Anhui

Map

Key data

Items shown in Chinese are kept from the original Chinese source; no English name is available yet.

Highlights

Introduction

• Huangshan's granite peaks, Hongcun ancient village and rich Hui cuisine.

History

• History: Anhui lies at the strategic junction of the Yangtze and Huai rivers and has been a crossroads of north-south transport and culture since ancient times. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the area belonged to the states of Wu and Chu, leaving traces of the blending of Wu-Yue and Chu cultures. In the Qin dynasty, commanderies and counties were established, and from the Han dynasty onward the region's culture flourished. Since the Song dynasty, Huizhou merchants rose to prominence, traveling throughout the country and forming the far-reaching Huizhou merchant culture. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, academic schools such as the Tongcheng School emerged here, and literary culture thrived. In modern times, Anhui also produced many outstanding figures who drove social change in China, making important contributions to China's modernization.

Culture

• Culture: Hui culture is the most representative of Anhui culture. Multiple dialects, including Mandarin, Gan, Wu, and Hui, are used within the province, giving it a strong regional character. Hui-style architecture, known for its white walls, black tiles, horse-head walls, and exquisite brick, wood, and stone carvings, is renowned at home and abroad. Ancient villages such as Hongcun and Xidi are listed as World Cultural Heritage sites. In terms of cuisine, Hui cuisine is one of China's eight great culinary traditions, emphasizing heat control and rich flavors; signature dishes such as stinky mandarin fish and hairy tofu have a distinctive taste. Huangmei opera is melodious and much loved by the people, while stationery items such as Hui ink, She inkstones, and Xuan paper carry the essence of traditional Chinese culture.

Science & Technology

• Science and Technology: Anhui has shown outstanding performance in scientific and technological innovation in recent years. Its capital, Hefei, is home to well-known universities such as the University of Science and Technology of China, as well as major scientific facilities such as a synchrotron radiation light source, and its basic research strength ranks among the top in the country. The province has achieved a series of important results in fields such as quantum information, artificial intelligence, new energy vehicles, and new displays, and Hefei is accelerating the construction of a comprehensive national science center. Scientific and technological innovation is driving Anhui's transformation from a traditional agricultural province into a strong province of advanced manufacturing and modern industry, and the high-tech industrial belt is rapidly extending along Hefei, Wuhu, Bengbu, and other places.

Economy

• Economy: Anhui's economy has maintained rapid growth in recent years, with its GDP reaching 5,298.9 billion yuan in 2025. The province's pillar industries include automobile manufacturing, electronic information, home appliances, and new materials. Hefei's integrated chip, display, automobile, and home appliance industrial cluster is nationally renowned, while cities such as Wuhu and Bengbu have a solid manufacturing base. Meanwhile, as a major agricultural province, Anhui has stable grain production, and the Northern Anhui Plain is an important commercial grain base. With the transfer of industries and regional integration, Anhui's locational advantages are increasingly evident, and it is accelerating its integration into the broader pattern of coordinated development.