Bengbu (蚌埠)

1. Introduction

Bengbu City, abbreviated as Beng, historically known as Bangbu or Bangpu, and also nicknamed the Pearl City, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Anhui Province, People's Republic of China. It serves as a crucial transportation hub in Anhui Province, a commercial and trade center in northern Anhui, and a center for processing and manufacturing, as well as a command and dispatch hub for postal and telecommunications. Bengbu is located at the southern edge of the North China Plain, at the intersection of the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and the Huainan Railway. The Huai River flows through the city, which is near Fengyang and Suzhou. Bengbu administers four municipal districts: Longzihu District, Bengshan District, Yuhui District, and Huaishang District, and oversees three counties: Huaiyuan County, Wuhe County, and Guzhen County. The city covers a total area of 5,952 square kilometers, with an urban area of 601.5 square kilometers. The registered population of the city is 3.7952 million, while the permanent resident population is 3.2964 million, of which 1.6 million are urban permanent residents. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 3115 Donghai Avenue, Bengshan District.

Bengbu has long been known as "the land where Yu convened the feudal lords, the pearl city on the Huai River." Historical records indicate that the Bengbu area was "an ancient pearl harvesting site," where pearl-harvesting vessels docked, leading to the establishment of a ferry port historically known as Bengbu Ferry. This later evolved into Bengbu Village, Bengbu Market, and other names. Consequently, Bengbu is also celebrated as the "Pearl City." Leveraging the Huai River for water transport, Bengbu is the largest port city along the thousand-mile Huai River. Bengbu Port has now developed into a comprehensive major port with river-sea intermodal transportation capabilities.

The Bengbu region boasts a long history, with human activity dating back to the Paleolithic Age, traceable to the Xiyou Site in Wuhe County, approximately 30,000 years ago. The Shuangdun Site, dating back about 7,300 years, is a Neolithic relic, providing evidence that the Huai River Basin is one of the cradles of ancient Chinese civilization. The Yuhui Village Site, belonging to the middle and late periods of the Longshan Culture, is believed to be associated with the legend of Yu the Great convening the feudal lords. In modern times, Bengbu's urban area rapidly developed into a major commercial and trade hub in northern Anhui, largely due to the opening of the Tianjin-Pukou Railway and the growing prosperity of Huai River water transport. Hence, it is also referred to as "a city pulled by the train." Bengbu was established as a city in early 1947, directly under the administration of Anhui Province, making it the first provincial-administered city in Anhui.

Bengbu is a national regional central city, a national comprehensive transportation hub, a central city in the Huai River Basin, a central city in northern Anhui, a tourism hub city in Anhui Province, and a national civilized city. Additionally, Bengbu is a core city in the Huai River Ecological Economic Belt and a core city in the Hefei-Wuhu-Bengbu National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone.

2. Origin of the Place Name

In ancient times, the Huai River flowed from the Jing Mountain Pass in Huaiyuan to the Bengbu area, where the current slowed, the water was clear, and aquatic plants flourished, making it suitable for river mussel reproduction, with pearls produced within the mussels. The Qing Dynasty's Fengyang Prefecture Gazetteer records: "Bangbu Ji is located 160 li southwest of Lingbi and was an ancient pearl harvesting site."

During the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, Zhongli was renamed Zhongli County and Linhuai County, with Fengyang County added. The western part of present-day Bengbu city area belonged to Huaiyuan County, while the eastern part belonged to Fengyang County. Today's Guzhen County was divided among Suzhou, Huaiyuan, Lingbi, Wuhe, and Fengyang counties. The Book of Documents: Tribute of Yu states: "Near the Si River, there are green stones that can be carved into chimes; the Bin people along the Huai River offer pearls and fish." Here, "Bin" refers to mussels, which produce pearls. Pearl-harvesting vessels would dock here, and a ferry port was established, historically known as Bengbu Ferry. This later evolved into Bengbu Village, Bengbu Market, and other names. Consequently, Bengbu is also known as the Pearl City.

3. History

3.1 Ancient Times

3.1.1 Early Civilizations

The history of the Bengbu area can be traced back to the Wuxi Xiyou site, dating back approximately 30,000 years. During the Xia Dynasty, the present-day western Bengbu and Huaiyuan County belonged to the Tushan Clan State, while the eastern part of the urban area belonged to the Zhongli State.

The present-day Bengbu region was once a settlement area for the Huaiyi tribe. Legend has it that Yu the Great, while controlling floods and traveling south to the Huai and Si rivers, married a woman from the Tushan Clan at Tushan and fathered Qi. The Yuxu site in Yuhui Village at the foot of Tushan Mountain exhibits cultural characteristics of both the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, indicating that over 4,200 years ago, Huaxia civilization was already integrating and developing in the Bengbu area.

3.1.2 Feudal Period

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the area covering the present-day city and three counties was successively under the jurisdiction of the city-states of Xu, Lu, Song, Wu, Yue, Chu, and others.

After the establishment of the Qin Dynasty, the commandery-county system was uniformly implemented. The areas of present-day Huaiyuan and Bengbu south of the Huai River were administered under counties such as Quyang and Zhongli of Jiujiang Commandery. The areas north of the Huai River, including present-day Huaiyuan, Bengbu, Guzhen, and Wuhe, were administered under counties such as Qi and Xu of Sishui Commandery. After successive changes through the Western Han, Eastern Han, Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms periods, it was not until the fifth year of the Baoyou era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1257) that Huaiyuan Army and Jingshan County were established, governing present-day Huaiyuan County, the western part of Bengbu's urban area, and part of Guzhen County. The eastern part of present-day Bengbu's urban area belonged to Zhongli County of Hao Prefecture. In the seventh year of the Xianchun era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1271), Huaian Army and Wuhe County were established. During the confrontation between the Southern Song and Jin dynasties, present-day Guzhen County was initially administered under Qi County, Lingbi County of Su Prefecture, and Hong County of Si Prefecture, and later under Su Prefecture, Lingbi, Jingshan, Wuhe, and other counties.

In the 28th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1291), Huaiyuan Army was abolished, and Jingshan County was renamed Huaiyuan County. The western part of present-day Bengbu's urban area belonged to Huaiyuan County, and the eastern part to Zhongli County. Present-day Guzhen County was administered under Su Prefecture and Lingbi, Wuhe, and Huaiyuan counties. Wuhe County belonged to Si Prefecture.

During the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, Zhongli County was successively renamed Zhongli County and Linhuai County, and Fengyang County was added. The western part of present-day Bengbu's urban area belonged to Huaiyuan County, and the eastern part to Fengyang County. Present-day Guzhen County was divided under the administration of Su Prefecture and Huaiyuan, Lingbi, Wuhe, and Fengyang counties.

In the second year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1863), the area west of Macungou in Fengyang County, east of Xijiagou in Huaiyuan County, and the area around Houlou in Lingbi County were designated as Bengbu's jurisdiction. The Sanxian Si (Three-County Office), the earliest local administrative agency in Bengbu, was established at the original Fengyang County Assistant Magistrate's office on Zhengjie Street in Xiaobengbu north of the Huai River (later moved to Laodajie south of the Huai River). The Sanxian Si was separated from the jurisdiction of the three counties and directly subordinate to the Fengyang Prefectural office. Simultaneously, the three counties jointly appointed a deputy official to the Sanxian Si, stationed in Bengbu with over ten soldiers, specifically managing administrative and security affairs in Bengbu. The first administrative head of the Sanxian Si was Wang Futang from Fengyang. The Sanxian Si agency was primarily responsible for handling civil disputes, possessing both judicial and administrative powers. However, the county office was not diligent in its administrative duties.

In 1909, construction began on the Bengbu Huai River Bridge for the Tianjin-Pukou Railway. After the completion of the Huai River Bridge and Bengbu Railway Station in 1911, a relatively prosperous area gradually formed.

3.2 Modern and Contemporary Times

3.2.1 Republic of China

With the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912 and its capital in Nanjing, Bengbu's geographical location determined its important military role in defending the capital. In the first year of the Republic, Bengbu was under the jurisdiction of Fengyang County, and the Sanxian Si was abolished. The Second District Defense Corps Bureau was established in Bengbu, with Jiang Yunqing serving as its head. By the end of the second year of the Republic, warlord Ni Sichong, overseeing Anhui from Bengbu, relied on police agencies to perform local administrative functions, rendering the District Defense Corps Bureau as an administrative body in name only. In October of the 14th year of the Republic, the Zhili clique and Fengtian clique armies clashed in the Battle of Bengbu. After the Northern Expedition's victory in the 16th year of the Republic, the Defense Corps Bureau was abolished. Fengyang County established a District Office in Bengbu. District heads changed sometimes yearly, sometimes every few months. In January 1929, preparations were made to establish Bengbu as a city, and a Municipal Preparatory Office was established, headed by Pei Yixiang. However, by the following spring, this preparatory office was dissolved. In the 21st year of the Republic, Fengyang County was changed to an autonomous district, merging the original 17 districts into 10 districts, with Bengbu as the Seventh District, still with a District Office. In the 24th year of the Republic, Fengyang County's administrative divisions were adjusted and merged into 4 districts, with Bengbu as its Second District, establishing a District Administration.

In 1937, the Sino-Japanese War broke out in full scale. At that time, the Nationalist government stationed heavy troops in Bengbu, including the Seventh Army of the Guangxi clique under Liao Lei and the Fifty-First Army of the Northeast under Yu Xuezhong, all under the command of Li Zongren, commander of the Fifth War Zone. To occupy this important stronghold, the Japanese army first conducted extensive aerial reconnaissance and bombing, then used barrages (multiple cannons firing simultaneously) as cover, with armored trains as the vanguard, attacking along both sides of the railway line, exploiting gaps to advance. Finally, on February 21, 1938, Japanese forces converged on Bengbu from multiple routes: Liufu in Fengyang, Linhuaiguan, Changhuaiwei, and along the southern bank of the Huai River. While advancing along the Huai River, they used small motorboats to lay smoke screens for cover before entering the Bengbu urban area. The Nationalist forces, unable to resist, retreated towards Xuzhou. During the War of Resistance, Bengbu served as the location for the Japanese-supported Anhui Provincial Reform Government and the Anhui Provincial Government.

3.2.2 War of Resistance Period

In the 27th year of the Republic, 1938, the Wang Jingwei government's Anhui Provincial Government was established, with the provincial capital set in Bengbu. From then on, Bengbu became the political, economic, cultural, and transportation center of Anhui during the War of Resistance, and also a key area for the Nationalist government, which had relocated to Chongqing, in its struggle against Japan.

In the same year, the Japanese army captured Bengbu. During the Japanese occupation, Japan supported the establishment of a collaborationist local government and colluded with traitors, opening foreign firms and clubs along several narrow streets. Japan established numerous foreign firms in Bengbu, including larger ones like Mitsui & Co., Toyo Menka Kaisha (Tomen), Mitsubishi Corporation, Yangzi Egg Products Company, Toshiba Corporation, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Jiangnan Co., Ltd., etc. These firms were managed by Japanese capitalists, large and small. The purpose of establishing various foreign firms was to turn the occupied areas into sources of raw materials and markets. Additionally, Japan established the Shanghai Inland Steam Navigation Company Bengbu Branch at Pier No. 3, selling passenger tickets. The Japanese also controlled all inland waterway cargo transportation. Records show that during the War of Resistance, Bengbu's water and land transportation was busy, with destinations covering almost all Japanese-occupied areas. The Japanese army, using Shen Xiru, opened clubs in Bengbu, which were essentially public gambling houses.

3.2.3 Chinese Civil War

After the victory in the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japan, Huaiyuan County was placed under the Tenth Administrative District of Anhui Province. Fengyang County was successively placed under the Ninth and then the Fifth Administrative Districts of Anhui Province. Wuhe County belonged to the Fourth Administrative District of Anhui Province. On November 25, 1945 (the 34th year of the Republic), upon the order of Anhui Provincial Chairman Li Pinxian and with the approval of the Executive Yuan of the Nationalist Government, the Bengbu Municipal Preparatory Office was re-established and began taking over Bengbu's administrative affairs in January 1946 (the 35th year of the Republic). In November 1946, the Bengbu Municipal Preparatory Office was established, separating from Fengyang County and governing the areas south of the Huai River originally belonging to Fengyang County and the Xiaobengbu area north of the Huai River.

On January 1, 1947, with the approval of the Ministry of the Interior of the Nationalist Government, Bengbu was officially established as a city, directly under Anhui Province, becoming the first city established in Anhui Province. The city government was established on the same day, with Li Pinhe serving as Bengbu's first mayor. After its establishment, the city government faced the nationwide civil war. To maintain Nationalist rule, the city government quickly established a baojia organization. Following the principle of "10-30 households per jia, 10-30 jia per bao, 10-30 bao per district," the entire city was divided into 5 districts, 98 bao, and 1887 jia.

The Nationalist army's successive defeats in the Liaoshen Campaign made President Chiang Kai-shek foresee the inevitable defeat in the Northeast. Considering the possibility that the Communist PLA's Central Plains Field Army might next attack Zhengzhou and join forces with the East China Field Army in the Jianghuai region, to strengthen the defense of the Central Plains and East China, reverse the unfavorable situation, consolidate the Jianghuai area, and shield Nanjing, the Nationalist army assembled five army groups and troops from three pacification zones, totaling 800,000 men. Centered on Xuzhou and utilizing the Tianjin-Pukou and Longhai railways, they formed a defensive line stretching from Haizhou in the east to Shangqiu in the west, and from Lincheng in the north to Bengbu in the south—a "one point, two lines" defense, adopting a strategic defensive posture to prepare for the Communist offensive. In late October 1948, the Nationalist army adjusted its strategic deployment. Following Bai Chongxi's guiding principle that "to defend the Yangtze, one must defend the Huai," the forces of the Xuzhou Pacification Headquarters shifted towards Bengbu, focusing on defending the Huai River line. On the night of November 6, 1948, the Communist PLA's East China Field Army launched the Huaihai Campaign. This campaign had profound implications for the situation in China and even the world. On January 20, 1949, Bengbu was captured. On October 1, 1949, the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China was established. Bengbu City, Huaiyuan County, and Wuhe County were placed under the Northern Anhui Administrative Office. Present-day Guzhen County was divided under the administration of Su, Wuhe, Lingbi, and Huaiyuan counties.

3. Contemporary Era

In April 1952, Bengbu City was placed directly under Anhui Province. Su, Wuhe, Lingbi, and Huaiyuan counties were placed under the Su County Special District of Anhui Province. In January 1956, they were transferred to the Bengbu Special District, and in April 1961, they were returned to the Su County Special District. In October 1964, parts of Su, Huaiyuan, Wuhe, and Lingbi counties were separated to establish Guzhen County, belonging to the Su County Special District. In 1971, the Su County Special District was renamed Su County Prefecture. In July 1983, Huaiyuan, Wuhe, and Guzhen counties were transferred from Su County Prefecture to Bengbu City, where they remain to this day.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Bengbu was one of the few important industrial cities in the country, with a solid foundation in both light and heavy industry. During the First Five-Year Plan period, Bengbu alone accounted for 3 of the 100 key national projects. During this period, Bengbu's economic strength ranked second in the province. Later, due to the weakening of its transportation advantages and changes in the external regional environment, its economic development vitality gradually declined, and its urban status fell. However, it remained an important city and transportation hub in northern Anhui. With adjustments in Anhui Province's regional economic development strategy, Bengbu has become one of the key central cities prioritized for cultivation in Anhui Province.

4. Geography

4.1 Location and Scope

Bengbu City is located between 116°45′–118°04′ east longitude and 32°43′–33°30′ north latitude. The urban area lies between 117°31′–117°11′ east longitude and 33°01′–32°49′ north latitude. To the east, it extends to the Fushan Gorge entrance in Wuhe County, bordering Mingguang City and Sihong County of Jiangsu Province. To the west, it reaches Yanli Village, Guanwei, Wanfu Town, Huaiyuan County, bordering Mengcheng County and Fengtai County. To the north, it extends to the central line of the Tuo River northwest of Dahanjia in Guzhen County, bordering Suixi County, Suzhou City, Lingbi County, and Si County. To the south, it reaches Xinzhuang South, Xinqiao Village, Changfen Town, Huaiyuan County, bordering Huainan City and Fengyang County. The city spans 135 km from east to west and 86.5 km from north to south.

Bengbu City is situated in the northern part of Anhui Province within the Huai River Basin. The Beijing-Shanghai Railway and the Huainan Railway connect here. The area north of the Huai River lies at the southern edge of the Huaibei Plain, while the area south of the river is part of the Jianghuai Hilly Region.

4.2 Topography

Bengbu City is located in the northeastern part of Anhui Province, in the middle reaches of the Huai River, at the transitional zone between the Huaibei Plain and the Jianghuai Hilly Region of Anhui Province. The terrain is predominantly flat plains. The topography is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast, with a natural gradient of approximately 1/10,000. A small number of hills and terraces are distributed in the southern region.

The Huai River flows between Jing Mountain and Tu Mountain in Huaiyuan County and between Tiesuo Ridge and Fu Mountain in Wuhe County, forming the Jingshan Gorge and Fushan Gorge.

4.3 Geology

The geological structure of the Bengbu area is relatively complex, with well-developed east-west and northeast-trending faults. Among these, the east-west trending structures are based on an Archean metamorphic rock complex anticline, with the northern limb of the anticline being a Cenozoic fault-depression basin. The entire city is located in the central part of the Huai River Platform Depression on the southern edge of the Sino-Korean Paraplatform, with the secondary structural unit being the Bengbu Platform Arch.

The stratigraphic development in Bengbu is incomplete, with sporadic bedrock outcrops. The city is situated within the Huai River Stratigraphic Subdivision of the North China Stratigraphic Region. The surface of Bengbu is largely covered by extensive sedimentary deposits. The lithostratigraphy mainly consists of intrusive and metamorphic rocks, along with small amounts of granite, mica, potassium feldspar, serpentinite, barite, asbestos, and Quaternary loose sediments. Thirty-eight mineral deposits (or occurrences) have been discovered, involving approximately 22 mineral types.

4.4 Hydrology

Bengbu City has relatively abundant water resources. The largest natural surface water body is the Huai River, with a total water surface area of 409 km², an average annual runoff depth of 244 mm, and a corresponding flow volume of 1.434 billion m³.

North of the Huai River, there are numerous rivers and lakes, characteristic of the "Jiangbei Water Country." Major surface waters and lakes include the Tuo River, Hui River, Beifei River, Xie River, Guo River, Qian River, Cihuai New River, Huaihong New River, Xiangjian Lake, Tuo Lake, Tianjing Lake, and Sifang Lake. South of the Huai River, the terrain is primarily composed of small hills, with larger surface waters limited to the Tian River and Longzi River.

Groundwater resources are mainly distributed in the three counties under Bengbu's jurisdiction, characterized by shallow burial depth, good quality, and large reserves, making groundwater resources relatively abundant.

4.5 Climate

Bengbu experiences four distinct seasons and a humid climate, located on the natural climatic boundary line formed by the Qinling Mountains–Huai River. In climate zoning, it lies in the transitional zone between the subtropical monsoon climate and the temperate monsoon climate. The climate features distinct monsoons, four clear seasons, moderate rainfall, and ample sunshine.

The city's annual average temperature and precipitation decrease slightly from south to north. The cropping system allows for two harvests per year. Influenced by the monsoon, the seasonal distribution of precipitation is uneven. From late June to mid-July each year, there is often a continuous rainy period of about 20 days, commonly known as the Meiyu (plum rain) season. The following chart shows average climate data for the Bengbu area: | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------------------|--------|--------|-------|-------|-------|--------|--------|--------|--------|-------|-------|-------|----------| | Record high °C | 21.3 | 25.7 | 30.9 | 35.2 | 37.6 | 40.7 | 40.3 | 41.3 | 38.5 | 34.4 | 29.8 | 22.6 | 41.3 | | Record high °F | 70.3 | 78.3 | 87.6 | 95.4 | 99.7 | 105.3 | 104.5 | 106.3 | 101.3 | 93.9 | 85.6 | 72.7 | 106.3 | | Average high °C | 6.5 | 9.1 | 14.3 | 21.3 | 26.8 | 30.3 | 32.1 | 31.3 | 27.4 | 22.4 | 15.7 | 9.2 | 20.5 | | Average high °F | 43.7 | 48.4 | 57.7 | 70.3 | 80.2 | 86.5 | 89.8 | 88.3 | 81.3 | 72.3 | 60.3 | 48.6 | 68.9 | | Daily mean °C | 2 | 4.5 | 9.3 | 16 | 21.5 | 25.5 | 28.1 | 27.2 | 22.9 | 17.3 | 10.5 | 4.3 | 15.8 | | Daily mean °F | 35.6 | 40.1 | 48.7 | 60.8 | 70.7 | 77.9 | 82.6 | 81 | 73.2 | 63.1 | 50.9 | 39.7 | 60.4 | | Average low °C | −1.4 | 0.9 | 5.1 | 11.3 | 16.8 | 21.3 | 24.8 | 24 | 19.3 | 13.3 | 6.4 | 0.7 | 11.9 | | Average low °F | 29.5 | 33.6 | 41.2 | 52.3 | 62.2 | 70.3 | 76.6 | 75.2 | 66.7 | 55.9 | 43.5 |33.3 | 53.4 | | Record low °C | −19.3 | −19.4 | −9.4 | −1.4 | 3.7 | 12 | 16.8 | 15 | 8.7 | −0.5 | −7.1 | −13.3 | −19.4 | | Record low °F | 2.7 | 2.9 | 15.1 | 29.5 | 38.7 | 53.6 | 62.2 | 59 | 47.7 | 31.1 | 19.2 | 8.1 | 2.9 | | Average precipitation mm | 29.3 | 36.8 | 57 | 50.9 | 76.3 | 127.8 | 243.8 | 139.1 | 85.9 | 51.6 | 46 | 21.3 | 965.8 | | Average precipitation inches | 1.15 | 1.45 | 2.24 | 2 | 3 | 5.03 | 9.6 | 5.48 | 3.38 | 2.03 | 1.81 | 0.84 | 38.01 | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 5.9 | 7.4 | 9.9 | 8.6 | 9.3 | 10.3 | 13.8 | 10.2 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 6.6 | 5 | 102.8 |8 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 71 | 70 | 69 | 67 | 68 | 71 | 79 | 80 | 76 | 71 | 70 | 69 | 72 | | Monthly Sunshine Hours | 146.8 | 142.5 | 162.1 | 177 | 202.5 | 214.8 | 208.7 | 232.4 | 175.8 | 190.6 | 161.6 | 152.7 | 2,167.50 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine | 46 | 46 | 44 | 45 | 48 | 50 | 48 | 56 | 48 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 49 | | Average Ultraviolet Index | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |

5. Administrative Divisions

In the early years of the People's Republic of China, Bengbu City was directly administered by the Northern Anhui Administrative Region. After the establishment of Anhui Province in 1952, Bengbu City came under the direct jurisdiction of Anhui Province.

Starting in 1956, Bengbu City governed four districts: East City District, West City District, Central City District, and Suburban District. It gradually annexed parts of neighboring counties. From 1983, Huaiyuan County, Wuhe County, and Guzhen County were placed under the administration of Bengbu City, making its jurisdiction largely similar to its current extent. In 2004, the four districts—East City, West City, Central City, and Suburban—were renamed Longzihu District, Yuhui District, Bengshan District, and Huaishang District, respectively, and incorporated some townships from Huaiyuan County and Guzhen County. In 2013 and 2014, Yuhui District and Huaishang District further annexed some county-administered townships.

Bengbu City currently governs 4 municipal districts and 3 counties.

• Municipal Districts: Longzihu District, Bengshan District, Yuhui District, Huaishang District
• Counties: Huaiyuan County, Wuhe County, Guzhen County Bengbu City has also established two economic management zones: the national-level Bengbu High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and the Bengbu Economic Development Zone, which was restructured from the former New Urban District.

| Division Code | Division Name | Hanyu Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 340300 | Bengbu City | Bèngbù Shì | 5,950.72 | 3,296,408 | Bengshan District | 233000 | 19 | 43 | 12 | 1 | | 340302 | Longzihu District | Lóngzǐhú Qū | 147.65 | 216,875 | Dongsheng Subdistrict | 233000 | 7 | 1 | 1 | | | 340303 | Bengshan District | Bèngshān Qū | 89.33 | 447,682 | Xuehua Township | 233000 | 6 | | 2 | | | 340304 | Yuhui District | Yǔhuì Qū | 329.72 | 387,664 | Zhanggongshan Subdistrict | 233000 | 5 | 2 | 1 | | | 340311 | Huaishang District| Huáishàng Qū | 402.68 | 283,872 | Xiaobengbu Town | 233000 | 1 | 5 | | | | 340321 | Huaiyuan County | Huáiyuǎn Xiàn | 2,192.02 | 935,335 | Liucheng Town | 233400 | | 15 | 3 | | | 340322 | Wuhe County | Wǔhé Xiàn | 1,428.56 | 523,531 | Chengguan Town | 233300 | | 12 | 2 | 1 | | 340323 | Guzhen County | Gùzhèn Xiàn | 1,360.75 | 501,449 | Guyang Town | 233700 | | 8 | 3 | |

6. Economy

During the late Qing Dynasty, farmers in the Bengbu area were primarily engaged in household workshop activities such as straw sandal weaving and sesame oil pressing, selling their products at local markets. After the port was opened during the Republic of China era, handicraft industries developed rapidly, expanding to 43 trades with nearly 700 workshops and factories by 1937. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the Northern Anhui Administrative Office proposed a development policy of "designating Bengbu as the operational focus." Due to its relatively solid foundation and policy support, Bengbu gradually formed a relatively comprehensive industrial system. Before the reform and opening-up, Bengbu was consistently one of the most important industrial cities in Anhui Province. After the reform and opening-up, Bengbu's economic status somewhat declined, but it retained strong industrial capabilities. In 2006, Anhui Province proposed the "Two Huai, One Beng" strategy. "Two Huai" referred to Huainan and Huaibei, and "One Beng" referred to Bengbu City, with the aim of revitalizing these old industrial cities. However, the results were minimal, and this strategy is no longer mentioned.

At the end of 2008, Anhui Province proposed the concept of establishing the Hefei-Wuhu-Bengbu Independent Innovation Pilot Zone. In December 2009, the state officially approved this comprehensive reform pilot zone. In the following years, Bengbu City successively introduced measures such as large-scale urban construction and returning to the province's first tier, leading to a significant improvement in its economic strength. In 2016, the Hefei-Wuhu-Bengbu Independent Innovation Pilot Zone was elevated to a National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone.

In 2019, the State Council officially issued the Yangtze River Delta Regional Integration document, formally incorporating Bengbu into the State Council's Yangtze River Delta integration plan.

In 2020, the Bengbu Area of the China (Anhui) Pilot Free Trade Zone was officially inaugurated. Most of the free trade zone is located in the High-tech Zone, focusing on developing industries such as silicon-based new materials, bio-based new materials, and new energy, aiming to build a world-class silicon-based and bio-based manufacturing center and a leading area for technological innovation and open development in Northern Anhui.

6.1 Agriculture

All three counties under Bengbu's jurisdiction are major national commercial grain counties, rich in agricultural and sideline product resources. Most natural vegetation has been replaced by contiguous agricultural areas. The cropping system allows for two harvests per year, with wheat predominantly grown in winter, while some areas also cultivate double-cropping rice.

As Bengbu City straddles both banks of the Huai River, summer grain crops south of the Huai River are primarily rice, whereas the cultivation rate of corn north of the Huai River has gradually increased. In terms of cultivated area, wheat holds an absolute advantage, while the cultivated areas for rice and corn are roughly similar, with rice cultivation area slightly larger. Regarding cash crops, the region is relatively abundant in oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, meat, and aquatic products. Notable examples include Guzhen peanuts, Huaiyuan pomegranates, and Wuhe Tuo Lake crabs.

6.2 Industry

During the 50 years from the founding of the People's Republic of China to the end of the 20th century, Bengbu formed an industrial system mainly comprising machinery, thermal power, chemicals, biochemistry, building materials, cigarettes, brewing, food, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. It was capable of producing over 400 major categories and tens of thousands of products. Within the industrial structure, light and textile industries consistently held a dominant position.

Entering the 21st century, as an important industrial city in Anhui Province, Bengbu's economic strength has significantly increased after years of construction and development. There are currently 1,258 industrial enterprises, including 66 large and medium-sized enterprises. In recent years, Bengbu has comprehensively advanced the reform of state-owned enterprises, accelerated asset restructuring, and focused on implementing the "Brand Creation and Fleet Building" strategy. The industrial structure has undergone new changes, with new advantageous industries gradually forming and a group of backbone enterprises and competitive products emerging. Bengbu now focuses on fine chemicals, deep processing of glass, and automotive components as its leading industries. Additionally, Bengbu's antique jade manufacturing industry is large-scale, making it one of the three major domestic production and processing bases for antique jade.

Major large enterprises in Bengbu include Fengyuan Group, Bengbu Cigarette Factory, and Bengbu Glass Industry Design & Research Institute. Among them, Fengyuan Group is the largest citric acid producer in Asia and the third largest in the world, with five listed companies currently. Wanjiu Group has a sixty-year history of brewing Baijiu (Chinese liquor) and is a pillar enterprise in Anhui's Baijiu industry. The Glass Industry Design & Research Institute has independently developed hundreds of proprietary technological achievements, providing strong technical support for the modernization of China's glass industry and the development of a circular economy.

6.3 Finance and Commerce

After the completion of the Tianjin-Pukou Railway, Bengbu attracted products from Northern Anhui, Western Anhui, Eastern Henan, and Western Northern Jiangsu, which were then transported by rail to Tianjin, Shanghai, and other areas, making it a regional land-water transportation hub. With the increase in goods, materials, and monetary flow, the financial industry emerged and developed. Banks such as the Bank of China and the Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank successively established branches in Bengbu. Financial institutions were typically located in areas with convenient land and water transportation, such as Erma Road and Xinchuantang.

Currently, Bengbu is an important commercial and trade center city in Northern Anhui. Wholesale and retail markets like Guangcai Grand Market and Yiwu Trade City radiate their influence to surrounding areas. Supporting facilities such as the Bengbu Bonded Logistics Center and Bengbu Railway Dry Port support the development of commerce and trade. The most developed areas for finance and commerce are located along Huaihe Road and near Donghai Avenue and Chaoyang Road. These areas have attracted numerous commercial complexes, including Wanda Plaza, Xindi City Plaza, Intime City, Powerlong City Plaza, Hailiang City Plaza, and Guogou Plaza. In 2015, the city's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 57.06 billion yuan.

7. Transportation

7.1 Railway Transport

Bengbu is situated at the confluence of the Huai River, the Beijing-Shanghai Railway, the Huainan Railway, the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, the Beijing-Taipei High-Speed Railway (Hefei-Bengbu Passenger Dedicated Line), and the Huaibei-Suzhou-Bengbu Intercity Railway. It is one of the most important transportation hubs in the province and a gateway to the Yangtze River Delta region. In addition to first-class stations such as Bengbu Station, Bengbu South Station, and Bengbu East Station, there are also stations like Renqiao Station, Tangnanji Station, Guzhen Station, Liancheng Station, Xinmaqiao Station, Caolaoji Station, and Caoshan Station. As a significant industrial base in Anhui Province, the urban area still retains numerous railway spurs leading to major factories and warehouses.

7.1.2 Conventional Railway

Bengbu Station is a crucial railway hub in East China and is classified as a first-class station. During the construction of the original Tianjin-Pukou Railway, because the Huai River waters near Bengbu Ji were calm and convenient for bridge building, the original Tianjin-Pukou Railway engineer, De Ji, decided to abandon the initial plan of crossing the river at Linhuai Town. Instead, he chose to build a bridge at Bengbu and establish a station there. The Shanghai Railway Bureau's railway office was once stationed in Bengbu and administered the railways of Anhui Province. This office has now been relocated to Hefei. Bengbu Station has a daily capacity to receive and dispatch 320 trains, and from Bengbu, one can reach most major cities in China directly by train. Bengbu is a railway hub for the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and the Shuibeng Railway. Trains heading south on the Shuibeng Railway change their train numbers and replace their locomotives here. Bengbu Station began operating EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) trains on June 1, 2007, becoming the first station in Anhui Province to serve such trains, thereby strengthening Bengbu's close ties with the Yangtze River Delta.

Bengbu East Station, historically known as Changhuaiwei Station, was initially built in 1909 and reconstructed on June 1, 1975. It boasts a first-class large-scale freight marshalling yard and the largest freight yard in East China. Currently a national first-class station, it has expanded its rail-sea intermodal transport services. The primary work of Bengbu East Station involves freight car disassembly and assembly operations, and it works together with Bengbu Station to improve transportation and marshalling efficiency.

7.1.2 High-Speed Railway

Bengbu South Station is located within Lilou Township, Longzihu District, south of Donghai Avenue. It is the first station established on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, a central station in East China, and one of the seven major central hub stations on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. It also connects to the Hefei-Bengbu Passenger Dedicated Line of the Beijing-Taipei High-Speed Railway and the planned Huaibei-Suzhou-Bengbu Intercity Railway. The station building covers a floor area of 12,000 square meters and is designed for a maximum gathering capacity of 1,500 people. The station complex building has two above-ground floors. The initial operating speed of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, part of China's high-speed rail network, was 300 km/h, with an initial travel time of approximately 35 minutes from Bengbu to Nanjing. In the long term, the Hefei-Dingyuan-Lianyungang Passenger Dedicated Line of China's high-speed railway, which will pass through Wuhe County, is also planned for construction. Starting September 21, 2017, Bengbu South Station began serving as a major stop for Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail trains operated by Fuxing Hao electric multiple units.

7.2 Air Transport

Bengbu Airport has a long history, serving as an important military airfield during the Republican era. In the 20th century, Bengbu Airport was located south of the current Huai River Cultural Square in Longzihu District. At that time, it operated civil flights and was used jointly by the military and civilians, but passenger traffic was extremely low. In 1999, the airport was completely demolished as it severely constrained urban development. Later, to welcome the new century, Bengbu City constructed the Huai River Cultural Square—one of the city's landmark buildings—on the site of the old airport, renovated the Air Force's 13th Flight Academy, and built or renovated major roads such as Tushan Road, Jiefang Road, and Yan'an Road.

Due to Bengbu City's significant military importance and regional strategic location, a new 4C-standard military airport was constructed southwest of the main urban area, located in Renheji, Yanshan Township, Yuhui District, Bengbu City. The airport codes are BFU and ZSBB, but it has not yet opened for civil aviation. Bengbu Tenghu Airport is planned for Tenghu, Feihe Township, Huaiyuan County, designed to 4C standards. In 2020, the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China's proposal for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 suggested accelerating the construction of Bengbu Airport.

7.3 Water Transport

Bengbu Port is the most important port along the Huai River. Known as the "First Major Port on the Thousand-Mile Huai River," Bengbu Port is one of China's 28 major inland river ports. It now comprises four port areas: Bengbu New Port, Huaiyuan, Wuhe, and Guzhen, with 39 wharves, 60 production berths, a total wharf shoreline length of 2,324 meters, a comprehensive throughput capacity of 4.5 million tons, and a maximum vessel docking capacity of 1,000 tons. Relying on the development of large and medium-sized enterprises in Bengbu City and the hinterland economy of the middle reaches of the Huai River, Bengbu Port has maintained an annual growth rate of about 10% in port throughput and export volume in recent years. Last year, the cargo throughput was 3.2422 million tons, of which export cargo accounted for 2.2345 million tons. From January to June this year, port throughput has already reached 2.3 million tons. The city has a total of 47 water transport enterprises, owning 3,254 various types of transport vessels with a total deadweight tonnage of 1.51 million tons, including 262 vessels over 1,000 tons. The main types of cargo transported by water in the jurisdiction are mineral construction materials, coal, grain, and chemical raw materials. Most export goods are shipped to the Yangtze River Delta regions such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.

The Bengbu Sluice is located on the main stream of the Huai River at Xuzhuang in the western suburbs of Bengbu City, Anhui Province. It is a large-scale water conservancy project in the middle reaches of the Huai River and the first major sluice on the thousand-mile Huai River. Built in 1962 for the purposes of developing irrigation and navigation, combined with comprehensive utilization for road traffic, hydroelectric power generation, and urban water supply, Mao Zedong inscribed the phrase "We must harness the Huai River well." The Bengbu Sluice consists of a river closure regulating sluice, a hydroelectric power station building, a ship lock, and an attached road bridge. The sluice utilizes river channels and lakes to store water and regulate the Huai River's flow. The designed irrigation area is 600,000 hectares. The design flood discharge capacity of the regulating sluice and spillway is 10,140 and 2,860 cubic meters per second respectively, with the check flood discharge capacity being 11,400 and 3,600 cubic meters per second respectively. The ship lock can accommodate transport fleets of 2×1000 tons.

7.4 Road Transport

Road transport in Bengbu City began in 1922. It is one of the main north-south arteries, interwoven with railways and shipping to form a network, and is also a transportation center with north-south access. Today, roads extend in all directions, and high-standard city entrance/exit roads are connected to national and provincial highways. Bengbu established a long-distance bus station in 1954. It now has long-distance bus stations such as the Huaiyuan County Automobile Transport Company, Bengbu Long-Distance Bus Central Station, South Passenger Transport Station, and North Passenger Transport Station, operating long-distance coaches to destinations across the country. Among them, coaches heading to Huainan City, Suzhou City, Hefei City, and Chuzhou City maintain a departure interval of 30 minutes during the daytime. Coaches to Huaiyuan County, Guzhen County, Wuhe County, and Fengyang County operate with bus-like frequency during the daytime.

Within Bengbu City, the G3 Beijing-Taipei Expressway runs north-south through Huaishang District and Yuhui District, with exits at Bengbu West, Tushan Huaiyuan, and Bengbu. The G36 Nanjing-Luoyang Expressway passes through the northern Huaishang District of the city, with exits at Hongji, Bengbu North, and Daqing North Road (under construction). The S17 Bengbu-Hefei Expressway passes through the southern part of the city, connecting to Huainan and Hefei. The S07 Xuzhou-Mingguang Expressway runs through Wuhe County town. The S95 Fengyang Branch Line connects to Fengyang County along the southern part of the city. S0711 and S1711 are under construction. National Highway 206 runs north-south through the entire city. National Highway 104 runs through Wuhe County. National Highway 345 passes through the area. Provincial Highway 101 connects the urban area with Guzhen County. Provincial Highway 201 connects Guzhen County with Lingbi County. Provincial Highway 207 is Bengbu City's "Welcome Avenue," connecting the Beijing-Taipei Expressway and crossing Provincial Highway 301 in the southern part of the city. Provincial Highway 225 connects Yuhui District, Huaiyuan County, and Huainan City. Provincial Highway 304 connects Guzhen County and Wuhe County. Provincial Highway 307 traverses Huaishang District. Provincial Highway 310 crosses the southern part, connecting Guangou Township and Fengyang County. Provincial Highway 329 connects Guzhen County and Si County.

7.5 Urban Transport

7.5.1 Public Buses

Main articles: Bengbu Bus Route List and Bengbu Public Transport Group Co., Ltd. Bengbu City is one of the first 41 cities to join the China T-Union system and is a "Transit Metropolis" demonstration city. It has public transport companies such as Bengbu Public Transport Group Co., Ltd. and Bengbu Zhucheng Public Transport Co., Ltd. Since the bus reform in 2015, most Bengbu bus routes have three-digit numbers: routes starting with 1 are urban bus lines, those starting with 2 were urban-rural special lines, and those starting with 3 are intercity buses. Additionally, there is one circular route, three "micro-bus" loop lines, as well as special lines and customized bus services. A new round of urban-rural public transport integration work began in 2020, gradually reorganizing urban-rural bus lines under a unified numbering system, and the "2" series urban-rural special lines have gradually phased out.

By 2018, several bus companies in the city operated nearly one hundred bus routes in the main urban area, with nearly two thousand various types of buses. The proportion of clean energy vehicles, including natural gas, hybrid, and pure electric vehicles, reached 100%. Old-style heavily polluting diesel vehicles had been completely phased out, and the clean energy vehicle ratio of 100% ranked first in Anhui Province. Main bus models include 500 BYD pure electric buses, 62 Foton 12-meter gas-electric hybrid buses, 30 Ankai 8-meter pure electric buses, and 138 Ankai 12-meter pure electric buses.

Bengbu Public Transport Group launched the "Ride Bus APP" intelligent public transport query software. It installed 55-inch LCD intelligent electronic bus stop signs at stations on main roads such as Shengli Road, Huaihe Road, Donghai Avenue, and Tushan Road. Passengers can pay for rides by coin, card, UnionPay QuickPass, or Alipay QR code scanning. Card payments enjoy a 10% discount, and more favorable card types like monthly passes are available. The fare for Alipay QR code scanning is the same as the coin fare, with no discount currently available.#### 7.5.2 Taxis Bengbu City currently has seven taxi companies: Hongyuan, Wanlong, Tongtai, Jintai, Xintongli, Dazhong, and the Transportation Investment Group. The taxi starting fare is 6 yuan for the first 2.5 kilometers, and 7 yuan at night. Currently, these seven companies collectively own over 3,000 vehicles, all of which are compressed natural gas or new energy cars. The main brands and models include Volkswagen Jetta and Santana, Citroën Elysee, and Chery A5.

In 2016, the Bengbu City Transportation Management Department relaxed taxi management policies, removing restrictions on vehicle brands and encouraging the use of dual-fuel, pure electric, and hybrid vehicles.

In June 2017, the first batch of five BYD e5 pure electric taxis, along with 500 BYD pure electric buses, were introduced to Bengbu City to provide residents with green transportation services.

7.6 Rail Transit

In September 2017, the Bengbu City BYD SkyRail project officially commenced. The first phase of the SkyRail project (i.e., the trial section of Bengbu Rail Transit Line 2) stretches from Bengbu Zha North to Changzheng North Road, with a total length of 5.63 kilometers. Constructed by China Railway Eighth Bureau Group, it is expected to be completed and begin trial operations in May 2019. During the construction period, traffic control measures were implemented on certain sections of Huaishang Avenue, with three lanes closed for construction in both the north and south directions.

8. Education

During the Republic of China period, county schools and academies gradually disappeared, while modern education and private schools coexisted for a long time. Until the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the city still retained more than 30 private schools, with over 400 students. From the opening of the Jinpu Railway to 1938, more than 20 primary schools were established in the city. Most of them were four-year primary schools with two to four classes, while a few were six-year advanced primary schools with six classes. The main primary schools included Zhengjie Primary School, Chuanmin Primary School, Huimin Chengde Primary School, Private Qinmin Primary School, and Hanmei Primary School. Secondary schools began to emerge in the mid-1920s. The Wanbei Middle School, located in Houde Lane on Huafeng Street, was the earliest middle school in Bengbu. The private Jianghuai Middle School developed well and became an influential middle school in the northern Anhui region at the time, serving as the predecessor of today's Bengbu No. 2 Middle School.

Bengbu currently hosts undergraduate and vocational colleges such as Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu University, Anhui Science and Technology University, Bengbu College of Business and Technology, and Anhui Electronic Information Vocational and Technical College. It also houses military academies like the PLA Army Armored Forces Academy, PLA Air Force Aviation University, the Automotive Non-Commissioned Officer School of the PLA Army Military Transportation Academy, and the PLA Navy Non-Commissioned Officer School. In terms of basic education, there are eight provincial-level exemplary high schools, including Bengbu No. 1 Middle School, Bengbu No. 2 Middle School, Bengbu No. 3 Middle School, Bengbu No. 4 Middle School, Bengbu No. 6 Middle School, Bengbu Railway Middle School, Huaiyuan No. 1 Middle School, Huaiyuan No. 2 Middle School, and Huaiyuan No. 3 Middle School.

9. Population

By the end of 2008, Bengbu had a total of 1,009,900 registered households, including 287,900 households in the municipal districts. The total population at year-end was 3,583,100, an increase of 30,400 from the beginning of the year. Among the total population, 2,580,500 were agricultural population, and 1,002,600 were non-agricultural population. The total population in the municipal districts at year-end was 925,100, including 655,000 non-agricultural population. In the city's population, males numbered 1,855,700, accounting for 51.8% of the total population; females numbered 1,727,400, accounting for 48.2%. From 2006 to 2010, the number of deaths in the city showed a year-on-year increasing trend, rising from about 22,200 at the beginning of the period to 24,300 in 2010. The increase in deaths is related to the rising proportion of the elderly in the overall population, and as population aging becomes increasingly severe, the number of deaths continues to rise year by year.

According to the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the city's resident population was 3,164,467. Compared with the Fifth National Population Census, the population decreased by 123,862 over the ten-year period, a decline of 3.77%, with an average annual decrease of 0.38%. Among them, the male population was 1,612,771, accounting for 50.97%; the female population was 1,551,696, accounting for 49.03%. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 103.94. The population aged 0–14 was 585,261, accounting for 18.50%; the population aged 15–64 was 2,243,337, accounting for 70.89%; and the population aged 65 and above was 335,869, accounting for 10.61%. The urban population was 1,373,554, accounting for 43.41%, while the rural population was 1,790,913, accounting for 56.59%.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's resident population was 3,296,408. Compared with the 3,164,467 from the Sixth National Population Census, the population increased by 131,941 over the ten-year period, a growth of 4.17%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.41%. Among them, the male population was 1,669,446, accounting for 50.64% of the total population; the female population was 1,626,962, accounting for 49.36%. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 102.61. The population aged 0–14 was 732,082, accounting for 22.21% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,970,135, accounting for 59.77%; and the population aged 60 and above was 594,191, accounting for 18.03%, of which the population aged 65 and above was 474,627, accounting for 14.4%. The urban population was 1,815,557, accounting for 55.08% of the total population, while the rural population was 1,480,851, accounting for 44.92%.

10. Religion

Wuhe County is the earliest site in Anhui Province where Catholicism was introduced. In the sixth year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1649), Johann Adam Schall von Bell came here to preach. After the Yongzheng era, Catholicism was banned, and churches were destroyed, but a small number of underground Catholics remained. During the late Qing Dynasty, French Jesuit priests used Wuhe County as a base to spread Catholicism along the Huai River in northern Anhui Province. The Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bengbu was built between 1921 and 1922. Located southeast of the Huaihe Road overpass at the border of Longzihu District and Bengshan District in Bengbu City, it occupied over 4,000 square meters of land and originally included more than 100 buildings, including churches and houses. Today, only one tower remains.

11. Culture

11.1 Folk Arts

Bengbu is the birthplace of the Flower Drum Lantern, Sizhou Opera, and Fengyang Flower Drum Opera. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, there were no specialized art troupes in Bengbu, and folk artists could only perform in mobile settings such as train stations and streets. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the Bengbu Municipal People's Government organized these artists and established professional art troupes, including the Sizhou Opera Troupe, Beijing Opera Troupe, Yue Opera Troupe, Lang Opera Troupe, and Cultural and Art Troupes.

Bengbu is the birthplace of the Flower Drum Lantern and Sizhou Opera, which have now been nominated for national and world intangible cultural heritage.

11.2 Mass Media

The Bengbu Economic Radio Station was established in 1993.

12. Sister Cities

12.1 Domestic Sister Cities

Bengbu City has established sister city relationships with the following domestic cities: People's Republic of China, Huaian City, Jiangsu Province People's Republic of China, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province People's Republic of China, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province People's Republic of China, Shizuishan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region People's Republic of China, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province People's Republic of China, Haikou City, Hainan Province People's Republic of China, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province People's Republic of China, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Republic of China, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province People's Republic of China, Mentougou District, Beijing People's Republic of China, Jing'an District, Shanghai People's Republic of China, Changning District, Shanghai

12.2 International Sister Cities

Bengbu City has established 6 pairs of international sister city relationships with 5 countries. | Sister City | Date Established | Signing Location | |-------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------| | Settsu City, Japan | 5/5/84 | Bengbu | | Bergamo City, Italy | 9/6/88 | Bergamo | | Bergamo Province, Italy | 11/19/88 | | | Tameside, United Kingdom | 3/29/95 | Bengbu | | Barra Mansa City, Brazil | 7/20/99 | Barra Mansa | | Szolnok, Hungary | 9/10/16 | | | Berezovsky District, Brest Region, Belarus | 9/14/17 | Bengbu |

12.3 Economic and Trade Partnership Cities

Bengbu City has established 5 pairs of international economic and trade partnership city relationships with 5 countries. | Partner City | Date Established | Signing Location | |------------------------|----------------------|----------------------| | Krefeld, Germany | 9/2/87 | Bengbu | | Sincan, Turkey | 5/26/91 | Sincan | | Chita Oblast, Russia | 2/25/94 | Bengbu | | Houston, USA | 12/4/01 | Houston | | Ipswich, Australia | 5/10/02 | Bengbu |

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The Pearl Harvesting Grounds

Bengshan District

Huaiyuan County

The city is predominantly Han Chinese, with 36 ethnic minorities such as Hui, Mongolian, Korean, Manchu, Tibetan, Miao, and Zhuang living in mixed and scattered communities. Ethnic minorities account for approximately 1.1% of the city's total population, with the Hui being the largest group.

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