Major Economic indicators (2007)
| Land Area |
12,340 km2
|
|
Population
|
2.8 million
|
|
GDP
|
RMB 33.7 billion (US$4.5 billion), 14.1% up
|
|
GDP Composition
|
|
Primary Industry (Agriculture)
|
19.5%
|
|
Secondary Industry
(Industry & Construction)
|
39.9%
|
|
Tertiary Industry(Service)
|
40.6%
|
|
GDP Per Capita
|
RMB 13,051 (US$1,735)
|
|
Unemployment Rate
|
3.3%
|
|
Fixed Asset Investment
|
RMB 29.3 billion (US$3.9 billion), 52.2% up
|
|
Utilized FDI
|
US$106.9 million, 26.7% up
|
|
Total Import & Export
|
US$378.8 million, 34.6% up
|
|
Export
|
US$329.7 million, 34.3% up
|
|
Import
|
US$49.1 million
|
|
Sales of Consumer Goods
|
RMB 11.4 billion (US$1.5 billion), 17.2% up
|
Source: Xuancheng Economic and Social Development Report 2007
Introduction
Xuancheng is seated in the southeastern part of Anhui Province. It is adjacent to Huangshan to the south, Chizhou to the west, Wuhu to the north, Zhejiang Province to the southeast and Jiangsu Province to the southeast. It covers an area of 12,340 sq km, occupying 8.9% of Anhui's total land area. It has a subtropical humid monsoon climate, with four distinct seasons and plentiful rainfall. The rainy season usually lasts from mid-June to early July.
The city is famous for Xuan Paper, Xuan Writing Brushes and Hui Ink. The city's famous bamboo forest, covering an area of 930 sq km, is the largest one in Anhui Province. The city is rich in limestone, especially the type that is used for cement. The total limestone reserves in the city exceed 16 billion tons.
Xuancheng has convenient railway and highway transportation, with the Wangan Railway (connecting Anhui Province and Jiangxi Province), the Xuancheng-Hangzhou Railway, State Highway and State Highway 205 running through the city.
Economic Features
Xuancheng's economy is relatively small in Anhui Province. In 2007, the city's GDP paced up 14.1% from a year earlier to RMB 33.7 billion, ranking thirteenth among the 17 prefecture-level cities in Anhui.
The agricultural sector, with value-added output of RMB 6.6 billion in 2007, comprised 19.5% of the city's economy. The value-added output from the industrial sector and the service sector rose 20.5% and 12.1% year on year to RMB 13.4 billion and RMB 13.7 billion in 2007, contributing 39.9% and 40.6% to the city's economy.
The value-added industrial output from the enterprises with designated size and above amounted to RMB 8.6 billion in 2007, with a sharp rise of 33.5% from the previous year. However, the industrial sector is still weak. It only accounted for 3.6% of Anhui's total value-added industrial output.
Heavy industry maintains a dominant position. The value-added industrial output from heavy industry rose 31.4% year on year to RMB 6.4 billion, while that from light industry was increased by 40.1% to RMB 2.2 billion. Heavy industry and light industry made up 74.8% and 25.2% of the city's total value-added industrial output. Petrochemicals, non-ferrous metallurgy, construction materials, paper making and agricultural products processing are the major industries in the city.
The city hosts diverse activities to boost the development of the tourism industry, such as the tea festival, the tourism festival and Yuanzu festival (Yuanzu is a kind of bamboo). In 2007, the number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting the city soared 34% and 27% to 4.4 million and 12,890, respectively. The tourism income amounted to RMB 2.6 billion, featuring a sharp rise of 41% from the previous year.
Foreign trade value in the city totaled US$378.8 million in 2007, with an increase of 34.6% year on year. The export value surpassed US$329.7 million, up 34.4% year on year. Paper and bamboo products are the major export products in the city. Xuancheng exports its goods mostly to nations and regions in Asia.
In 2007, 43 foreign-funded companies won approval to set up business in Xuancheng, and foreign investments added up to US$225.9 million. The utilized FDI in the city reached US$106.9 million, up 26.7% compared with the previous year.
Cultural Highlights
Xuancheng's history extends back to the Spring-and-Autumn Period (770BC-403BC), when it was called Yuanling and was home to the Yue Tribe. In BC109, Danyang Shire was established in the region. Xuancheng got its current name during the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618). Xuan Paper, fine and soft in texture, was first produced in the region during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). It is the most famous and popular kind of Chinese paper. Xucheng is famous for Hui Culture. Hui Culture, also known as Huizhou Culture, which dominated Ancient Huizhou, consists of Xin'an philosophy, Hui-style Architecture, Hui Cuisine, Xin'an painting, and Xin'an craftworks.
Tourist Attractions
The best place to get insight into the Hui culture is Zhaji Village in Jing County. It is an ancient town famous for Hui-style architecture, Hui ink and Hui Cuisine. It contains over 300 old houses of the Ming (AD1368-1644) and Qing (AD1644-1911) styles. Jingting Mountain, located in the northern part of Xuancheng, was many times praised for its beautiful scenery by great literary figures, such as the great poets Li Bai and Du Mu, in their works. People traveling in the city should also visit Ancestral Temple of the Hu Family, Zhangshan Grand Canyon and Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve.
Xuancheng is not only famous for Xuan Paper, Hui Ink and Xuan Writing Brush, but also reputed for the delicate local snacks in the city. The most popular local snacks are Sesame Crispy Sweeties (made of mashed sesame and sugar), Fu Ling Rose Crispy Cake (made of sesame, rose and flour) and Ji Xi Vegetable Cake (a kind of rice cake).
