Hebei Province of central China, bounded to the north by Henan, to the east by Anhui, to the south by Jiangxi and Hunan, and to the west by Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces; area 187,500 sq km/72,375 sq mi; population (2000 est) 60,280,000. The capital is Wuhan; other major cities and towns are Huangshi, Shashi, Yichang, and Xiangfan.
The total population of Hebei Province is 68,510, of which urban population is 25,820, and rural population is 42,690. Except Han nationality, it also has 53 minorities, including Man, Hui, Meng, Zhuang, Chaoxian, Miao, Tujia etc, The minorities account for about 4% of the total population.
The main industries are the mining of copper, gypsum, iron ore, coal, phosphorus, and salt; and the production of steel, machinery, domestic appliances, textiles, food processing, and fibre-optic cables. Agriculture is based on the cultivation of rice, cotton, rapeseed, wheat, beans, and vegetables. Hubei occupies an important location at the crossing of the land route from Beijing to the south of China with the Chang Jiang River, a major east–west artery. It developed as an industrial centre after the mid-19th century when the Chang Jiang was opened to foreign-owned steamships, and Hankou (now Wuhan) and other ports on the river were opened for foreign trade and settlement. EconomyThe agriculture of the lowlands supports a dense population. Wuhan is one of the most important industrial cities of China, and home to one of China's largest integrated iron and steel works, which use iron ore found at Ta-yeh in southeastern Hupeh. Wuhan is also important to China's motor-vehicle industry as a producer of trucks and all-terrain vehicles. Xiangfan and Huangshi are also large industrial centres, producing chemical fertilizers as well as iron and steel. Textiles are manufactured in many of Hubei's towns and cities. Hebei Province is one of the main wheat-producing areas in China. Oil-bearing plants, fibre plants, sugar beets, tobacco and cotton are thefive main cash crops of province. The apples of Changli, pears of Zhaoxian Couty, honey peaches of Shenzhou, white grapes of Xuanhua and chestnuts of Zunhua are famous fruits of the province. Prawns and crabs from Bohai Sea and carps from Baiyangdian Lake are the best liked aquatic products. The Great Wall" white grape wine and "Drunken Liuling" are famous wines of the province. The northern region of Zhangjiakou is pastureland which produces the best horses and sheepskin. Mushrooms from Guyuan and other counties in the northern region of Zhangjiakou are also very famous. The traditional arts and crafts of Hebei Province include golden thread tapestry of Zhuoxian County, stone carvings of Quyang, shell paintings of Qinhuangdao, horse saddles of northern Zhangjiakou, ink slabs of Yishui, straw weavings of Chengde,ceramics of Handan and porcelain of Tanshan.
Hubei has a subtropical monsoonal climate with a humid and hot summer, dry winter and strong sunlight in autumn. Annual rainfall averages 800-1600 millimeters and with average temperatures ranging from 15C-17C. Most places in Hubei enjoy four distinct seasons, with the best times to travel there being spring and autumn.
The long history and the brilliant Chu culture endow Hubei with numerous cultural relics. Ancient towers, grottoes, city remains, imperial mausoleums, temples and nobilities' native places can be found throughout the province.
As the heaviest musical instrument in the world, the set of bronze chime bells unearthed from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State can be found in the Hubei Provincial Museum.
Wudang Mountain is a sacred Taoist mountain with hundreds of temples and palaces. East Lake, located on the eastern side of Wuchang City, is one of the major tourist attractions in Wuhan. It is the biggest lake within a city in China. Yellow Crane Tower, located on Snake Hill in Wuchang City, is one of the three famous towers south of the Yangtze River.
Hubei also boasts impressive natural scenery. The Three Gorges offers an unmatched painting of water and mountains. The World Famous Yangtze Three Gorges Dam Project is located in Hubei Province, just outside of Yichang City.
It is not only the largest water conservation project in China, but also the largest water conservation project in the world. |
