Map of Anhui Province

Author: Wang Ruiping (Editor-in-Chief), Li Zongshun, Yang Hongquan (Deputy Editor-in-Chief)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Anhui is located in the central part of East China, an inland province bordering the Yangtze River and Huai River in the east and west. It is connected to Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the east, Hubei and Henan to the west, Jiangxi to the south, and Shandong to the north. In the early Qing Dynasty, Anhui belonged to Jiangnan Province. In the 6th year of the Kangxi reign (1667 AD), Jiangnan Province was divided into Jiangsu and Anhui, officially establishing Anhui Province, named after the first characters of the former Anqing and Huizhou prefectures. The province is home to Mount Wan and Wan River, which are now known as Tianzhu Mountain and Wan River. During the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BC), it was enfeoffed as the State of Wan, hence the abbreviation "Wan" for Anhui. Anhui is located between 114°54′–119°37′ east longitude and 29°41′–34°38′ north latitude, with an east-west width of about 450 kilometers and a north-south length of about 570 kilometers, covering a total area of 139,600 square kilometers, accounting for approximately 1.45% of the country's total area and ranking third in East China and 22nd in the nation. By the end of 2004, the province had a registered population of 64.61 million, ranking eighth in the country. The terrain of Anhui slopes downward from southwest to northeast, with diverse and complex landscapes. The Yangtze and Huai Rivers flow across the province, spanning 416 kilometers and 430 kilometers respectively, dividing it into three major natural regions: the Huai River Plain in the north, the Jianghuai Hills in the middle, and the southern Anhui Mountains. To the north of the Huai River, the terrain is flat and vast, part of the North China Plain; between the Jianghuai River and the Yangtze River, there are towering mountains in the west and rolling hills in the east, with winding mountain ridges and slopes; along both banks of the Yangtze River, the terrain is low and flat, with intersecting rivers and lakes, fertile plains, and belonging to the middle and lower Yangtze River Plain; the southern Anhui Mountains are characterized by layered peaks and steep ridges, dominated by mountains and hills. Major mountain ranges in the province include the Dabie Mountains, Huangshan Mountains, Jiuhua Mountains, and Tianzhu Mountain, with Huangshan's Lianhu Peak reaching an altitude of 1,860 meters. The province has more than 2,000 rivers and over 110 lakes, including the Yangtze, Huai, Xin'an, and Chaohu Lake, one of China's five major freshwater lakes. Anhui is located in the transitional zone between the warm temperate and subtropical climates, with the Huai River serving as the dividing line. The northern part belongs to the warm temperate semi-humid monsoon climate, while the southern part is subtropical humid monsoon climate. The main characteristics are mild climate, abundant sunshine, distinct monsoons, and clear seasons. The average annual temperature is between 14°C and 16°C, with a 2°C difference between the south and north; the average annual sunshine hours are 1,800–2,500, with an average frost-free period of 200–250 days, and average precipitation of 800–1,600 millimeters. Anhui, with its access to both the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, is known as the "Ji Tong Chu Xi" (connecting east and west), serving as a seamless hinterland to the Yangtze River Delta region. The province boasts convenient transportation, with highway density twice the national average and highway mileage exceeding 1,300 kilometers. The Tongling Yangtze River Bridge, Wuhu Yangtze River Bridge, and Anqing Yangtze River Bridge connect the north and south. The province ranks second in central China for highway and inland waterway transportation capacity. Major railways like the Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau, and Eurasian Land Bridge pass through the province, with a total railway mileage of 2,326 kilometers, ranking first in East China. Air transportation is well-developed, with six major airports in Hefei, Huangshan, Wuhu, Anqing, Bengbu, and Fuyang. Anhui has advanced postal and telecommunications, becoming the third province in the country to achieve digital communication in all cities and counties. The province enjoys superior resource conditions, with abundant natural resources such as land, biological, water, and mineral resources. The province has 4.08 million hectares of arable land and 1.05 million hectares of water surface area, with 480,000 hectares suitable for aquaculture. There are 10,917 species of biological resources, including 30 nationally protected woody plants, 54 rare wildlife species, 18 first-class protected animals, and 368 second-class protected animals, with the Chinese alligator and white-flag dolphin being particularly precious. The total water resources are estimated at 68 billion cubic meters, ranking 20th in the country. The province has discovered nearly 140 useful mineral resources, with 67 confirmed reserves. Among them, 38 minerals, including coal, iron, copper, sulfur, phosphorus, alums, and limestone, rank among the top 10 in the country. The province has confirmed coal reserves of 2.5 billion tons, iron reserves of 299 million tons, copper reserves of 3.849 million tons, and sulfur reserves of 564 million tons, ranking 7th, 5th, 5th, and 2nd in the country respectively. Huangshan Pine is the provincial tree, Anhui Azalea is the provincial flower, and the Grey-crowned Crane is the provincial bird.