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Basics

Area 139,000 square km
Population 59.68 million (2011)
Capital City Hefei

Geography

Anhui Province is situated in the north-western part of eastern China, extending across Changjiang (Yangtze) River and he Huaihe River valleys. The total area of the Province is over 139,000 square kilometres with a population of 60 million (2007), including the Han, Hui, She and other nationalities. Hefei is its provincial capital.

Climate

Anhui Province has a mild monsoon climate with ample rainfall. It has four distinctive seasons in a year. The average monthly temperature of January, the coldest month, is between -1°C (30.2°F) and 4°C (39.2°F) while that of July, hottest month, is between 27°C (80.6°F) and 29°C (84.2°F). Dabieshan Mountains and Mt. Huangshan are two main rain areas. There are great yearly variations of rainfall in the northern part of the Province, consequently the frequent occurrences of drought in springs and floods in summer season. The average annual rainfall of Anhui is 750mm-1700mm.

Brief History of Anhui

During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-1476 BC), Wu and Chu Kingdom were established in today’s Anhui Province. As early as the Three Kingdom, Tang and Song Dynasties, agriculture and handicraft industries in Anhui area already occupied an important position in the national economy. But in the old China, the beautiful and richly endowed Anhui Province was afflicted with all ills and reduced to ruins because of the corrupt and decadent rule of the successive reactionary ruling classes in history. Now great changes have taken place in both the urban and rural areas.

Anhui Local Cuisine

The Anhui cuisine consists of three local specialities: Wannan, Yanjiang and Yanhuai. Wannan speciality is known for its making delicacies from land or mountains, good at stewing, braising and terperature control. The dishes so prepared maintain the original freshness and flavour, being usually greasy but generous in portions. One of the well-known dishes is Salted Trout Fish. Yanjiang speciality is represented by the cuisine of the cities of Wuhu and Anqing. It specializes in cooking freshwater fish and poultry, is good at chopping techniques, shaping and colouring. Frequent use of sweetening and smoking technique are two other distinctive features. One of the well-known dishes is Wuhu Smoked Chicken. Yanhuai cuisine consists of local flavours from Bengbu city,Suxian Country, Fuyang, etc. Dishes are usually salty and slightly hot by using different spices and seasoning and soup is usually thick. Fuliji Braised Chicken, one of the famous delicacies, uses 13 different spices and herbs and has a rich aroma and excellent taste.

Anhui Local Products

Anhui is one of the principal tea producing areas in China. The well- known varieties are Qimen Black, Tunxi Green Tea, Mt. Huangshan Maofeng Tea, Liu’an Guapian Tea, etc. Popular fruits of the Province are Xuanchang candied dates, Mt. Dangshan soft pear, Huizhou pear,Huaiyuan pomegranate, Xiaoxian grapes etc. The Province is also known for some good quality herbs of the traditional Chinese medicine, i.e. the stems of noble dendrobium of Mt. Huoshan, the Chuxian chrysanthemum, the roots of herbaceous peony of Haoxian Country, etc. The Gujing (Ancient Well) liquor brewed at Boxian Country, one of the eight best wines and liquors of China, is known for its fragrance and lingering aftertaste, therefore very popular among both the Chinese and foreign drinkers. The traditional handicrafts of the Province are Shexian Country’s Hui Ink Stick, Shexian Country’s Ink Slabs, and Xuan Paper of Jingxian Country. Some more are the bamboo mats made in Shucheng and Qianshan and the iron pictures made in Wuhu.

Anhui Places of Interests and Tourist Attractions

The following cities and scenic areas are open to international tourists: Hefei city, Wuhu city, Ma’anshan city, Mt. Jiuhua, Mt. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) tourists resort are, Bengbu city, Tunxi city, etc. among which Mt. Huangshan and Mt. Jiuhua have been listed as China’s key reserve areas of scenic spots.

Mt. Huangshan, famed as “No. 1 Mountain under Heaven,” has 72 named peaks in the reserve area of 154 square kilometers, among which the Lotus Flower Peak, the Bright Top and Celestial Capital Peak are all over 1,800 meters above sea level.

Ever since ancient time, numerous tourists have flocked here for their natural beauties and nature’s wonders. Consequently they are fascinated by the “Four Marvels” of Mt. Huangshan--- fantastic pines, grotesque rocks, hot springs and the sea of clouds. Mt. Jiuhua is one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China, enjoying the fame of “Fairyland of Buddhism”.

In the scenic area covering 100 square kilometers, there are 99 peaks, the formation of which resembles a lotus flower. There, one will enjoy numerous known or unknown scenic spots, sites of historical interest, and lakes and rivers against the background of green mountains, thus winning for itself the fame of “No. 1 Mountain in the Southeast”.

Hefei, the provincial capital, not only serves as the province’s political, economic and cultural centre, but also many places of historical interest and scenic beauties, one of which is the Temple of Lord Baogong that was built in memory of Bao Zheng of the Song Dynasty, a noble man of high integrity.

The script “Xian Xue Ji Bei” (a record of country events inscribed on a stone table) by the famous Song Dynasty calligrapher Mi Fu, now well preserved in Wuhu city, is a valuable piece of ancient calligraphy with forceful strokes and exquisite carving. Another spot of nature’s beauty is Caishiji (Rock of Varied Colours) of Ma’anshan city. There one will find sheer precipice and overhanging rocks standing out of the river and towering mountains, green bamboo and sturdy pines.

Tunxi is an age old market town of the native produce in Huizhou hilly regions where ones will have the privilege of visting tea processing workshops, Hui Ink Stick factories, she Inklab factories. There, famous Anhui teas, the four treasures of the study (Chinese writing brush, ink stick, inkslab and paper), exquisite handicrafts and native produce are always on sale.