Major Economic indicators (2007)

Source: Bozhou Economic and Social Development Report 2007

Introduction

Bozhou, a national historical and cultural city in China, lies in the northwestern part of Anhui Province. It is reputed in China for its 3,000-year history and abundant cultural landmarks. The city is adjacent to Henan Province to the northwest, Fuyang to the southwest, Huaibei and Bengbu to the east, and Huainan to the southeast.

Situated in the south end of the Huanghuai Plain, the city has a semi-humid temperate monsoon climate, with rich rainfalls and sunlight. Bozhou is a Chinese medicinal herb planting base in China. The white peony root output in Bozhou accounts for over 50% of China's total. The city enjoys plentiful coal resources. The proven coal reserves in the city exceed 3.5 billion tons, ranking third in Anhui after Huaibei and Huainan.

Bozhou is easily accessible. The Beijing-Kowloon Railway runs through the city. State Highway 311, State Highway 105 and State Highway 307 intersect in the city, linking the city with major cities in China.

There are 2 colleges and 29 vocational schools in Bozhou. The number of enrolled students at the college and vocational schools reached 6,067 and 46,800 in 2007, ensuring the supply of skilled workers.

Economic Features

Bozhou's economy is the sixth smallest among the 17 prefecture-level cities in Anhui Province. In 2007, the city's GDP rose 12.1% from a year earlier to RMB 34.3 billion, comprising 4.7% of Anhui's GDP. The primary industry, secondary industry and tertiary industry made up 31.6%, 28.2% and 40.2% of the city's economy, respectively.

In 2007, the agricultural sector realized value-added output of RMB 10.8 billion, up 5.4% compared with the previous year. It accounted for 8.9% of Anhui's total value-added output from the agricultural sector. The output of medicinal herbs in the city reached 121,995 tons, taking up 42.1% of Anhui's total.

The value-added industrial output from the enterprises with designated size and above rose 31.1% year on year to RMB 4.6 billion, comprising 62.2% of the city's total value-added industrial output and contributing 13.4% to the city's GDP. Pharmaceuticals, agricultural products processing, food and beverages, chemicals, coal mining and dressing, and electricity production and supply are the major industries in the city. They had a combined value-added industrial output of RMB 3.9 billion and accounted for 83.6% of the city's total.

Gujing Group<000596> and Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical (Bozhou) are the major industrial enterprises in the city. Gujing Group, listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 1996, is the first listed distilled-liquor maker in China. It was set up in 1959. In 2008, the group's revenue hit RMB 2.3 billion. Gu Jing Gong Jiu, its major product, has a history of over 1,800 years.

Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical, set up in 1992 in Guangzhou, is a leading pharmaceuticals maker and supplier in China. It established Guangzhou Baiyuanshan Pharmaceutical (Bozhou) in 2002 with total investments of around RMB 80 million. The Bozhou unit is expected to bring annual sales of RMB 180 million upon completion.

The service sector, the main sector in the city, gained value-added output of RMB 13.8 billion in 2007, 12.1% more than in the previous year. The logistics sector realized value-added output of RMB 2.9 billion, accounting for 21% of the city's total value-added output from the service sector. In 2007, road freight in the city hit 21.3 million tons, nearly one fourth of Anhui's total. The tourism industry was also booming in 2007. Tourism income surpassed RMB 910 million, rising 29.3% year on year.

The foreign trade value in the city rose 71.2% year on year to US$70.5 million in 2007, consisting of export value of US$53.2 million and import value of US$17.3 million. Foreign trade value of medicinal herbs and agricultural products rose 92.9% and 56.6% from the previous year to US$38.4 million and US$22.4 million, accounting for 54.5% and 31.8% of the city's total foreign trade value, respectively.

In 2007, the city attracted 7 foreign-funded projects. The utilized FDI in the city reached US$61.1 million, up 31% year on year.

Cultural Highlights

Bozhou is one of the origin places for Chinese culture. During the Shang Dynasty (1600BC-1100BC), Bozhou was appointed to be the capital by the first Shang emperor. The territory was named Qiao Shire, but was changed to Bozhou during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). Bozhou won the fame of "capital of medicinal herbs" because Hua Tuo, who was a great doctor and is known as the father of surgery in China, planted a medicinal herb field in the region. Bozhou is also famous as "a town of wine". The people there began fermenting wine as early as in the Spring-and-Autumn Period.

Tourist Attractions

Bozhou's long, splendid history endows the city with an abundance of cultural and historical sites, such as Hua Xi Tower, the Underground Tunnel, Tai Qing Palace and Hua Zu An. Hua Xi Tower, an opera stage of the Great Guandi Temple, is famous for its colored patterns and fine engravings. It was constructed during the Qing Dynasty (AD1644-1911). The Underground Tunnel was built by Cao Cao, a general during the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 00-280). Hua Zu An, also known as Huazu Nunnery, was built in the Tang and Song Dynasties in memory of Hua Tuo.

Bozhou has many characteristic local dishes, such as beef soup, Tongguan Fen Pi (which is made of potato powder or rice powder) and Niu Rou Mo (a kind of crispy flour food stuffed with shredded beef).

Honors

Best Tourism City in China (1998)
---National Tourism Administration of P.R. China  

National Historical and Cultural City (1986)
---State of Council of P.R. China