Major Economic indicators (2007)
| Land Area |
7029.5 km2
|
|
Population
|
4.6 million
|
|
GDP
|
RMB 133.4 billion (US$17.7 billion), 18.1% up
|
|
GDP Composition
|
|
Primary Industry (Agriculture)
|
6.0%
|
|
Secondary Industry
(Industry & Construction)
|
48.8%
|
|
Tertiary Industry (Service)
|
45.2%
|
|
GDP Per Capita
|
RMB 28,125 (US$3,739)
|
|
Unemployment Rate
|
N.A.
|
|
Fixed Asset Investment
|
RMB 131.0 billion, 58.9% up
|
|
Utilized FDI
|
US$1.0 billion, 40.2% up
|
|
Total Import & Export
|
US$6.3 billion, 28.2% up
|
|
Export
|
US$4.3 billion, 26.3% up
|
|
Import
|
US$2.0 billion, 32.6% up
|
|
Sales of Consumer Goods
|
RMB 46.9 billion, 22.0% up
|
Source: Hefei Economic and Social Development Report 2007
Introduction
Hefei is the capital of Anhui province, which also serves as the political, economic, financial, and commercial hub of the province. It lies between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, with Chaohu Lake in the south. Hefei covers an administrative area of 7029.5 km2. The city has three counties and four districts under its jurisdiction, and had a population of 4.6 million by the end of 2007 (2.0 million were from urban areas).
Hefei is an ancient city with a history spanning over 2,000 years. It is named the “City of Science and Education” due to its top universities. University of Science and Technology of China, one of the top universities in the counties, is located in Hefei. The city is within two hours' flight-time from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Economic Features
As a key city in the government's new proposed plan for expansion of the Yangtze River Delta, Hefei is playing an important role in linking central China with coastal regions. Yangtze River Delta is the economic growth engine of the country. The region contributed to about 50% of China's GDP in 2007.
In 2007, Hefei's GDP amounted to RMB 133.4 billion, ranking first in the province. GDP per capita reached RMB 28,125. Hefei's economy is growing rapidly, led by its eight pillar industries - automobiles, equipment manufacturing, electronic appliances, chemicals, new materials, IT, biological technology & medicine, and food processing. The added value of these eight pillar industries accounted for 71.7% of Hefei's total in 2007.
The services sector also plays an important role in Hefei's economic development. In 2007, it represented over 45% of Hefei's GDP while the primary industry grew only slightly.
As the most developed city in Anhui, Hefei has attracted the most foreign investment. In 2007, utilized FDI rose 140.2% from the year before and 121 new foreign-funded enterprises were set up in Hefei with an investment of US$1.7 billion. The foreign trade totaled US$6.3 billion in 2007 - an increase of 28.2%, of which export volume was US$4.3 billion with an increase of 26.3%. Import volume was US$2.0 billion with an increase of 32.6%.
Cultural Highlights
Historically, Hefei was known as “Luzhou” and was first officially established as a county during the Qin Dynasty (248-206BC). Since the later Eastern Han Dynasty, it has been an important battlefield and a crucial military stronghold in the region between Huai River and Yangtze River. One of the key universities in the country, the University of Science and Technology of China, is located in Hefei.
Tourist Attraction
Hefei has a number of historical sites and natural scenery. Xiaoyaojin Park, a famous and historic park, is located in the northeast of Hefei. Tourists visiting Hefei may also travel to Mt. Huang Scenic Area and Chao Lake. Hefei, a transshipment station to the Mount Huang Scenic Area, is about a 6 hours drive from Mt. Huang.
Local products include feathered fans, Chaohu whitebait, hairy crabs, tiger-skin, cumquat-shaped yolk egg, bamboo carvings, etc. A variety of the province's famed handicraft products can also be found easily in the capital. These range from Xuan paper from Jingxian, and Hui ink-sticks and She ink-slabs from Shexian, to iron pictures from Wuhu and Fengyang paintings, etc.
Major Development Zones
By 2007, Hefei had two state-level development zones. The area and pillar industries of these two zones are presented in the table as follows.
|
Name
|
Area (km2)
|
Pillar Industries
|
GDP in 2007 (RMB billion)
|
|
Hefei Economic & Technological Development Zone
|
78
|
Household electronics, automobiles, equipment manufacturing, chemical engineering and food processing.
|
26.0
|
|
Hefei High-Tech Park
|
40
|
IT, Bio-engineering and medicine, new materials, advanced machinery, and optical-mechanical-electronic integration.
|
10.9 (Industrial added-value, in 2006)
|
Source: State Development and Reform Commission of P.R. China
Honors
- Low Investment Cost City in China (2007)
--- Forbes
- China's Service Outsourcing Base (2007)
--- Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology of P.R China
- China Top 50 Investment Environment City (2006)
--- National Bureau of Statistic of China
- Significant Investment Potential City in China for MNCs (2006),
--- Institute of Industrial Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
