Physical Features: at the middle of Jianghuai hilly land, the main part of which is on the gently undulating plain
Population: 4.22 million
Urban Population: 1.22 million
Area: 7,266 sq km
Nationalities: Han, Hui, and She
History: a quiet market town before 1949 and has since expanded to become an industrial center
Climatic Features: subtropical humid monsoon climate with frost-free period of 245 days, clearly 4 seasons
Average Temperature: 15.7 C annually
Rainfall: annual precipitation of 1000 mm
Rivers: the Cao Lake - one of the 5 famous fresh-water lakes in China, Feihe River - a branch of Huaihe River, Sili River; Ershili River and Banqian River
Products: paddy rice, wheat, legume, potato, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, hemp, rapeseed, tea, stock raising, freshwater fishery, coal, iron, steel, machinery, electronics, chemistry, textiles of cotton and wool, foodstuffs, cigarettes, papermaking, building materials, printing and dyeing
Local Highlights:
Local Opera: Huangmei Drama, Anhui Qinshu
Arts and Crafts: handicrafts made from bamboo, Shucheng Bamboo Mats,
famous paintings
Others: Silver Fish, Sesame Pancake
