Hefei

Hefei is the capital of Anhui province in China. It is an important political, economic, and cultural center for the area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of over nine million people.

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

The city is known for its science and research. It ranks high globally for scientific studies, with several major universities such as the University of Science and Technology of China helping to make it 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, where a general named Zhang Liao led a small group of soldiers to win against a much larger army. 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 located 130 kilometres (81 mi) west of Nanjing in south-central Anhui. Chao Lake, a lake 15 km (9 mi) southeast of the city, is one of the largest fresh water lakes in China.

Climate

Hefei has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct 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, while summers are hot and humid. Sometimes snow falls in winter.

Air pollution

See also: 2013 Eastern China smog

Air quality can get worse in May and June when farmers burn their fields, creating 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. Out of the more than five million people living there, some have moved from other parts of Anhui to work.

Hefei is a large area that includes nine smaller parts. These are four districts, one county-city, and four counties, all 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 and money in China. In 2023, the city’s total money made was CN¥1,267.38 billion.

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 and has helped bring more business to Hefei. 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 a key place for transportation. It sits north of Chao Lake and on a low saddle crossing the northeastern extension of the Dabie Mountains, which separate the Huai and Yangtze rivers. 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. Located in the northwestern part of the city, it offers flights to many places in China and some international cities.

Hefei's Metro system is growing. Line 1 opened in December 2016, covering 24 kilometres. 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 a very important city for science and research. It ranks among the top cities in the world for scientific studies. The city has many universities and research centers. Some of the important universities in Hefei include the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui University, Anhui Agricultural University, and Anhui Medical University. These schools help make Hefei a place where many important discoveries are made.

Yicheng Prison

Yicheng Prison is located in Hefei. It was built in 1983 and changed its name several times over the years. Today, it is controlled by Hefei city and mainly houses prisoners with sentences of less than five years. The prison can hold up to 1,000 prisoners a year, and many have completed their sentences there over the past 20 years. The prison grows vegetables and rice and also makes soccer training shoes, soccer balls, and tourism products.

Sport

Hefei had a football team named Anhui Jiufang. In the 2007–08 season, the team moved up to the Chinese Football Association Jia League, which is 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 five biggest freshwater lakes in China. Sanhe Town is an ancient town with over 2,500 years of history.

Other notable spots include Xiaoyaojin Park, which is built on the site of an old battle. The Temple of Lord Bao was built in 1066 near his tomb. You can also visit Li Hongzhang's Former Residence, which was 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, an orphanage for children. Sports fans might enjoy Anhui Laomingguang Stadium, home to Anhui Jiufang, or the Hefei Olympic Sports Center Stadium, which can hold 60,000 people. The Hefei Grand Theatre is a place for enjoying operas and other performances.

Notable people

Hefei is home to many famous people throughout history. Bao Zheng was a wise judge from the Northern Song dynasty, known for his fairness. Li Hongzhang was an important leader and diplomat during the Qing dynasty. Liu Mingchuan served as the first governor of Taiwan. Duan Qirui was the Provisional Chief Executive of the Republic of China from 1924 to 1926.

Other notable individuals include Susan Wu Rathbone, a community leader in Queens, New York; Yang Chen-Ning, a Nobel Physics Prize winner in 1957; and Li Keqiang, who served as Premier of China from 2013 to 2023. Today, Hefei is also home to successful business leaders like Yang Yuanqing, Chairman of Lenovo, and talented artists such as singer Xu Song and actors Chen Xiao and Yang Yang.

Sister cities

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

• 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)