Yiyang (益阳)

1. Introduction

Yiyang City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hunan Province, the People's Republic of China, located in the northern part of Hunan Province. The city borders Changde City to the northwest, Huaihua City and Loudi City to the southwest, Changsha City to the southeast, Yueyang City to the northeast, and shares a small northern border with Jingzhou City in Hubei Province. Situated in the transitional zone between the eastern section of the Xuefeng Mountains and the Dongting Lake Plain, the terrain slopes from high in the west to low in the east. The Zi River flows from west to east through the entire area into Dongting Lake, with the Zexi Reservoir in the southwest and river networks such as the Yuan River and Li River in the northeast. The city covers a total area of 12,320 square kilometers, with a permanent resident population of 3.7936 million people. The municipal people's government is located in Heshan District.

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2. History

The name "Yiyang" is derived, according to Ying Shao of the Eastern Han Dynasty, from "being on the north bank of the Yi River, hence the county name." Zhou Shurong of the Qing Dynasty wrote in his "Ode to Yiyang": "The Yi River flows through; the north of the water is called 'yang,' and the county is named accordingly." The major river flowing through Yiyang, the Zi River, was likely known as the Yi River in ancient times. As the city was located north of the river, it was named Yiyang. Remarkably, despite numerous and frequent changes in its jurisdiction over thousands of years, Yiyang has never altered its name, which is relatively rare among Chinese place names.

According to historical records and unearthed artifacts, as early as the late Neolithic Age, the area was inhabited by humans. Around 5000 years ago, there were dense settlements in the region of present-day Yiyang. Villages had already formed in areas such as Malukou and Jiangnan in present-day Anhua County, Beihekou in Nan County, Dengshiqiao and Yangwuling in Heshan District, and Luhu in Yuanjiang City. Entering the Bronze Age, settlements became increasingly dense in areas like Majitang and Huishangang in present-day Taojiang County, Lianzitang in Yuanjiang City, and Xinqiaohe, Changchun in Ziyang District, as well as Heshanmiao, Longguangqiao, and Bijia Mountain in Heshan District.

Before the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the present-day Yiyang area was under the jurisdiction of Jingzhou, one of the nine provinces recorded in the Book of Documents - Tribute of Yu. During the Spring and Autumn period, it was part of the Chu territory, and in the Warring States period, it belonged to the Qianzhong Commandery of the State of Chu. In 221 BC, after Qin conquered Chu, the Changsha Commandery was established,下设 including Yiyang among its nine counties. Initially, Yiyang County encompassed the areas of present-day Taojiang, Yiyang, Anhua, Xinhua counties, the entire cities of Yiyang and Lengshuijiang, and parts of Ningxiang, Xiangyin, Lianyuan, Xinshao, and Yuanjiang City, covering a vast area of 18,000 square kilometers. Except for parts of Yuanjiang and Nan County, all counties and cities under the present-day Yiyang administrative region were within the ancient boundaries of Yiyang County.

During the Western Han Dynasty, the systems of commanderies/counties and feudal states coexisted. The present-day Yiyang area was divided under the Changsha Kingdom and Wuling Commandery, both subordinate to the Jingzhou Inspectorate. The Eastern Han Dynasty followed the Western Han's system of provinces, commanderies, and counties, demoting the Changsha Kingdom to a commandery. The Yiyang area was then divided under the Changsha Kingdom and Wuling Commandery, still under the Jingzhou Inspectorate.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Jingzhou was divided between Wu and Shu, becoming a contested battlefield among Wei, Shu, and Wu. After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao retreated from the south, and Wu and Shu engaged in a complex struggle for Jingzhou. In 207 AD, it was first captured by Shu's Liu Bei. When Sun Quan's demand for Jingzhou was refused, he sent Lü Meng to seize Changsha. To rescue Changsha, in the 20th year of the Jian'an era (215 AD), Liu Bei ordered Guan Yu to station troops in Yiyang to confront Lü Meng. The Biography of Gan Ning in the Records of Wu states: "Gan Ning, following Lu Su, resisted Marquis Guan at Yiyang. The Marquis selected 5,000 elite troops and deployed them at a shallow ford over ten li upstream from the county, intending to cross at night. Su reinforced Ning with troops, and Ning went forth at night. Hearing this, the Marquis halted the crossing and instead built a fortified camp." Lu Su, leading Cheng Pu and Gan Ning, stationed troops on Tortoise Mountain southeast of the city and met Guan Yu at the mouth of the stream near Lujia Mountain. This meeting became the famous historic "Meeting at the Single Sword." The city walls of Yiyang were initially built as an earthen fortification by Lu Su for stationing troops.

In the second year of the Taiping era of Wu during the Three Kingdoms (257 AD), the western captaincy of Changsha was separated to establish Hengyang Commandery. Yiyang belonged to Hengyang Commandery. At this time, the southern part was separated to establish Xinyang County (present-day Ningxiang). In 266 AD, the western part was further separated to establish Gaoping County (parts of present-day Xinhua and Xinshao counties), beginning the reduction of Yiyang County's territory. In 280 AD, after Jin conquered Wu, the country was divided into 20 provinces, with Yiyang belonging to Jingzhou. During the Liu Song dynasty of the Southern Dynasties (420 AD), Hengyang Commandery was changed to Hengyang Kingdom, and Yiyang belonged to it. Some land was also allocated to Xiangyin. During the Southern Qi dynasty (479 AD), Hengyang was reverted to a commandery, and until the Liang dynasty, it belonged successively to Hengyang Commandery, Yaoshan Commandery, Wuling Commandery, Baling Commandery, and Nanping Commandery.

During the Sui dynasty, it was divided under Tanzhou, Yuezhou, Langzhou, and Lizhou. In the first year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang dynasty (627 AD), the country was divided into 10 circuits, which were later increased to 15 circuits during the Kaiyuan era, with circuits overseeing both prefectures and commanderies. Yiyang's affiliation changed multiple times, alternating between Tanzhou and Changsha Commandery.

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of fragmentation, Hunan belonged to the Chu State. Under the Later Liang (907 AD), Yiyang belonged to Tanzhou. Under the Later Tang (923 AD), Ma Yin established the Chu State, and Yiyang belonged to Changsha Prefecture. Under the Later Zhou (951–959 AD), Yiyang belonged to Tanzhou Prefecture.

In the Song dynasty, the administrative system consisted of circuits (Lu) under the Pacification Commission, directly subordinate to the capital, with prefectures, subprefectures, commanderies, and armies below the circuits. In the first year of the Jianlong era of Emperor Taizu of the Northern Song (960 AD), Yiyang belonged to Tanzhou Changsha Commandery under the Hunan Circuit. In the fifth year of the Xining era (1072 AD), areas including Meishan in Yiyang were separated to establish counties such as Xinhua and Anhua. The Annals of Emperor Shenzong of Song records: "In the fifth year, Zhang Dun opened up Meishan and established Anhua County, named with the meaning 'returning to virtue and transformation'."

In 1279, Kublai Khan destroyed the Southern Song and established the Yuan dynasty, setting up circuits. In the first year of the Yuanzhen era of Emperor Chengzong of Yuan (1295 AD), Yiyang County, having over 10,000 households, was promoted to Yiyang Zhou (subprefecture), belonging to Tanzhou Circuit. In the second year of the Tianli era (1329 AD), it followed Tanzhou Circuit's change to Tianlin Circuit.

The Ming dynasty divided the country into 13 provinces, with provinces having Administration Commissions (later changed to Provincial Administration Commissions), under which were prefectures, subprefectures, and departments. Yiyang belonged to Huguang Province, i.e., the Huguang Provincial Administration Commission (based in Jiangxia, present-day Wuhan) under Changsha Prefecture. In the early Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty (1368 AD), Yiyang Zhou was demoted back to Yiyang County.

In 1636, the Aisin Gioro clan changed the state name to Qing. A four-level system of "Province," "Circuit," "Prefecture and Directly Subordinate Department/Directly Subordinate Subprefecture," and "County and Ordinary Department/Ordinary Subprefecture" was adopted, with provinces overseen by Viceroys, Governors, and Resident Administration Commissioners. Yiyang belonged to Changsha Prefecture under the Changbao Circuit of Hunan Province.

On October 20, 1852, Hong Xiuquan led the Taiping Army through Changsha to Yiyang and changed Yiyang County's name to "Desheng County." This was the only brief name change in Yiyang's history.

In the third year of the Republic of China (1914), Hunan abolished prefectures, departments, and subprefectures. Changbao Circuit was changed to Xiangjiang Circuit, which governed Yiyang. In the eleventh year of the Republic, circuits were abolished, and Yiyang came directly under the province. In the twenty-seventh year of the Republic (1938), Hunan was divided into 9 Administrative Inspection Districts, with Yiyang belonging to the 1st District; it was later adjusted to 10 districts.

In the 29th year of the Republic (1940), the Hunan provincial government, finding the original 9 Administrative Inspection Districts too vast and inconvenient for supervision, adjusted them to 10. In April of the same year, six counties—Yiyang, Anhua, Xiangxiang, Ningxiang, Hanshou, and Yuanjiang—were grouped to form the 5th Administrative Inspection District, with the Commissioner's Office located in Yiyang County town. This marked the beginning of a regional-level administrative establishment in the area. Nan County belonged to the 4th Administrative Inspection District (Commissioner's Office located in Changde).

In the 33rd year of the Republic (1944), the invading Japanese army launched a large-scale offensive, parts of Hunan fell, and the administrative inspection district system existed in name only. The provincial government then established three administrative offices in Anhua, Yuanling, and Hongjiang as temporary provincial government agencies during the extraordinary period, overseeing various counties. The Anhua Administrative Office was established on October 18 of that year in Meicheng, Anhua County. All counties originally under the 5th Administrative Inspection District came under the jurisdiction of the Anhua Administrative Office. On July 31 the following year, the Anhua Administrative Office was abolished, and the 5th Administrative Inspection District was restored.

In 1949, various parts of Hunan were successively liberated, ending the Kuomintang government's rule in Hunan, and the administrative inspection district system collapsed. In August of that year, after the establishment of the new Provisional Government of Hunan Province (the Provincial People's Government was formally established in April 1950), Hunan established 1 province-administered city and 10 special districts. Special districts had Commissioner's Offices, acting as agencies of the provincial government. The Yiyang Special District was established in August 1949, with its Commissioner's Office located in Yiyang County's Chengguan District, governing six counties: Yiyang, Anhua, Xiangxiang, Ningxiang, Yuanjiang, and Hanshou.

In March 1950, Yiyang County's Chengguan District was renamed Yiyang Chengguan District and elevated to county level. In September of the same year, Yiyang City was established, directly under the leadership of the Yiyang Special District Commissioner's Office. In April 1951, implementing the CPC Central Committee's instruction that "large counties with around one million population face leadership difficulties and can be divided," the provincial government separated the 9th and 10th districts of Xiangxiang County, the 3rd and 4th districts of Anhua County and Lantian Town, and parts of Shaoyang and Xinhua counties to establish Lantian County; and separated the 3rd, 6th, and 7th districts of Xiangxiang County to establish Yongfeng County. In July of the same year, the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th districts of Yiyang County were separated to establish Taojiang County. All were under the jurisdiction of the Yiyang Special District. At that time, the district governed a total of 9 counties and 1 city. Nan County belonged to the Changde Special District.

In November 1952, the Yiyang Special District establishment was abolished. The originally governed Ningxiang County was transferred to the Xiangtan Special District; Xiangxiang, Shuangfeng, and Lianyuan counties were transferred to the Shaoyang Special District; and Yiyang, Taojiang, Anhua, Hanshou, Yuanjiang counties and Yiyang City were transferred to the Changde Special District, lasting for 10 years. During this period, Yiyang City was changed to a province-administered city in April 1953, authorized to be led by the Changde Special District Commissioner's Office. In July 1958, it was placed under the leadership of Yiyang County, but in 1961, it was reverted to a special district-administered city, still led by the Changde Special District Commissioner's Office.

In December 1962, the Yiyang Special District establishment was restored, with its Commissioner's Office located in Taohualun, Yiyang City. It governed seven counties—Nan, Yuanjiang, Huarong, Yiyang, Ningxiang, Taojiang, Anhua—and Yiyang City. Six state-owned farms—Datonghu, Qianshanhong, Jinpen, Beizhouzi, Chapanzhou, and Qianlianghu—were also placed under the jurisdiction of the Yiyang Special District.

In September 1964, Huarong County and Qianlianghu Farm were transferred to the Yueyang Special District.

In 1968, the Yiyang Special District was renamed Yiyang Prefecture.

In July 1983, Ningxiang County was transferred to Changsha City. By then, the prefecture governed Yiyang, Taojiang, Anhua, Yuanjiang, and Nan counties, Yiyang City, five state-owned farms (Datonghu, Beizhouzi, Jinpen, Qianshanhong, Chapanzhou), and the Datonghu Fishing Ground.

In March 1994, the State Council approved the abolition of Yiyang Prefecture and the establishment of the prefecture-level Yiyang City. In May, the new First Congress of the CPC Yiyang City Committee elected the First CPC Yiyang City Committee and Discipline Inspection Commission. The former Yiyang County and Yiyang City were divided by the Zi River: the area south became Heshan District, and the north became Ziyang District. On July 1, the "Standing Committee of the Yiyang Municipal People's Congress" and the "Yiyang Municipal People's Government" were officially inaugurated, marking the establishment of the prefecture-level Yiyang City. Yiyang City governs three counties (Nan, Taojiang, Anhua), one county-level city (Yuanjiang), two districts (Heshan, Ziyang), five major state-owned farms (Datonghu, Beizhouzi, Jinpan, Qianshanhong, Chapanzhou), and the Datonghu Fishing Ground.On December 18, 2000, the Communist Party Committee of the Datong Lake District and the Administrative Committee of the Datong Lake District were established. Five state-owned farms were abolished, and their headquarters locations were converted into established towns. The Datong Lake District was formed by merging four major state-owned farms: Datong Lake, Beizhouzi, Jinpan, and Qianshanhong. The Chapanzhou Farm was converted into Chapanzhou Town and placed under the jurisdiction of Yuanjiang City. The city's administrative area includes three counties, one city, and three districts (Heshan, Ziyang, and Datong Lake).

3. Geography

Yiyang is part of the Dongting Lake Plain, situated in the lower reaches of the Zi River. It lies between 27°58′38″N to 29°31′42″N and 110°43′02″E to 112°55′48″E. Its maximum east-west distance is 217 kilometers, and its maximum north-south width is 173 kilometers.

3.1 Water Resources

Yiyang is rich in water resources. It is estimated that the section of the Zijiang River flowing through the urban area alone has a potential power generation capacity of 1 million kilowatts. Two hydropower stations have been built upstream, with a developed capacity of 500,000 kilowatts. The central urban area of Yiyang has abundant mineral water reserves, characterized by an exceptionally high metasilicic acid content, which is rare in China.

3.2 Land Resources

Yiyang City has good land quality, comprising 562,700 hectares of forest land, 245,400 hectares of cultivated land, 139,900 hectares of water surface, 82,000 hectares of grassland, and 65,300 hectares of lake marshland. The lakeside plain, formed by alluvial deposits from rivers and lakes, has fertile soil suitable for cultivating various crops. It is an important national production base for grain, cotton, hemp, and oil crops, long renowned as a "land of fish and rice." Its ramie production ranks first in the country, while its output of reeds, jute (kenaf), and sugar crops leads Hunan Province. The central hilly and mound areas feature soils mostly weathered from slate and shale, which are acidic and relatively high in nutrients, making them production zones for economic forests such as moso bamboo, oil-tea camellia, and fruit trees. Yiyang is nationally famous as a "hometown of bamboo," with its production of moso bamboo and tea ranking first in Hunan Province. The western low and medium mountain areas serve as the main forestry production base.

3.3 Mineral Resources

Yiyang is rich in mineral resources and is widely known as the "hometown of minor non-ferrous metals." There are over 140 known mineral deposits and occurrences, with more than 40 having been explored. These include 5 medium-sized deposits, 15 small-sized deposits, and over 120 mineral occurrences and mineralization phenomena. There are more than 40 major mineral types, with reserves of antimony, tungsten, vanadium, and stone coal ranking first in Hunan Province. Among the major minerals, over 10 have industrial mining value, including manganese, antimony, gold, vanadium, iron, stone coal, pyrite, phosphate rock, and limestone. The proven reserves of antimony amount to 360,000 tons, characterized by high grade and significant mining value, with abundant reserves.

3.4 Climate

Yiyang has a continental subtropical monsoon climate, characterized by generally high temperatures, distinct warm winters and cool summers, consistently abundant annual precipitation, frequent rain-induced disasters in July, generally insufficient sunshine, and prominent cold springs with overcast rainy spells. The annual average temperature ranges from 16.1°C to 16.9°C, with sunshine hours between 1,348 and 1,772, a frost-free period of 263 to 276 days, and annual rainfall between 1,230 mm and 1,700 mm, making it suitable for crop growth. | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|------|------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|------|-------|-------| | Avg High °C | 8.2 | 10.5 | 14.9 | 21.6 | 26.6 | 29.6 | 33.2 | 32.3 | 27.8 | 22.5 | 17.0 | 11.2 | 21.3 | | Avg High °F | 46.8 | 50.9 | 58.8 | 70.9 | 79.9 | 85.3 | 91.8 | 90.1 | 82.0 | 72.5 | 62.6 | 52.2 | 70.3 | | Daily Mean °C | 4.8 | 7.1 | 11.0 | 17.3 | 22.3 | 25.7 | 29.0 | 28.1 | 23.7 | 18.3 | 12.7 | 7.3 | 17.3 | | Daily Mean °F | 40.6 | 44.8 | 51.8 | 63.1 | 72.1 | 78.3 | 84.2 | 82.6 | 74.7 | 64.9 | 54.9 | 45.1 | 63.1 | | Avg Low °C | 2.3 | 4.4 | 8.0 | 14.0 | 18.7 | 22.5 | 25.5 | 25.0 | 20.6 | 15.3 | 9.6 | 4.3 | 14.2 | | Avg Low °F | 36.1 | 39.9 | 46.4 | 57.2 | 65.7 | 72.5 | 77.9 | 77.0 | 69.1 | 59.5 | 49.3 | 39.7 | 57.5 | | Avg Precip mm | 76.9 | 93.7 | 140.3 | 191.0 | 184.9 | 215.1 | 165.8 | 128.5 | 90.7 | 92.8 | 82.6 | 50.2 | 1,512.5 | | Avg Precip in | 3.03 | 3.69 | 5.52 | 7.52 | 7.28 | 8.47 | 6.53 | 5.06 | 3.57 | 3.65 | 3.25 | 1.98 | 59.55 | | Avg Rel Hum (%) | 80 | 81 | 80 | 79 | 82 | 77 | 80 | 80 | 79 | 78 | 76 | 79 | 79 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Yiyang City administers 2 municipal districts, 3 counties, and has jurisdiction over 1 county-level city.

• Municipal Districts: Ziyang District, Heshan District
• County-level City: Yuanjiang City
• Counties: Nan County, Taojiang County, Anhua County

Additionally, Yiyang City has established the Datonghu Management Area at the county level, reformed from state-owned farms such as the State-owned Datonghu Farm. The Yiyang High-tech Industrial Development Zone is a national-level high-tech industrial development zone established by Yiyang City.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|---------------------| | 430900 | Yiyang City | Yìyáng Shì | 12,320.38 | 3,851,564 | Heshan District | 413000 | 11 | 71 | 10 | 1 | | 430902 | Ziyang District | Zīyáng Qū | 571.75 | 356,405 | Damatou Subdistrict | 413000 | 2 | 5 | 1 | | | 430903 | Heshan District | Hèshān Qū | 1,278.71 | 889,068 | Heshan Subdistrict | 413000 | 7 | 10 | 1 | | | 430921 | Nan County | Nán Xiàn | 1,327.14 | 572,367 | Nanzhou Town | 413200 | | 14 | 1 | | | 430922 | Taojiang County | Táojiāng Xiàn | 2,068.14 | 685,596 | Taohuajiang Town | 413400 | | 13 | 2 | 1 | | 430923 | Anhua County | Ānhuà Xiàn | 4,945.20 | 780,969 | Dongping Town | 413500 | | 18 | 5 | | | 430981 | Yuanjiang City | Yuánjiāng Shì | 2,129.44 | 567,159 | Qionghu Subdistrict | 413100 | 2 | 11 | | |

5. Economy

Yiyang City is a prefecture-level city in Hunan Province, located on the southern shore of Dongting Lake in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain. It covers a total area of 12,300 square kilometers and has a permanent population of approximately 3.794 million. Yiyang is one of the core cities of the Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone and an important component of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Metropolitan Area, boasting significant geographical and transportation advantages.

5.1 Overview of Economic Development

5.1.1 Overall Economic Performance

Yiyang's economic development has been relatively stable in recent years. In 2023, the city achieved a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 213.621 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.4%. Specifically, the added value of the primary industry was 34.874 billion yuan, up 3.4%; the secondary industry added 93.06 billion yuan, growing by 4.6%; and the tertiary industry contributed 85.687 billion yuan, an increase of 3.0%. The industrial structure ratio of the three sectors was 16.5:43.6:39.9.

5.1.2 Finance and Investment

Yiyang's local general public budget revenue reached 10.64 billion yuan in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 6.3%. Fixed asset investment grew by 6.8%, indicating the city's continued investment in infrastructure and industrial projects.

5.1.3 Industry and Agriculture

Yiyang's industrial development is relatively prominent, with the added value of large-scale industries growing by 3.3% in 2023. The city's agriculture also maintained steady growth, with the total output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery leading in growth rate. Smart agriculture in Yiyang is at the forefront within the province. Furthermore, Yiyang has implemented the "131 Trillion-Yuan Industrial Project," establishing an agricultural industrial pattern characterized by "one specialty per county" and "one specialty per area." Agricultural products such as Anhua dark tea and Nanxian rice-shrimp enjoy high market recognition.

5.1.4 Resident Income and Consumption

The per capita disposable income of urban residents was 39,446 yuan, an increase of 3.6%, while that of rural residents was 23,445 yuan, growing by 6.1%. The total retail sales of consumer goods reached 90.17 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%, reflecting the vitality of the consumer market.

5.2 Future Outlook

Yiyang is actively advancing the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the long-range objectives through 2035, committed to achieving high-quality development. Through measures such as deepening reform and innovation, optimizing the industrial structure, and promoting new industrialization and modern agricultural development, the Yiyang municipal government aims to play a greater role in the regional economy.

Yiyang's economic development shows a steady growth trend, with a gradually optimized industrial structure and improvements in both fiscal revenue and resident income. In the future, Yiyang will continue to leverage its geographical advantages and abundant resources to promote high-quality economic development and strive for a higher level of coordinated regional development.

6. Transportation

National Highway 234, National Highway 319

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7. Population

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 3.7936 million. Among them, the urban population was 1.9695 million, with an urbanization rate of 51.92%.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 3,851,564. Compared with the 4,307,933 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a total decrease of 456,369 people over the ten years, a decline of 10.59%, with an average annual growth rate of -1.11%. Among them, the male population was 1,954,023, accounting for 50.73% of the total population; the female population was 1,897,541, accounting for 49.27% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 102.98. The population aged 0–14 was 681,987, accounting for 17.71% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,297,275, accounting for 59.65% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 872,302, accounting for 22.65% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 661,591, accounting for 17.18% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 1,942,517, accounting for 50.43% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 1,909,047, accounting for 49.57% of the total population.

7.1. Ethnic Groups

The 2010 census results showed that Yiyang had 48 ethnic minorities, with a permanent resident population of 15,900, an increase of 8 ethnic groups compared to the 40 ethnic minorities in the 2000 Fifth National Census. There were 37 ethnic minorities with populations below 100, an increase of 11 compared to the 26 in the "Fifth Census." The main ethnic minorities are Hui, Tujia, and Miao; newly added ethnic groups include Hezhe, Bonan, Yugur, Nu, and others. Among the city's permanent resident population, the Hui population was 8,515, accounting for 53.51% of the ethnic minority population; the Tujia population was 2,428, accounting for 15.26% of the ethnic minority population; and the Miao population was 1,891, accounting for 11.89% of the ethnic minority population.

In 2020, among the city's permanent resident population, the Han population was 3,827,408, accounting for 99.37%; the ethnic minority population was 24,156, accounting for 0.63%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 464,615, a decline of 10.83%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.26 percentage points; the ethnic minority population increased by 8,246, a growth of 51.83%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.26 percentage points.

8. Religion

Yiyang City is one of the key cities for religious affairs in Hunan Province, with a diverse range of religions. There are approximately 350,000 Buddhist lay followers, 212,500 Protestant Christians, 78,000 Taoist adherents, and 25,600 Catholic believers. The city is home to numerous temples, shrines, and churches, and boasts rich folk customs.

9. Culture

9.1 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Tujiatai Site
• Yangwuling Ancient Kiln Site
• Yaozilun Spring and Autumn Tombs
• Tao Shu's Tomb
• Anhua Wind and Rain Bridge
• Xinyi Church and School Architectural Complex
• Changjiao Massacre Site

9.2 Local Specialties

Anhua Dark Tea, Songhua Preserved Eggs, Shuizhu Bamboo Mat, Majitang Leicha (Pounded Tea), Anhua Cured Meat, Qianjiazhou Water Chestnut, Yuanjiang Whitebait, Yiyang Bamboo Crafts, Ming Oil-Paper Umbrella, Central Hunan Iron Pot, Nanxian Spicy Meat, Sauce-Simmered Duck. Hunan noodles are world-renowned; the listed company Keming Noodle Industry originated here, ranking first in national dried noodle sales.

10. Sister Cities

• Namhae County, South Korea (2006-08-30)
• Petah Tikva, Israel (2011-09-10)

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Yishui Yang

Heshan District

Heshan District

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