Anhui

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

About 61 million people live there, making Anhui the 9th most crowded area in China. 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, many smaller areas, and big decisions for the region.

History

Anhui was established in 1667 during the rule of the Qing dynasty. Its nickname, "Wan," comes from an ancient small state in the area from long ago. People have lived in Anhui for over 20,000 years, as shown by old ruins and discoveries made by scientists.

Throughout history, Anhui has been part of many different areas and ruled by various dynasties. It was merged with nearby Jiangsu under the Qing dynasty before becoming its own province again. In the 20th century, it faced tough times, including damage from a broken dam and difficult years during a big famine. But since then, Anhui has grown quickly and is now a key part of China's developed Yangtze River Delta area.

Geography

Anhui is a province in East China with varied landscapes. In the north, it is flat and part of the North China Plain, while the central area is in the Huai River watershed. Further south, the land becomes hilly, with the Dabie Mountains in the southwest and several ranges in the southeast. 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, with the north having 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 is home to some very special plants and animals. One of these is the Anhui elm, a rare tree found only in certain valleys. There are very few of these trees left in the world.

The province also has the Chinese alligator, a small crocodile that is in big danger of disappearing. It lives in certain areas and people work hard 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 prefecture-level cities. These cities are further split into 104 county-level divisions, which include districts, smaller cities, and counties. Finally, there are 1,512 township-level divisions, such as towns, townships, ethnic townships, 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, just like many places in China. The person called the Governor of Anhui is very important and leads the main government group. But another leader, called the Anhui Chinese Communist Party Provincial Committee Secretary, has even more power.

The main offices for the government are located on Zhongshan Road in Hefei. This group helps manage many cities, towns, and areas across Anhui. There are also important meetings held each year to discuss plans and decisions for the province.

Economy

Anhui has a varied agriculture depending on its climate. In the northern part of the province, people grow wheat and sweet potatoes, while in the southern part, they grow rice and wheat. The province has many natural resources like iron in Ma'anshan, coal in Huainan, and copper in Tongling. These resources support important industries such as the steel industry.

Anhui is home to well-known companies like the automobile maker Chery based in Wuhu. While it has developed well, Anhui's economy has grown more slowly than its neighbors Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Much of the province's industry is centered around areas close to the Yangtze River, such as Hefei, Wuhu, and Ma'anshan. These areas have many factories that make everyday products like refrigerators and other home appliances.

Transportation

Anhui has improved its transportation over the years. The first bridge across the Yangtze River in Anhui, the Tongling Yangtze River Bridge, was finished in 1995. Today, there are four bridges across the Yangtze River in Anhui.

The province now has a good railway system with high-speed trains connecting most cities. Hefei South railway station is the main hub for these trains. There are also plans for many new highways, including important roads like the G3 Beijing-Taipei Expressway, G40 Shanghai-Xi'an Expressway, and G42 Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway.

Hefei and Wuhu have subway systems. The Hefei Metro already has two lines finished, with three more being built and ten more planned. The Wuhu Metro has two lines under construction with three more planned. Anhui also has five major airports in use, with four more being built. The two international airports are Hefei Xinqiao International Airport and Huangshan International Airport. The airports in operation 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 make up most of the people in Anhui. There are also two big groups called the Huizhou Chinese-speaking Hui and the She, who are smaller parts of the population.

Anhui has more boys than girls in some age groups. For example, in children aged 1 to 4, there are about 138 boys for every 100 girls. Most people in Anhui practice Chinese folk religions, Taoist traditions, or Chinese Buddhism. A small number of people are Christians or Muslims. Many people 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, similar to the languages in nearby areas like 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 like Huangmeixi, a type of Chinese opera that started 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 especially important for research and science in China.

Public universities

• University of Science & Technology of China, One of China's top universities and a world-renowned research institution.
• Hefei University of Technology, A well-known engineering school in China
• Anhui University, A key university in China
• 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 of the most 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.