Anhui Province

The Heart of Eastern China

Anhui Province, located in eastern China, is known for its picturesque mountains, ancient villages, and rich cultural heritage. Often called the “Land of Huizhou Merchants and Scholars,” Anhui combines natural beauty with a deep historical legacy that has shaped Chinese literature, architecture, and philosophy for centuries.

🏛️ Formation & Historical Background

Anhui’s name originates from the combination of two prefectures — Anqing (安庆) and Huizhou (徽州) — during the Qing dynasty. The region has long been a cradle of Chinese civilization, lying between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, where agriculture, trade, and culture flourished.

Key Historical Timeline:

Period Major Event
Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE) Early settlements form along the Yangtze River basin
Qin Dynasty (221 BCE) Area incorporated into the first unified Chinese empire
Tang–Song Dynasties Flourishing of Huizhou culture, architecture, and merchant guilds
Ming–Qing Dynasties Emergence of Huizhou merchants as China’s economic elite
1938 Anhui becomes a key battlefield during the Second Sino-Japanese War
1949 Becomes part of the People’s Republic of China
1978–present Economic modernization under reform and opening policies

Anhui’s cultural identity remains deeply tied to the Huizhou tradition — blending commerce, Confucian ethics, and elegant artistry.

🧭 Basic Provincial Information

Category Details
Official Name Anhui Province (安徽省)
Provincial Capital Hefei
Largest Cities Hefei, Wuhu, Bengbu, Huainan, Ma’anshan
Governor (2025) Wang Qingxian
Area ~140,100 sq km
Population (2025 est.) ~62 million
Major Rivers Yangtze River, Huai River
Climate Subtropical monsoon; hot, humid summers and mild winters
Time Zone China Standard Time (UTC +8)
Dial Code +86 (055x prefixes)
Top-Level Domain .cn
Provincial Motto “Harmony, Prosperity, and Heritage”

⚖️ Government and Administration

Position Current Officeholder (as of 2025)
Governor Wang Qingxian
Party Secretary Han Jun
Provincial People’s Congress Anhui Provincial People’s Congress
Judicial Authority Anhui High People’s Court
Administrative Divisions 16 Prefecture-level cities, 105 counties & districts

Anhui’s government operates under the unitary structure of the PRC, emphasizing industrial development, ecological balance, and rural revitalization.

🗺️ Administrative Structure

Level Name Notes
Provincial Capital Hefei Political, educational, and innovation hub
Prefecture-level Cities (16) Wuhu, Bengbu, Huainan, Ma’anshan, Anqing, Huangshan, Chuzhou, Fuyang, Suzhou, Bozhou, Huaibei, Tongling, Xuancheng, Lu’an, Chizhou, Hefei Major regional centers for commerce and industry

Each prefecture manages counties and townships focusing on transportation, agriculture, and local business growth.

1. Hefei (合肥市) – Capital City

  • Districts: Yaohai (瑶海区), Luyang (庐阳区), Shushan (蜀山区), Baohe (包河区)

  • Counties: Feidong (肥东县), Feixi (肥西县), Changfeng (长丰县), Lujiang (庐江县)

  • County-level City: Chaohu (巢湖市)

2. Wuhu (芜湖市)

  • Districts: Jinghu (镜湖区), Yijiang (弋江区), Jiujiang (鸠江区), Sanshan (三山区)

  • Counties: Wuwei (无为县), Nanling (南陵县), Wuhu (芜湖县)

  • County-level City: None

3. Bengbu (蚌埠市)

  • Districts: Longzihu (龙子湖区), Bengshan (蚌山区), Yuhui (禹会区), Huaishang (淮上区)

  • Counties: Guzhen (固镇县), Wuhe (五河县), Huaiyuan (怀远县)

4. Huainan (淮南市)

  • Districts: Tianjia’an (田家庵区), Datong (大通区), Xiejiaji (谢家集区), Bagongshan (八公山区), Panji (潘集区)

  • Counties: Fengtai (凤台县), Shou (寿县)

5. Ma’anshan (马鞍山市)

  • Districts: Huashan (花山区), Yushan (雨山区), Bowang (博望区)

  • County: Dangtu (当涂县), Hanshan (含山县), Hexian (和县)

6. Huaibei (淮北市)

  • Districts: Xiangshan (相山区), Duji (杜集区), Lieshan (烈山区)

  • County: Suixi (濉溪县)

7. Tongling (铜陵市)

  • Districts: Tongguan (铜官区), Shizishan (狮子山区), Yi’an (义安区)

  • County: Zongyang (枞阳县)

8. Anqing (安庆市)

  • Districts: Yingjiang (迎江区), Daguan (大观区), Yixiu (宜秀区)

  • Counties: Huaining (怀宁县), Qianshan (潜山县), Taihu (太湖县), Susong (宿松县), Wangjiang (望江县), Yuexi (岳西县)

  • County-level Cities: Tongcheng (桐城市)

9. Huangshan (黄山市)

  • Districts: Tunxi (屯溪区), Huangshan (黄山区), Huizhou (徽州区)

  • Counties: Shexian (歙县), Xiuning (休宁县), Yixian (黟县), Qimen (祁门县)

10. Chuzhou (滁州市)

  • Districts: Langya (琅琊区), Nanqiao (南谯区)

  • Counties: Lai’an (来安县), Quanjiao (全椒县), Dingyuan (定远县), Fengyang (凤阳县)

  • County-level Cities: Tianchang (天长市), Mingguang (明光市)

11. Fuyang (阜阳市)

  • Districts: Yingzhou (颍州区), Yingdong (颍东区), Yingquan (颍泉区)

  • Counties: Linquan (临泉县), Taihe (太和县), Funan (阜南县), Yingshang (颍上县)

  • County-level Cities: Jieshou (界首市)

12. Suzhou (宿州市)

  • Districts: Yongqiao (埇桥区)

  • Counties: Dangshan (砀山县), Xiao (萧县), Lingbi (灵璧县), Si (泗县)

13. Lu’an (六安市)

  • Districts: Jin’an (金安区), Yu’an (裕安区)

  • Counties: Huoqiu (霍邱县), Shucheng (舒城县), Jinzhai (金寨县), Huoshan (霍山县), Yeji (叶集区)

14. Bozhou (亳州市)

  • Districts: Qiaocheng (谯城区)

  • Counties: Guoyang (涡阳县), Lixin (利辛县), Mengcheng (蒙城县)

15. Chizhou (池州市)

  • Districts: Guichi (贵池区)

  • Counties: Dongzhi (东至县), Shitai (石台县), Qingyang (青阳县)

16. Xuancheng (宣城市)

  • Districts: Xuanzhou (宣州区)

  • Counties: Langxi (郎溪县), Guangde (广德县), Jingde (泾县), Jixi (绩溪县), Ningguo (宁国市)

Summary

Level Quantity
Prefecture-level Cities 16
County-level Divisions 105
Township-level Divisions 1,800+

 

🌐 Geography & Environment

  • Location: Eastern China, between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers

  • Terrain: Plains in the north, hills and mountains in the south

  • Major Mountains: Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), Dabie Mountains, Tianzhu Mountain

  • Main Rivers: Yangtze River, Huai River, Xin’an River

  • Climate: Humid subtropical, with four distinct seasons

  • Natural Resources: Coal, iron, limestone, copper, and hydroelectric potential

Anhui’s Huangshan Mountains (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) are among China’s most iconic natural landmarks, often depicted in traditional paintings.

🏘️ Local Government Structure

Anhui’s 16 prefecture-level cities manage urban planning, social services, and economic programs under provincial guidance.
Local governments emphasize smart city initiatives, eco-tourism, and rural industrialization.

🧩 Leadership & Development Focus

Key priorities include:

  • Expanding green industries and renewable energy

  • Promoting education and technological innovation through Hefei Science & Technology Zone

  • Enhancing transport corridors linking Shanghai, Nanjing, and Wuhan

  • Preserving Huizhou cultural heritage and traditional villages

Anhui is also a key participant in the Yangtze River Delta Regional Integration Plan.

🛡️ Law Enforcement & Safety

Department Function
Anhui Public Security Bureau Provincial policing and traffic safety
Fire & Emergency Services Disaster management and industrial safety
Local Police Departments District-level enforcement and community protection

The province maintains low crime rates and strong disaster-response mechanisms.

🕊️ Religion, Language & Culture

Category Details
Major Religions Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Folk Beliefs
Official Language Mandarin Chinese
Local Dialects Huizhou, Jianghuai, Gan
Ethnic Composition Predominantly Han Chinese
Cultural Identity Known for Hui-style architecture, calligraphy, and tea culture

Anhui’s Hui-style architecture, white walls and black roofs, and ancient villages like Xidi and Hongcun symbolize the essence of traditional Chinese aesthetics.

📈 Economy & Key Sectors

Sector Description
GDP (2025 est.) ~ $700 billion USD
Main Industries Manufacturing, agriculture, technology, automotive, energy
Top Products Steel, electronics, tea, grain, coal, textiles
Economic Zones Hefei High-Tech Zone, Wuhu Economic Development Zone
Major Partners Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, international investors

Anhui’s emerging tech and renewable energy industries are transforming it into one of China’s fastest-growing inland economies.

🎓 Education & Healthcare

Category Details
Literacy Rate ~98%
Top Universities University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui University
Education System Compulsory 9-year education with strong STEM orientation
Healthcare Expanding provincial medical network; focus on rural access
Life Expectancy ~77 years

Anhui’s capital, Hefei, is a national hub for quantum research and high-end science education.

✈️ Transport & Infrastructure

Category Details
Airports Hefei Xinqiao, Huangshan Tunxi, Fuyang, Wuhu Xuanzhou
Major Railways Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Line, Hefei–Fuzhou Railway
Highways G3 Beijing–Taipei Expressway, G42 Shanghai–Chengdu Expressway
Ports Wuhu, Ma’anshan (Yangtze River)
Energy Projects Hydropower stations, solar fields, and coal-energy reforms

Anhui’s transport links integrate it with Shanghai, Nanjing, and Wuhan, making it a vital corridor in central China.

🏞️ Tourism & Attractions

Top Destinations:

  • Huangshan (Yellow Mountain): UNESCO-listed natural wonder

  • Hongcun & Xidi Villages: Traditional Hui architecture

  • Tunxi Ancient Street: Historical trade hub

  • Jiuhua Mountain: Buddhist pilgrimage site

  • Chaohu Lake: Scenic freshwater lake near Hefei

  • Huizhou Culture Museum: Heritage of merchants and scholars

Anhui’s landscapes inspired countless classical Chinese paintings and poetry.

🌍 Global Role & Relations

Aspect Details
International Partnerships Sister province relations with states in Germany, Japan, and South Korea
Exports Machinery, textiles, chemicals
Tourism Promotion “Beautiful Anhui” global campaign
Participation in BRI Key logistics and industrial hub in eastern China

Anhui contributes to China’s global connectivity through education, culture, and trade initiatives.

📝 Summary

Anhui Province stands as a symbol of China’s balance between heritage and innovation. From the misty peaks of Huangshan to the laboratories of Hefei, Anhui reflects the enduring spirit of progress rooted in tradition — a province where culture, commerce, and science thrive together.

📢 News & Articles

  • “Hefei’s Rise as a Global Science and Technology Hub”

  • “Huangshan: Where Nature Meets Heritage”

  • “Anhui’s Green Transformation in the Yangtze Delta”

🎯 Our Mission

This profile is part of the AFP Global Knowledge Hub, dedicated to delivering verified, educational insights about every province and region — promoting knowledge, development, and cultural appreciation.

📬 Contact Us

For updates, collaborations, or verified information regarding Anhui Province:
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