Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, located in the central region of China between Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers and near Chaohu Lake. It possesses a strategically important location easily accessible from all directions of the country, and it connects the vast area of Central China.
Hefei, well known both at home and abroad as “a historic site famous from the Three Kingdoms Period and the hometown of Lord Bao”, is a city with a history of more than 2000 years. Since the later Eastern Han Dynasty, it had been made governance site several times of the local government as a county or prefecture, constantly an important administration center and a crucial military stronghold in the region between Huaihe River and Yangtze River.
The name of “Hefei” first appeared in the Collected Biographies of Merchants under the Historical Records written by Sima Qian, a famous writer and historiographer in Chinese history. It goes like: Hefei, impacted economically from both north and south, was a collection and distribution center for furs, leather, aquatic products and timber. Between Qin and Han Dynasties, it was chartered as Hefei County, coming under the jurisdiction of Jiujiang Prefecture. Liu Xiu, an emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, upgraded Hefei to be a Kingdom. By the Three Kingdoms Period, Hefei was the seat of the government of Yangzhou Prefecture. Then between Ming and Qing Dynasties, it became the seat of the government of Luzhou Prefecture. Hence Hefei came to be also known as Luzhou.
Hefei city is one of the important railway hubs of China. Transportation by waterway can enter into the Yangtse River through Nanfei River; Highway and airway communications are very convenient. Since the opening-up and reform, Hefei has entered a fast track for its economic and social development. Its GDP has grown at a two-digit rate for more 20 years, resulting in a constant increase in its economic comprehensive strength.
