anhui had some hard times, like damage from a broken dam and a difficult famine. But since then, Anhui has grown fast and is now an important part of China's developed Yangtze River Delta area.

Geography

Anhui is a province in East China with many different landscapes. In the north, it is flat and part of the North China Plain. The central area is in the Huai River watershed. Further south, the land becomes hilly, with the Dabie Mountains in the southwest. The highest point is Lotus Peak in Huangshan, reaching 1,873 metres (6,145 feet).

Major rivers include the Huai River in the north and the Yangtze River in the south. The largest lake is Lake Chaohu, covering around 800 km². The climate changes from north to south. The north has colder winters and warmer summers. Plum rains in June and July can sometimes cause flooding. The main cities include Hefei, Wuhu, and Anqing.

Ecology

Anhui has many special plants and animals. One of these is the Anhui elm, a rare tree that grows only in certain valleys. There are very few of these trees left.

The province is also home to the Chinese alligator, a small crocodile that is in danger of disappearing. It lives in some areas and people are working to protect it.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: List of administrative divisions of Anhui and List of township-level divisions of Anhui

Anhui is divided into sixteen larger areas called prefecture-level cities. These cities are split into 104 smaller parts, called county-level divisions. These include districts, small cities, and counties. There are also 1,512 very small areas, called township-level divisions. These are places like towns and subdistricts.

Politics

Main articles: Politics of Anhui and List of provincial leaders of the People's Republic of China

Anhui has a system where two groups work together to make decisions, like many places in China. The Governor of Anhui is an important leader who heads the main government group. Another leader, the Anhui Chinese Communist Party Provincial Committee Secretary, has even more power.

The main government offices are on Zhongshan Road in Hefei. This group helps manage many cities, towns, and areas across Anhui. Each year, there are important meetings to talk about plans and decisions for the province.

Economy

Anhui has many different kinds of farming depending on the weather. In the north, people grow wheat and sweet potatoes. In the south, they grow rice and wheat. The province has many natural resources such as iron in Ma'anshan, coal in Huainan, and copper in Tongling. These resources help support important industries like the steel industry.

Anhui is home to famous companies like the car maker Chery in Wuhu. Even though it has developed well, Anhui's economy has grown more slowly than its neighbors Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Many of the province's factories are near the Yangtze River, in places like Hefei, Wuhu, and Ma'anshan. These factories make everyday items such as refrigerators and home appliances.

Transportation

Anhui has better transportation now. The first bridge across the Yangtze River, the Tongling Yangtze River Bridge, was built in 1995. Today, there are four bridges across the river.

The province has a good railway system with fast trains linking most cities. Hefei South railway station is the main train hub. There are also plans for new highways, such as the G3 Beijing-Taipei Expressway, G40 Shanghai-Xi'an Expressway, and G42 Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway.

Hefei and Wuhu have subway systems. The Hefei Metro has two lines finished, with more being built. The Wuhu Metro has two lines under construction, with more planned. Anhui has five major airports, with four more being built. The two international airports are Hefei Xinqiao International Airport and Huangshan International Airport. The airports in use include:

• Hefei Xinqiao International Airport (IATA: HFE, ICAO: ZSOF)
• Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (IATA: TXN, ICAO: ZSTX)
• Fuyang Xiguan Airport (IATA: FUG, ICAO: ZSFY)
• Anqing Tianzhushan Airport (IATA: AQG, ICAO: ZSAQ)
• Chizhou Jiuhuashan Airport (IATA: JUH, ICAO: ZSJH)

Demographics

Han Chinese are the largest group of people in Anhui. There are also two smaller groups called the Huizhou Chinese-speaking Hui and the She.

Most people in Anhui follow Chinese folk religions, Taoist traditions, or Chinese Buddhism. Some people are Christians or Muslims. Many also believe in ancestor veneration or the worship of nature deities.

Culture

Anhui is a province with many different cultures and languages. In the north, people speak Mandarin, like in nearby areas such as Henan, Shandong, and northern Jiangsu. In the south, especially in hilly areas, people speak different kinds of dialects, similar to Zhejiang and Jiangxi.

The area is known for traditional performances such as Huangmeixi, a type of Chinese opera that began near Anqing. Another form, Huiju, helped shape what we now know as Beijing Opera. Anhui cuisine is one of China's famous food traditions, using wild ingredients and simple cooking methods.

Anhui is also famous for special materials used in art. Places like Xuancheng and Huangshan City make Xuan Paper and Hui Ink, which are very important for traditional Chinese art. She County is known for making high-quality inkstones, tools used for writing beautiful characters.

Education

See also: List of universities and colleges in Anhui

Anhui has many good universities. Most of them are in cities like Hefei, Wuhu, Bengbu, and Maanshan. Hefei is very important for research and science in China.

Public universities

• University of Science & Technology of China, One of China's top universities.
• Hefei University of Technology, A well-known engineering school.
• Anhui University, A key university.
• Anhui Agricultural University, Located in Hefei.
• Anhui Medical University
• Anhui Normal University, Located in Wuhu
• Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Located in Bengbu
• Anhui University of Technology, Located in Ma'anshan
• Anhui University of Technology and Science, Located in Wuhu City
• Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Anhui University of Science & Technology, Located in Huainan
• Anqing Teachers College, Located in Anqing
• Fuyang Teachers College, Located in Fuyang
• Hefei Normal University, Located in Hefei
• Wannan Medical College, Located in Wuhu City
• Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Hefei
• Beihang University (BUAA) - Hefei Campus
• Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) - Hefei Campus
• Tianjin University (TJU) - Hefei Graduate School
• Peking University (PKU) - Hefei Graduate School
• Tsinghua University (THU) - Hefei Institute of Public Safety Research

Military universities

• National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) - Hefei Campus
• PLA Artillery University
• PLA Armoured Force University
• PLA Vehicle University
• PLA Air Force Flight Academy(13th)
• Armed Police Command College(Hefei)

Tourism

Anhui has many beautiful places to visit. Some famous spots are the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun, which are recognized as a World Heritage Site. Other popular places include Bagong Mountain Scenic Spot, Chao Lake, Jing Ting Mountain, and Mount Huangshan, also a World Heritage Site. You can also explore Mount Jiuhua, Mount Langya, Mount Qiyun, Mount Tianzhu, the old town of Tunxi, the long Taiji Cave in East China, the Zhenfeng Pagoda from the Ming dynasty in Anqing City, and Zuiweng Pavilion named after the poet Ouyang Xiu.

In 2008, France helped Anhui create special tourism projects in the countryside.

Notable people

Anhui has been home to many talented individuals across different fields. Xia Jun is known for his work as an economist and in telecommunications research. Qiu Jianliang and Fang Bian have both achieved success as professional kickboxers and sanshou fighters, a type of Chinese martial art. Deng Linlin has made her mark as a skilled artistic gymnast, representing her country in international competitions.