Anhui Province in Brief
Anhui is located in the mid-east part of China with easy access to rivers and seas. It covers an area of 139,400 km² and has a population of 68.62 million. It occupies the nation’s strategically important location of economic development and adjoins the economically developed areas. Its unique geographical condition provides Anhui with an advantageous condition for further development.
1. Advantageous geographic location and convenient transportation. Located in the deep hinterland of the Yangtze River Delta, the most dynamic development region in China, Anhui is not only the front zone to carry on the economic radiation and the industrial transition from the coastal advanced regions, but also the bridgehead for China to implement the west development policy and the Middle Rise development strategy. It really enjoys the unique geographic advantage of connecting the east with the west and the south with the north. With the capital city Hefei in the center and within 500-km distance, there is an accumulation of big cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing and Wuhan, a population of almost 500 million and 40% of the national GDP. Anhui is creating a three-dimensional transportation system which is made up of the expressways, high-speed railways, navigable inland channels and international airports.
2. Beautiful landscape and splendid history and culture. Anhui enjoys warm and humid climate with four distinctive seasons, suitable for human inhabitation. The fascinating land has not only promised the charming natural landscape, but also developed the human landscape of Buddhism, Taoism and Huizhou Culture with the most Chinese characteristics. Huangshan Mountain, Xidi and Hongcun ancient dwelling house clusters in Yixian County have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Huangshan Mountain is crowned with three laurels of World Cultural Heritage, Natural Heritage and World Geological Park. Anhui enjoys a long history and culture. Lao Zi’s Taoist school, which was born in Huaihe River region, is one of the two Chinese pillar traditional cultures. Huangmei Opera is one of the four Chinese dramas.
The Flower-Drum dancing along the Huaihe River banks is honored with the Oriental Ballet. Anhui has produced many famous talents in different times and fields.
3. Abundant natural resources and developed characteristic industries. Anhui is endowed with fertile land and plentiful species. It is one of China’s key production bases for agriculture, forestry and animal products. The three water systems of Yangtze River, Huaihe River and Xin’an River and one of the state five fresh water lakes, Chaohu Lake, have provided Anhui with plenty of water resources. Anhui also enjoys various and massive mineral resources, with 138 minerals having been discovered and the reserves of 11 minerals being the top ten. The sci-tech resources are also distinctively advantageous. There are more than 158 provincial-level or above scientific institutions, 110 colleges and universities, 4 national-level large scientific projects and 43 key provincial-level or ministerial-level laboratories. The provincial capital city Hefei is the only one technological innovation pioneer city in the country and a city with the most intensive large scientific projects only except Beijing. On the basis of the advantaged natural resources, sci-tech resources and human resources, Anhui is developing into the key nationwide energy resources and raw material base and the modern equipment, manufacture and hi-tech industry base.
4. Superior investment environment and great development potential. The land price and the labor cost in Anhui are relatively cheap.
The employment cost is less than 70% of that in the coastal area and the comprehensive commercial cost is only about a half of that in the coastal area. Anhui has always adopted the positive and incentive policy on the foreign investment. By means of the top-down efficiency revolution in government departments, it is to simplify the procedure of the examination and approval, strengthen the promotion of policies, create a kind of open, fair, high efficient and uncorrupted government affair environment for investors, and attract foreign investment by means of combined environment advantages.
