Anhui

Anhui, also Anhwei, province in eastern China, comprising the broad alluvial lowland of the flood-prone Huai River in the north, the intensively cultivated alluvial lowlands along the Yangtze River in the south, and a rugged, hilly area in the extreme south. Chief crops are wheat and cotton in the north, rice and silk in the Yangtze lowlands, and tea in the southern upland areas. Fish culture is important. Rich iron-ore deposits support a large iron- and steel-manufacturing complex at Ma'anshan. Coal and copper are mined. Major cities are the capital, Hefei; Huainan; Bengbu; Anqing; and Wuhu.

Once part of the ancient southern state of Chu, the region that is now Anhui was absorbed into China during the Qin (Ch’in) dynasty (221-206 bc). It was made a separate province in ad1667. The Huang He (also known as the Yellow River) flowed through Anhui until it changed course to the north in 1852. The river was deliberately diverted to Anhui in 1938 by the Nationalist government, which hoped the resulting flood would halt the Japanese invasion. This act resulted in a tremendous loss of lives. Area, about 139,900 sq km (about 54,000 sq mi); population 64,100,000 (2003 estimate).