Hechi

Hechi (simplified Chinese: wd|河wd|池; pinyin: Héchí, Zhuang: ???) is a prefecture-level city in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Geography and climate

Hechi is located in northwestern Guangxi province on the southern end of the Yunnan-Guizhou highlands. The area is 35,500 km². The northwestern part of Hechi is the highest elevation with the city slowly sloping down to the southeast. Hechi is very mountainous with ranges including in the north the Jiuwangda Mountains, in the northwest the Phoenix Mountains, in the east the Fengling Mountains, in the west, the Duyang Mountains, and in the southwest the Green Dragon Mountains. The tallest mountain is "Nameless Peak" with an elevation of 1693 m.

Hechi's climate is sub-tropical wet and monsoonal. Annual sunlight is 1450 to 1600 hours. Average annual recipitation is 1200 to 1600 mm but can be up to 2500 mm.

Administration

Hechi has 1 urban district, 1 city, 9 counties, and 5 autonomous counties.

City:
*Yizhou (宜州市)

Urban District:
*Jinchengjiang (金城江区)

Counties:
*Luocheng (罗城县)
*Huanjiang (环江县）
*Nandan (南丹县）
*Tiane (天峨县）
*Donglan (东兰县）
*Bama (巴马县）
*Fengshan (凤山县）
*Du'an (都安县）
*Dahua (大化县）

Autonomous counties:
*Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County (环江毛南族自治县)
*Du'an Yao Autonomous County (都安瑶族自治县)
*Luocheng Mulao Autonomous County (罗城仫佬族自治县)
*Bama Yao Autonomous County (巴马瑶族自治县)
*Dahua Yao Autonomous County (大化瑶族自治县)

Demographics

In 2004 Hechi's population was 3,830,000. Ethnic groups include Zhuang, Han, Yao, Mulao, Maonan, Miao, Dong, and Shui. It is home to Guangxi's largest ethnic minority population.

Economy

MineralsHechi is one of Guangxi's most important mineral producers. All of Hechi's counties have large quantities of high quality mineral resources. They include but are not limited to tin, antimony, gold, zinc, indium, copper, iron, silver, manganese, and arsenic. It is a major source of gold for both China and the global market. Limestone and marble are also produced here.

WaterDue to Hechi's tropical wet climate, water power is also a major resource. Each year, more than 25 km³ of water flows through Hechi; 13% of all of Guangxi's water. There are more than 630 streams, creeks, and rivers with a combined length of more than 5,130 km. Hydropwer facilities on these rivers produce more than 10 gigawatts of electricity; half of Guangxi's hydropower energy.

AgricultureHechi's climate, weather, and soil make it a major agricultural center. More than 400 types of crops including oranges, pineapple, corn, lotus root, casava, sugarcane, tobacco, vegetables, melons, mulberry, mushrooms and more than 100 different kinds of rice are grown here. Sugarcane is a major crop with more than 220,000 tons of refined sugar produced each year from 360 km² of cane. "Oil" plants such as peanuts, sesame, and grape are also important.

Fruit make up a significant portion of Hechi's agriculture. There are more than 200 kinds of fruit found here. 80% of tropical Asia's fruits are grown in Hechi alone. 120,000 tons of fruit are grown annually on more than 310 km² of land.

ForestryForest products are another important industry. Hechi has more than 10,000 km² of forest. More than 200 species of wild plants can be used in Chinese medicine.

Flora fauna

Due to its tropical wet climate, Hechi has an amazing level of biodiversity. There are more than 1800 species of plants, 150 species of trees, 700 species of insects, 50 species of fish, and 60 species of land animals, many of which are rare and protected. Animals such as langurs, pangolins, and wild cats can be found in Hechi's forested mountains.

External links

* [http://www.gxhc.gov.cn/ Official Website(Chinese)]