Hefei

[edit] Old Hefei Map with wall From the 8th to the 6th centuries BC, Hefei was the site of many small states, later a part of the Chu kingdom. Many archaeological finds dating from this period have been made. The name 'Hefei' was first given to the county set up in the area under the Han dynasty in the 2nd century BC. In the 3rd century AD, the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford was fought at Xiaoyao Ford (逍遙津) in Hefei. Zhang Liao, a general of the Wei state, led 800 picked cavalry to defeat the 200,000-strong army from Wei's rival state Wu. Several decades of warring in Hefei between Wu and Wei followed this battle. During the 4th to the 6th centuries AD, this crucial border region between northern and southern states was much fought over; its name and administrative status were consequently often changed. During the Sui (581–618) and Tang (618–907) periods, it became the seat of Lu prefecture—a title it kept until the 15th century, when it became a superior prefecture named Luzhou. The present city dates from the Song dynasty (960–1126), the earlier Hefei having been some distance farther north. In the 10th year of Xining (熙宁, 1077 AD), the taxes collected from the Luchow Prefecture were 50315 Guan, approximately 25 million today's Chinese Yuan, with a ranking of the amount of taxes was the 11th(following Kaifeng, Hangzhou, Qinzhou, Chuzhou, Chengdu, Zizhou, Xingyuan, Mianzhou, Zhenzhou, Suzhou) among all the prefectures of Song Dynasty. During the 10th century, it was for a while the capital of the independent Wu kingdom (902–938) and was an important center of the Southern Tang state (937–975). After 1127 it became a center of the defenses of the Southern Song dynasty (1126–1279) against the Jin (Jurchen) invaders in the Jin–Song wars, as well as a flourishing center of trade between the two states. When the Chinese Republic was founded in 1911, the superior prefecture was abolished, and the city took the name of Hefei. The city was known as Luchow or Liu-tcheou (庐州, p Luzhou) during the Ming and Qing dynasties (after the 14th century to the 19th century). Hefei was the temporary capital for Anhui from 1853 to 1862. It was renamed as Hefei County in 1912. Following the Chinese victory in the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1945, Hefei was made the capital of Anhui. Before World War II, Hefei remained essentially an administrative center and the regional market for the fertile plain to the south. It was a collecting center for grain, beans, cotton, and hemp, as well as a center for handicraft industries manufacturing cloth, leather, bamboo goods, and ironware. The construction in 1912 of the Tianjin–Pukou railway, farther east, for a while made Hefei a provincial backwater, and much of its importance passed to Bengbu. In 1932–36, however, a Chinese company built a railway linking Hefei with Yuxikou (on the Yangtze opposite Wuhu) to the southeast and with the Huai River at Huainan to the north. While this railway was built primarily to exploit the rich coalfield in northern Anhui, it also did much to revive the economy of the Hefei area by taking much of its produce to Wuhu and Nanjing. Although Hefei was a quiet market town of only about 30,000 in the mid-1930s, its population grew more than tenfold in the following 20 years. The city's administrative role was strengthened by the transfer of the provincial government from Anqing in 1945, but much of its new growth derived from its development as an industrial city. Hefei was designated the provincial capital in 1952.: 122  A cotton mill was opened in 1958, and a thermal generating plant, using coal from Huainan, was established in the early 1950s. It also became the seat of an industry producing industrial chemicals and chemical fertilizers. In the late 1950s an iron and steel complex was built. In addition to a machine-tool works and engineering and agricultural machinery factories, the city has developed an aluminum industry and a variety of light industries. Hefei's development was advanced by the Third Front construction.: 185  In 1970, the University of Science and Technology of China relocated to Hefei.: 125–126  It is one of the best technological universities in the country.: 185  In 1978, the Chinese Academy of Sciences opened a Hefei branch.: 126  Several electronics institutes were moved from Beijing to Hefei in the early 1980s.: 126  The establishment of these educational and research and development institutions in Hefei were a foundations for its subsequent growth in innovation.: 126  In 1991, Hefei was one of the first Chinese cities to establish a High-Tech Industrial Zone.: 129  A period of rapid growth began in 2005, when Hefei party secretary Sun Jinlong initiated a strategy of industry-based city building.: 127  Sun prioritized the automobile, electric appliance, and equipment manufacturing sectors of the city's economy.: 127  The city government established a department for attracting investment and sent teams around the country to recruit businesses to Hefei.: 127  Sun also launched a construction program of neighborhood redevelopment, road system improvement, rail system, and a new international airport.: 127  Hefei's GDP grew at the highest rate of any Chinese provincial capital during Sun's tenure.: 127–128  Since the 2010s, Hefei has developed high-tech industries and an innovation-driven economy,: 129  including semi-conductors and alternative energy economic sectors.: 185 

[edit] This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (May 2013) 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. Though the lake has unfortunately been polluted with nitrogen and phosphorus in recent decades, the situation is improving due to efforts by both the government and the people. Climate[edit] Hefei features a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) with four distinct seasons. Hefei's annual average temperature is 16.6 °C (61.9 °F). Its annual precipitation is just slightly over 1,000 millimetres (39 in), being heavier from May through August. Winters are damp and cold, with January lows dipping just below freezing and January averaging 2.8 °C (37.0 °F). The city sees irregular snowfalls that rarely turn significant. Occasional cold spells from Siberia that usually happen during winter months such as December, January, February. Sometimes November and March which can bring snow and heavier snowfall. (Springs are generally relatively pleasant if somewhat erratic. Summers are hot and humid, with a July average of 28.6 °C (83.5 °F). In the months of June, July, August, and often September, daily temperatures can reach or surpass 37 °C (99 °F) with high humidity levels being the norm. Autumn in Hefei sees a gradual cooling and drying. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 35 percent in March to 50 percent in August, the city receives 1,868 hours of bright sunshine annually. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from −20.6 °C (−5 °F) on 6 January 1955, to 41.1 °C (106 °F) on 27 July 2017. Climate data for Hefei, elevation 50 m (160 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 22.1(71.8) 27.5(81.5) 33.7(92.7) 34.7(94.5) 36.4(97.5) 38.0(100.4) 41.1(106.0) 41.0(105.8) 38.6(101.5) 39.9(103.8) 30.1(86.2) 24.0(75.2) 41.1(106.0) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.2(45.0) 10.2(50.4) 15.5(59.9) 21.9(71.4) 27.1(80.8) 29.7(85.5) 32.6(90.7) 32.1(89.8) 28.2(82.8) 22.9(73.2) 16.4(61.5) 9.9(49.8) 21.1(70.1) Daily mean °C (°F) 3.1(37.6) 5.7(42.3) 10.6(51.1) 16.8(62.2) 22.2(72.0) 25.6(78.1) 28.6(83.5) 27.9(82.2) 23.6(74.5) 17.9(64.2) 11.4(52.5) 5.3(41.5) 16.6(61.8) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −0.1(31.8) 2.2(36.0) 6.6(43.9) 12.4(54.3) 17.8(64.0) 21.9(71.4) 25.4(77.7) 24.7(76.5) 20.1(68.2) 13.9(57.0) 7.4(45.3) 1.7(35.1) 12.8(55.1) Record low °C (°F) −20.6(−5.1) −14.1(6.6) −7.3(18.9) −0.4(31.3) 6.2(43.2) 12.2(54.0) 17.9(64.2) 15.8(60.4) 10.8(51.4) 1.5(34.7) −5.1(22.8) −13.5(7.7) −20.6(−5.1) Average precipitation mm (inches) 47.4(1.87) 52.8(2.08) 76.3(3.00) 83.7(3.30) 90.1(3.55) 158.5(6.24) 185.1(7.29) 138.7(5.46) 70.3(2.77) 51.6(2.03) 54.6(2.15) 33.7(1.33) 1,042.8(41.07) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 9.0 8.8 10.3 9.8 10.4 10.5 11.8 11.9 8.1 8.3 8.2 6.8 113.9 Average snowy days 4.3 2.6 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 1.5 10 Average relative humidity (%) 75 74 71 70 71 77 80 81 77 74 75 73 75 Mean monthly sunshine hours 109.2 113.7 143.2 173.9 182.9 155.9 186.2 176.8 150.0 151.3 140.4 126.9 1,810.4 Percentage possible sunshine 34 36 38 45 43 37 43 43 41 43 45 41 41 Source: China Meteorological Administration extremes Air pollution[edit] See also: 2013 Eastern China smog Air quality typically diminishes in May and June when the city is blanketed by smog caused by the smoke generated as farmers outside the city burn their fields in preparation for planting the next crop.

[edit] Demographics[edit] Historical populationYearPop.±%1953 183,570—    1964 431,490+135.1%1982 535,681+24.1%1990 714,242+33.3%2000 1,549,476+116.9%2010 3,098,727+100.0%2020 5,055,978+63.2%Source: Census in China The majority of the population in Hefei are Han Chinese. There are a comparatively small number of Hui people living in the city, for whom a few mosques have been constructed. Of the more than five million people in the city, some are migrant workers from other parts of Anhui. Administration[edit] The prefecture-level city of Hefei administers nine county-level divisions, including four districts, one county-city and four counties. Hefei subdivisions area (km2), population (According to 2010 Census) and population density (per km2). Map Chao Lake Yaohai Luyang Shushan Baohe ChangfengCounty FeidongCounty FeixiCounty LujiangCounty Chaohu(city) Division code English Chinese Pinyin Area in km2 Seat Postal code Subdivisions Subdistricts Towns Townships Ethnic townships Residential communities Villages 340100 Hefei 合肥市 Héféi Shì 11434.25 Shushan District 230000 45 65 19 1 736 1102 340102 Yaohai District 瑶海区 Yáohǎi Qū 142.90 Mingguang Road Subdistrict (明光路街道) 230000 13 2 1 118 18 340103 Luyang District 庐阳区 Lúyáng Qū 139.32 Bozhou Road Subdistrict (亳州路街道) 230000 11 1 84 14 340104 Shushan District 蜀山区 Shǔshān Qū 261.36 Sanli'an Subdistrict (三里庵街道) 230000 8 2 92 17 340111 Baohe District 包河区 Bāohé Qū 294.94 Luogang Subdistrict (骆岗街道) 230000 7 2 77 38 340121 Changfeng County 长丰县 Chángfēng Xiàn 1928.45 Shuihu (水湖镇) 231100 8 6 80 193 340122 Feidong County 肥东县 Féidōng Xiàn 2205.92 Dianbu (店埠镇) 231600 10 4 95 249 340123 Feixi County 肥西县 Féixī Xiàn 2082.66 Shangpai (上派镇) 231200 12 6 1 90 241 340124 Lujiang County 庐江县 Lújiāng Xiàn 2347.48 Lucheng (庐城镇) 231500 17 38 194 340181 Chaohu 巢湖市 Cháohú Shì 2031.22 Woniushan Subdistrict (卧牛山街道) 238000 6 11 1 62 138

[edit] Swan Lake CBD area As of 2021, the GDP of Hefei is CN¥1,141.28 billion. The GDP per capita of the city is ¥121,187 (US$18,784), ranking within the top 20 of cities in China. As of 2023, the GDP of Hefei is CN¥1,267.38 billion. Investments and state-owned enterprises[edit] Hefei's city government is highly engaged in business, both through state-owned enterprises and investment.: 128  This approach has helped drive economic growth and re-structure the cities economic base.: 128  In 2008, the local government spent US$3.5 billion for a controlling ownership stake in BOE Technology (Jingdongfang).: 185  BOE Technology subsequently grew to be one of the world's leading manufacturers of semiconductor products for telecommunications.: 185  It is also the world's largest manufacturer of liquid crystal displays, organic light-emitting diodes, and flexible displays.: 128  As of at least 2024, BOE has three production lines in Hefei, and its presence has helped Hefei attract further business in the electronics supply chain and contributed to Hefei's development as one of the main centers for the optoelectronic industry in China.: 121  In 2008, Hefei invested heavily in iFlytek, a voice-recognition technology firm spun off from USTC.: 128  The local government invested heavily in NIO in order to integrate it with Hefei Changan Automobile, a legacy enterprise from the Third Front construction.: 185  NIO was on the brink of bankruptcy in 2020 when Hefei obtained a 25% stake in the company in exchange for RMB 7 billion.: 101  NIO moved its headquarters to Hefei, where the government helped it obtain loans from local banks to expand its supply chains.: 101  As of 2022, NIO is China's most successful electric vehicle manufacturer.: 184  Analysis of growth[edit] Hefei has been identified by the Economist Intelligence Unit in the November 2010 Access China White Paper as a member of the CHAMPS (Chongqing, Hefei, Anshan, Ma'anshan, Pingdingshan and Shenyang), an economic profile of the top 20 emerging cities in China. Hefei was identified by The Economist in December 2012 as the world's No.1 fastest growing metropolitan economy. Hefei has supported the growth of the chip industry in the city and has become one of the biggest sites for the manufacture of memory chips (DRAM).: 141–142 

[edit] Hefei South Railway StationHefei has been the provincial capital since 1945 (before it was Lihuang, which is today's Jinzhai) and is a natural center of transportation, being situated to the north of Chao Lake and standing on a low saddle crossing the northeastern extension of the Dabie Mountains, which form the divide between the Huai and Yangtze rivers. From Hefei there is easy water transport via the lake to the Yangtze River opposite Wuhu. Rail[edit] There are two main train stations in Hefei. The newest one is Hefei South railway station (Hefeinan station, 合肥火车南站) where most high-speed trains pass through. The alternative station is Hefei railway station (合肥火车站) which is smaller and older. There are some small stations such as Feidong Station (肥东火车站), Feixi Station (肥西火车站), Shuijiahu Station (水家湖火车站), Chaohu Station (巢湖火车站), Chaohu East railway station (Chaohudong station; 巢湖火车东站), Hefeibeicheng Station (Hefei Northtown Station 合肥北城火车站), Lujiang Station (庐江火车站) and so on. These stations are mostly located in small towns and connect commuters with the main city. Air[edit] Hefei Xinqiao International Airport replaced the old Hefei Luogang International Airport and started its operation on 30 May 2013, 00:00. This new domestic aviation hub is located in Gaoliu Village situated in the northwestern part of Hefei City. The first arriving flight was China Eastern Airlines flight MU5172 from Beijing Capital International Airport. The first departing flight was China Eastern Airlines MU5468 to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Hefei Xinqiao International Airport provides scheduled passenger service to major airports in China and other international cities. Destinations include Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Taipei (Taoyuan, Songshan), Kaohsiung, Taichung, Seoul, Cheongju, Yangyang, Jeju, Osaka, Nagoya, Shizuoka, Okayama, Boracay Island, Bali Island, Frankfurt, Siem Reap, Bangkok, Phuket Island and Krabi Island. Subway[edit] Main article: Hefei Metro Entrance to Hefei South Railway South Square Station Hefei Metro is a rapid transit rail network under construction that will eventually serve both urban and rural areas of Hefei. As planned, Line 1 covers a total distance of 24 kilometres (15 miles) starting from Hefei Railway Station. It was inaugurated in December 2016. In February 2013, Metro Line 2 also began its construction. It is being built alongside the Changjiang Dong Road, Changjiang Zhong Road and Changjiang Xi Road, which is a major passenger corridor in the east–west direction. It will pass through the city center area and connect to a transit point where passengers will be able to take the shuttle bus to Hefei Xinqiao International Airport. The Line 2 was opened on 26 December 2017. In November 2015, Metro Line 3 construction began. Line 3 was opened on 26 December 2019. Line 3 connects the New Station Exploitative-experimental Zone and the Economic Technology Development District, from the vocational education town to the university town. In 2016, Metro Line 4 construction began and was subsequently opened on 26 December 2021. Line 4 connects the New Station Exploitative-experimental Zone and the High Technology Development District. In 2017, Metro Line 5 construction began. The south part of Line 5 was opened on 26 December 2020. Line 5 connects Binhu New District and the Beicheng (North city) New District. The north part of Line 5 is expected to open at the end of 2022. Alongside Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4 and Line 5, Hefei is also planning to build other 12 metro lines, 4 lines of intra-metropolitan rail transit (to Lu'an, Huainan, Lujiang and Chaohu) and 3 lines of tram and hopefully accomplish the project by 2030.[citation needed] Bus[edit] There is an extensive public bus system in the city, including eight bus rapid transit lines. There are several commuter lines which only run at designated time or having a large interval.

[edit] An older (c.2007) view of University of Science and Technology of China, including the Teaching Building II and the old library (now an administrative building)Hefei is a leading world city for scientific research, ranking at 12th globally, 8th in the Asia-Pacific, and 7th in China (behind Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Hangzhou), as tracked by the Nature Index in 2025. Hefei was one of the four national science centers identified in China's 14th Five-Year Plan. Hefei plays an important role in scientific research in China. It has seven national laboratories, second only to Beijing: The National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (Chinese: 国家同步辐射实验室; pinyin: Guójiā tóngbù fúshè shíyàn shì), the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale (Chinese: 微尺度物质科学国家实验室; pinyin: Wēi chǐdù wùzhí kēxué guójiā shíyàn shì), both of which are under the University of Science and Technology of China. It also has the Institute of Solid State Physics, Institute of Plasma Physics, Institute of Intelligent Machines, High Magnetic Field Laboratory (founded in 2008), Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, all of which are under the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science which belongs to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Hefei is the location of Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, an experimental superconducting tokamak magnetic fusion energy reactor. The No. 105 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, located in Hefei, is reportedly the site of the first human trials using CRISPR genome editing, doing so in 2015. As of 2017, Hefei had 60 universities and more than 564 research institutes. The city is represented by several major universities, including the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui University, Anhui Agricultural University and Anhui Medical University. Notably, the University of Science and Technology of China is one of the top 100th comprehensive public research universities in the world. University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) Hefei University of Technology (HFUT) Anhui University (AHU) Anhui Agricultural University (AHAU) Anhui Medical University (AHMU) Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (AUCM) Anhui Jianzhu University (AHJU) Hefei Normal University (HNU) Hefei University (HU) Beihang University (BUAA) – Hefei Campus National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) – 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

[edit] Yicheng Prison is located within the city. It was built during the 1983 "Strike Hard" campaign and was formerly Hefei Zhenxing Machine Parts Factory. On 15 June 1984, the Prov. Justice Dept. decided to change the name of the Machine Parts Factory's Internal Dept. to the Prov. Independent LRC. On 17 March 1986, the city's Party Committee and government agreed to the change. On 26 April more than 400 inmates were transferred to Hefei Shangzhangwei Farm and Baihu Farm. In February 1992 a secondary country level prison was created at the Shangzhangwei Farm. In August 1992 the Hefei City LRD level was upgraded by the government. In June 1996 the prison was changed to its present name. It is currently controlled by Hefei city. It mainly houses prisoners with sentences of less than five years and houses up to 1000 prisoners a year. In the past 20 years, nearly 20,000 inmates have completed their sentences here. The prison mainly cultivates vegetables and rice but also cooperates with the Zhejiang Rongguang Group and produces soccer training shoes, soccer balls, tourism products, and other products.

[edit] Hefei had its own football team called Anhui Jiufang, who in the 2007–08 season were promoted from the Chinese Football Association Yi League to the Chinese Football Association Jia League which is the second highest tier of Chinese football. It was acquired by Tianjin Runyulong in 2011.

[edit] Former Residence of Li Hongzhang Hefei Olympic Sports Center Stadium Hefei Grand Theatre Chao Lake, is the largest lake in Anhui and one of the five major freshwater lakes in China. Sanhe Town, ancient town which has a history of more than 2,500 years. Xiaoyaojin Park, a public park sitting on the ancient site of the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford. Temple of Lord Bao, built in 1066 near the tomb of Lord Bao. Li Hongzhang's Former Residence (Chinese: 李鸿章故居; pinyin: Lǐhóngzhāng gùjū), built in the late 19th century and fully restored by the 1990s. Hui Garden (Chinese: 徽园; pinyin: Huī yuán) (Opened to the public in September 2001) Children's Welfare Institute (a.k.a. "Social Welfare Institute"), children's orphanage Anhui Laomingguang Stadium, the home ground of Anhui Jiufang, but also used for other public sporting events. Hefei Olympic Sports Center Stadium, football stadium with a capacity of 60,000 people Hefei Grand Theatre, opera house

[edit] Bao Zheng (999–1062), Northern Song dynasty bureaucrat and judge whose name has become synonymous with judicial wisdom and uprightness. Li Hongzhang (1823–1901), prominent late Qing dynasty bureaucrat and diplomat. Liu Mingchuan (1836–1896), statesman during the late Qing dynasty, first governor of Taiwan. Duan Qirui (1865–1936), the Provisional Chief Executive of Republic of China (in Beijing) from 24 November 1924, to 20 April 1926. Susan Wu Rathbone (1921–2019), community leader in Queens, New York. Yang Chen-Ning, (1922–2025), 1957 Nobel Physics Prize laureate, for their work on parity nonconservation of weak interaction. One of the two earliest Chinese to receive the prize. Wu Bangguo (b. 1941), Chinese politician. Li Keqiang (1955–2023), Premier of China 2013–2023. Yang Yuanqing (b. 1964), Chairman of Board of Lenovo. Han Qizhi, (b. 1970), first person to climb the Jin Mao Tower, then the tallest building in China. Jin Jing (b. 1981), Paralympic fencer. Xu Song (b. 1986), Chinese singer. Chen Xiao (b. 1987), actor. Yang Yang (b. 1991), actor. Hu Bingqing (b. 1992), actress.

[edit] 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)