Hefei

Hefei is the capital of Anhui province in China. It is an important political, economic, and cultural center for the area. The city has a population of over nine million people.

Hefei is located in central Anhui, near other cities and close to Chao Lake. The area has been important since the Song dynasty. In recent years, Hefei has grown with new buildings and research facilities.

The city is known for science and research. It ranks high globally for scientific studies, with major universities such as the University of Science and Technology of China helping it become a key place for learning and discovery.

History

Hefei has a long and rich history. From the 8th to the 6th centuries BC, the area was home to many small states and later became part of the Chu kingdom. The name 'Hefei' was first used when a county was set up there during the Han dynasty in the 2nd century BC.

Many important events happened in Hefei over the centuries. In the 3rd century AD, a big battle took place at Xiaoyao Ford. During different periods, Hefei was fought over by many states and its name and status changed often.

The current city of Hefei began during the Song dynasty (960–1126). It was an important place for trade and taxes. Later, it became a key defense point and a trade center. When the Chinese Republic was founded in 1911, Hefei took its present name.

In the 20th century, Hefei grew from a small market town into a major city. It became the capital of Anhui in 1952. The city developed many industries, including cotton milling, chemicals, and steel. Important educational institutions, like the University of Science and Technology of China, moved to Hefei, helping it become a center for technology and innovation. Since the 2010s, Hefei has focused on high-tech industries, such as semiconductors and alternative energy.

Geography

Hefei is 130 kilometres (81 mi) west of Nanjing in south-central Anhui. Chao Lake is a big lake 15 km (9 mi) southeast of the city. It is one of China’s largest fresh water lakes.

Climate

Hefei has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The average temperature is 16.6 °C (61.9 °F). It rains a lot, especially from May through August. Winters are cold and damp. Summers are hot and humid. Sometimes it snows in winter.

Air pollution

Air quality can get worse in May and June when farmers burn their fields. This creates smoky air.

Administrative divisions and demographics

The people of Hefei are mostly Han Chinese, with a smaller group of Hui people who have a few mosques in the city. Many people live there, and some moved from other parts of Anhui to find work.

Hefei is a large area with nine smaller parts. These include four districts, one county-city, and four counties. All are managed by the prefecture-level city of Hefei.

Hefei subdivisions area (km²), population (According to 2010 Census) and population density (per km²).

Economy

Hefei is a very important city for business in China.

The city government helps businesses grow by owning some companies and making big investments. For example, in 2008, Hefei bought a big part of BOE Technology. This company makes important parts for phones and other electronics. The city also helped start iFlytek, a company that works with voice recognition, and supported NIO, a car company that makes electric cars. These efforts have helped Hefei become a key place for making computer chips and other technology products.

Transportation

Hefei has been the capital of Anhui since 1945 and is an important place for transportation. It is north of Chao Lake and on a low saddle crossing the northeastern extension of the Dabie Mountains. This makes water travel easy from the lake to the Yangtze River opposite Wuhu.

Hefei has two main train stations: Hefei South railway station, where most high-speed trains stop, and the smaller, older Hefei railway station. There are also several smaller stations in nearby towns that connect people to the main city.

Hefei Xinqiao International Airport replaced the old Hefei Luogang International Airport in May 2013. It is in the northwestern part of the city and offers flights to many places in China and some international cities.

Hefei's Metro system is growing. Line 1 opened in December 2016. Line 2 opened in December 2017 and connects to the city center and the airport. Line 3 opened in December 2019, and Line 4 in December 2021. Line 5's south part opened in December 2020, with the north part expected later. The city plans to build many more metro, rail, and tram lines by 2030.

The city also has many public buses, including eight bus rapid transit lines, and some commuter lines that run at specific times.

Universities and research

Hefei is an important city for science and learning. It is one of the best places in the world for studying and doing research. The city has many schools and research centers. Some important schools in Hefei are the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui University, Anhui Agricultural University, and Anhui Medical University. These schools help Hefei make many important discoveries.

Yicheng Prison

Yicheng Prison is in Hefei. It was built in 1983 and has changed its name many times. Now, Hefei city controls it. It holds people who have sentences of less than five years. The prison can have up to 1,000 people each year. Many people finish their time there. The prison grows vegetables and rice. It also makes soccer training shoes, soccer balls, and tourism products.

Sport

Hefei had a football team called Anhui Jiufang. In 2007–08, the team moved up to the Chinese Football Association Jia League, the second highest level in Chinese football. In 2011, the team was bought by Tianjin Runyulong.

Sites of interest

Hefei has many interesting places to visit. Chao Lake is the largest lake in Anhui and one of the biggest freshwater lakes in China. Sanhe Town is an ancient town that is over 2,500 years old.

Other places to see include Xiaoyaojin Park, built where an old battle once happened. The Temple of Lord Bao was built in 1066 near his tomb. You can also visit Li Hongzhang's Former Residence, built in the late 1800s and restored in the 1990s. Hui Garden opened to the public in 2001. There is also a Children's Welfare Institute for children. Sports fans might enjoy Anhui Laomingguang Stadium, home to Anhui Jiufang, or the Hefei Olympic Sports Center Stadium. The Hefei Grand Theatre is a place to watch operas and shows.

Notable people

Hefei is home to many famous people. Bao Zheng was a wise judge from the Northern Song dynasty. Li Hongzhang was an important leader during the Qing dynasty. Liu Mingchuan was the first governor of Taiwan. Duan Qirui was a leader in China from 1924 to 1926.

Other famous people include Susan Wu Rathbone, a leader in New York; Yang Chen-Ning, who won the Nobel Physics Prize in 1957; and Li Keqiang, who was Premier of China from 2013 to 2023. Today, Hefei is also home to business leaders like Yang Yuanqing, Chairman of Lenovo, and artists such as singer Xu Song and actors Chen Xiao and Yang Yang.

Sister cities

Hefei has friends in many places around the world. These friends are called sister cities. Some of them are:

• Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan (1980)
• Freetown, Sierra Leone (1984)
• Bujumbura, Burundi (1986)
• Columbus, Ohio, United States (1988)
• Aalborg, Denmark (1989)
• Lleida, Catalonia, Spain (1998)
• Wonju, Gwandong, South Korea (2002)
• Darebin, Victoria, Australia (2003)
• Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (2004)
• Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (2005)
• Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany (2006)
• Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia (2016)