Chuzhou (滁州)

1. Introduction

Chuzhou City, commonly known as "Eastern Anhui" or "Chu County", is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Anhui Province, People's Republic of China, located in the eastern part of Anhui Province. The city borders Bengbu City to the northwest, Huainan City to the west, Hefei City to the southwest, Ma'anshan City to the south, Nanjing City of Jiangsu Province to the southeast, and Yangzhou City, Huai'an City, and Suqian City of Jiangsu Province to the northeast. Situated in the hilly region of eastern Anhui, the terrain is higher in the west and lower in the east, with landforms divided into hills, ridges, and plains. The city spans the Yangtze River Basin and the Huai River Basin. In the north, there are the Huai River and its tributaries, the Chi River and the Hao River, while in the south, the Chu River flows southeastward through Nanjing City into the Yangtze River, receiving tributaries such as the Xiang River, Qingliu River, and Lai'an River.

Chuzhou City administers two districts, two county-level cities, and four counties. The total area of the city is 13,516 square kilometers, with a registered population of 4.54 million and a permanent resident population of 3.99 million. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population is 62.9%. The People's Government of Chuzhou City is located at No. 99 Longpan Avenue, Nanqiao District.

Chuzhou is the northern gateway of Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties, facing the main city of Nanjing across the river. The urban area is only 50 kilometers from the center of Nanjing, and it has historically been known as the "Key to Jinling and the Safeguard of Jianghuai". It is a core city of the Nanjing Metropolitan Circle and the Hefei Economic Circle, a National Garden City, and one of the cities in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration.

2. Origin of the Place Name

Chuzhou City can trace its origins back to the establishment of Chuzhou as a prefecture during the Sui Dynasty. The name "Chuzhou" derives from the Chu River, which was historically known as "Tu Shui" (涂水). Chuzhou evolved from the ancient region referred to as "Tu Zhong" (涂中).

3. History

3.1 Ancient Times

During the pre-Qin period, the area of present-day Chuzhou City was home to various vassal states and fiefdoms such as the State of Zhongli, Tangyi, and Beiliangyi. In the Spring and Autumn period, the eastern part, now Tianchang City (Beiliang), belonged to the State of Wu, while most of the rest of today's Chuzhou City area was part of the State of Chu.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the Central Plains and established the commandery and county system. The area of Chuzhou City belonged to Jiujiang Commandery, with counties such as Tangyi County, Yinling County, Dongcheng County, Guangling County, and Dongyang County established. The Han Dynasty implemented the provincial inspector system, and the Chuzhou area fell under the jurisdiction of the Yangzhou Inspectorate. It established counties (or marquisates) including Tangyi Marquisate, Jianyang County, Quanjiao County (Marquisate), Yinling County, Dongcheng County, Quyang County, Zhongli County (Marquisate), Gaoyou County, Guangling County, and Jiangdu County.

In the late Han Dynasty, the realm fell into chaos, and three kingdoms were successively established in the Central Plains region. The Chuzhou area was divided between the Wei Kingdom's Yangzhou Huainan Commandery (most counties of Chuzhou) and the Wu Kingdom's Yangzhou (most of Tianchang). The county administrations largely followed the Han system. The Jin Dynasty reunified the realm, and the Chuzhou area belonged to Yangzhou Huainan Commandery.

In the late Jin Dynasty, the realm descended into chaos again, divided into several states with the Huai River as a boundary. During the early Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Chuzhou area belonged to the Southern Dynasties. In the later period, as the Southern Dynasties weakened and lost large territories north of the Yangtze River, the various counties in the Chuzhou area came under the control of the Northern Dynasties.

The Sui Dynasty succeeded the Northern Zhou and reunified the realm. It first established the prefecture-county system, abandoning the province-commander-county system. Within the Chuzhou area, it established Hao Prefecture (governing Zhongli County, Dingyuan County, etc.), Chu Prefecture (governing Xinchang County, Quanjiao County), and Yang Prefecture (governing Shiliang County, Xuyi County, etc.). In the late Sui Dynasty, the province-county system was re-established, and the three prefectures in the Chuzhou area were renamed "Zhongli Commandery," "Yongyang Commandery," and "Jiangdu Commandery." The Tang Dynasty established the circuit-prefecture-county system. All three prefectures in the Chuzhou area belonged to the Huainan Circuit, with prefectures and counties following the Sui arrangements. During the Tang Tianbao era, Tianchang was established from lands of Gaoyou, Jiangdu, Liuhe, and other counties. In the late Tang Dynasty, regional military governors became independent. All prefectures and counties in the Chuzhou area successively became territories of the Wu Kingdom and later the Southern Tang. After the Southern Tang lost its lands north of the Yangtze, the entire Chuzhou area came under the Later Zhou.

The Northern Song Dynasty succeeded the Later Zhou and established the route-prefecture-county system. The Chuzhou area belonged to the Huainan Route. Later, the Huainan Route was split into Eastern and Western Routes. The prefectures in the Chuzhou area, from east to west, belonged to the Huainan Eastern Route (governing Chu Prefecture, Yang Prefecture, Si Prefecture) and the Huainan Western Route (governing Hao Prefecture). The Southern Song Dynasty largely followed the Northern Song administrative setup but additionally established Xuyi Army, Tianchang Army, and Zhaoxin Army.

The Yuan Dynasty established the provincial system, with routes, prefectures, and counties under it. The Chuzhou area belonged to the Henan Jiangbei Province, under which were Yangzhou Route (governing Chu Prefecture), Huaian Route (governing Si Prefecture), and Anfeng Route (governing Hao Prefecture).

The Ming Dynasty established the Provincial Administration Commission system, with prefectures (or independent departments) and counties under it. Fengyang County became the capital of the Ming Empire, called the "Central Capital." Shortly after, the construction of the Central Capital was halted. The Chuzhou area came under the direct jurisdiction of the capital (Nanjing). It established Chu Prefecture (governing the prefectural seat, Lai'an County, Quanjiao County) and Fengyang Prefecture (governing Fengyang County, Linhuai County, Dingyuan County, Xuyi County, Tianchang County).

The Qing Dynasty established the provincial system, with subordinate units following the Ming setup. The entire Chuzhou area initially belonged to Jiangnan Province. Later, Jiangnan Province was split into Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. Chu Prefecture (governing the prefectural seat, Lai'an County, Quanjiao County), Fengyang Prefecture (governing Fengyang County, Dingyuan County), and Si Prefecture (governing Xuyi County, Tianchang County) all belonged to Anhui Province.

3.2 Modern and Contemporary Times

In the early years of the Republic of China, the nationwide administrative reform abolished prefectures, departments, and sub-prefectures, establishing the province-county system. Chuzhou was changed to Chu County. Initially, it belonged to the Huaisi Circuit of Anhui Province. From 1932 to 1936, Chu County, Lai'an, Fengyang, etc., were under the Fourth Administrative District, while Tianchang County, etc., were under the Seventh Administrative District. In 1936, another reform established the Fifth Administrative District. Its administrative office was initially located in Chu County. In the 27th year of the Republic of China (1938), in February, it was moved to Hanshan County, governing six counties: Chu County, Tianchang, Lai'an, Quanjiao, He County, and Hanshan. In November of the 21st year of the Republic of China (1932), Jiashan County was added to its jurisdiction. Today's Dingyuan County and Fengyang County of Chuzhou City belonged to the Fourth Administrative District. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Nationalist government lost control over parts of this region. The area was successively controlled by the Wang Jingwei regime and the Communist Party's Soviet-Anhui Border Region Government, creating a situation coexisting with the Nationalist government. After the War of Resistance, parts of the region returned to Nationalist government control. During the Second Chinese Civil War, Chu County, as the northern Yangtze barrier of the Republic of China's capital Nanjing, was captured by the People's Liberation Army. In January 1949, the People's Liberation Army occupied Chu County.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chu County Administrative Region was established (briefly merged into the Bengbu Administrative Region) and later the Chu County Prefecture. After the 1980s, with the promotion of the prefecture-level city administrative system, the Chu County Prefecture was reorganized into Chuzhou City in the 1990s. The administered Tianchang County and Jiashan County successively became Tianchang City and Mingguang City.

4. Geography

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------|-------|-------|-------|----------| | Record high °C | 20.7 | 26.4 | 28.7 | 32.8 | 36 | 37.5 | 38.7 | 38.3 | 38.6 | 34.1 | 28.8 | 22.1 | 38.7 | | Record high °F | 69.3 | 79.5 | 83.7 | 91 | 96.8 | 99.5 | 101.7 | 100.9 | 101.5 | 93.4 | 83.8 | 71.8 | 101.7 | | Average high °C | 6.6 | 8.5 | 13.1 | 20.2 | 25.6 | 28.7 | 31.5 | 31.5 | 27.1 | 22 | 15.6 | 9.6 | 20 | | Average high °F | 43.9 | 47.3 | 55.6 | 68.4 | 78.1 | 83.7 | 88.7 | 88.7 | 80.8 | 71.6 | 60.1 | 49.3 | 68 | | Daily mean °C | 2.3 | 4.1 | 8.6 | 15.3 | 20.6 | 24.4 | 27.6 | 27.2 | 22.6 | 17.1 | 10.5 | 4.7 | 15.4 | | Daily mean °F | 36.1 | 39.4 | 47.5 | 59.5 | 69.1 | 75.9 | 81.7 | 81 | 72.7 | 62.8 | 50.9 | 40.5 | 59.7 | | Average low °C | −1.2 | 0.6 | 4.6 | 10.7 | 16.1 | 20.7 | 24.3 | 23.9 | 19.1 | 13.1 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 11.6 | | Average low °F | 29.8 | 33.1 | 40.3 |51.3 | 61 | 69.3 | 75.7 | 75 | 66.4 | 55.6 | 43.5 | 33.4 | 52.9 | | Record low °C | −13 | −11.8 | −5.7 | 0.2 | 6.9 | 12.7 | 17.1 | 17.4 | 9.1 | 1.5 | −6.7 | −12.3 | −13 | | Record low °F | 9 | 10.8 | 21.7 | 32.4 | 44.4 | 54.9 | 62.8 | 63.3 | 48.4 | 34.7 | 19.9 | 9.9 | 9 | | Average precipitation mm | 35.6 | 46.5 | 78.1 | 71.3 | 86.3 | 176.3 | 207.5 | 128.4 | 83 | 61.9 | 55.4 | 24.3 | 1,054.60 | | Average precipitation inches | 1.4 | 1.83 | 3.07 | 2.81 | 3.4 | 6.94 | 8.17 | 5.06 | 3.27 | 2.44 | 2.18 | 0.96 | 41.53 | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 7.7 | 8.3 | 11.6 | 9.7 | 10.1 | 11.8 | 13 | 10.9 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 7 | 5.2 | 112.5 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Chuzhou City currently administers 2 municipal districts and 4 counties, and manages 2 county-level cities on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Langya District, Nanqiao District
• County-level Cities: Tianchang City, Mingguang City
• Counties: Lai'an County, Quanjiao County, Dingyuan County, Fengyang County

In addition to the formal administrative divisions, Chuzhou City has also established the following economic functional zones: Suzhou-Chuzhou Modern Industrial Park (in cooperation with Suzhou Industrial Park), Chuzhou City Industry-City Integration Demonstration Zone (in cooperation with Nanjing Jiangbei New Area), National-level Chuzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, National-level Chuzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone (located in Tianchang City), Chuzhou Higher Education Science and Innovation City, Langya New District, and Nanqiao New District. In 2019, the Pukou-Nanqiao Cross-border Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (in cooperation with Pukou District) and the Dingshan-Chahe Cross-regional Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (in cooperation with Dingshan Subdistrict) were added.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Including: Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|-------------------------|------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|--------------------------------| | 341100 | Chuzhou City | Chúzhōu Shì | 13,515.99 | 3,987,054 | Nanqiao District | 239000 | 20 | 85 | 8 | 1 | | 341102 | Langya District | Lángyá Qū | 227.76 | 410,300 | Langya Subdistrict | 239000 | 10 | | | | | 341103 | Nanqiao District | Nánqiáo Qū | 1,177.70 | 372,371 | Wuyi Town | 239000 | 4 | 8 | | | | 341122 | Lai'an County | Lái'ān Xiàn | 1,498.63 | 416,048 | Xin'an Town | 239200 | | 11 | 1 | | | 341124 | Quanjiao County | Quánjiāo Xiàn | 1,568.36 | 395,633 | Xianghe Town | 239500 | | 10 | | | | 341125 | Dingyuan County | Dìngyuǎn Xiàn | 3,001.77 | 671,361 | Dingcheng Town | 233200 | | 16 | 6 | 1 | | 341126 | Fengyang County | Fèngyáng Xiàn | 1,937.27 | 631,934 | Fucheng Town | 233100 | | 14 | 1 | | | 341181 | Tianchang City | Tiāncháng Shì | 1,754.15 | 603,780 | Qianqiu Subdistrict | 239300 | 2 | 14 | | | | 341182 | Mingguang City | Míngguāng Shì | 2,350.34 | 485,627 | Mingguang Subdistrict | 239400 | 4 | 12 | 1 | |

6. Economy

In recent years, Chuzhou has experienced rapid economic development, becoming a significant growth engine for Anhui Province and even the entire country. As a key city in the Yangtze River Delta integration, Chuzhou actively integrates into the Nanjing Metropolitan Circle and the Hefei Metropolitan Circle, seizing opportunities from regional integration to promote high-quality development. Its economic output consistently ranks third in Anhui Province.

Chuzhou maintains strong economic momentum, with its regional GDP projected to reach 380 billion yuan in 2023, representing a year-on-year growth of 7%. In terms of industrial structure, Chuzhou has developed a diversified industrial system dominated by manufacturing, with the secondary industry accounting for over 40% of GDP. Emerging industries such as electronic information, biomedicine, and new energy are growing rapidly, with the photovoltaic industry being particularly prominent. Chuzhou is committed to building itself into the "World Photovoltaic Capital," with an increasingly complete industrial chain.

Chuzhou also emphasizes the development of agriculture and the service sector, promoting agricultural modernization and industrial transformation while vigorously developing cultural tourism to attract a large number of tourists and investments. The business environment continues to improve, drawing numerous enterprises to invest, especially in projects valued at over 100 million yuan.

In terms of reform and innovation, Chuzhou vigorously promotes the Xiaogang Spirit, advances multiple national and provincial-level reform pilot programs, and steadily enhances regional innovation capabilities. Additionally, Chuzhou actively attracts high-level talents and university graduates through its "Dual Recruitment and Dual Attraction" policy, injecting new vitality into economic development.

Chuzhou is moving toward the goal of becoming the "Four Hubs" in the Yangtze River Delta and building a "Seven-Strong City," striving to become an industrial radiation hinterland, a high-end green agricultural product supply base, a health and wellness tourism destination, and a talent hub. In the future, Chuzhou will continue to optimize its industrial structure, improve its transportation network, and promote the development of cultural tourism and technological innovation industries, aiming to achieve high-quality development and build a modern economic system.

6. Transportation

6.1 Highways

6.1.1 Expressways

• Ningluo Expressway
• Hushan Expressway
• Ninglian Expressway
• Jingtai Expressway
• Mingxu Expressway
• Changshen Expressway
• Chuxin Expressway
• Machuyang Expressway

6.1.2 National Highways

National Highway 104, National Highway 205, National Highway 312

6.1.3 Provincial Highways

Provincial Highway 206, Provincial Highway 311, Provincial Highway 312, Provincial Highway 206, Provincial Highway 226, Provincial Highway 331, Provincial Highway 101, Provincial Highway 307, Provincial Highway 309

6.2 Railways

6.2.1 Conventional Railways

Beijing-Shanghai Line, Nanjing-Xi'an Line

6.2.2 High-Speed Railways

Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, Shanghai-Wuhan-Chengdu High-Speed Railway, Northern Yangtze River High-Speed Railway (Planned)

6.2.3 Intercity Rail Transit

Hexian-Quanjiao-Chuzhou-Tianchang-Yangzhou Intercity Railway

6.3 Urban Rail Transit

Nanjing Metro Line S4 On February 28, 2022, to actively mobilize social forces to participate in the construction of Chuzhou's rail transit, the announcement for soliciting logo design proposals for Chuzhou Rail Transit was released. It commenced operations on June 28, 2023.

6.4 Waterways

Relying on the channels of the Chu River (Yangtze River), Huai River, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the main ports include Chuzhou Port and Fengyang Port.

6.5 Aviation

Relying on Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Hefei Xinqiao International Airport, and Chuzhou Branch Airport (proposed site in Banta, Lai'an County, under planning).

7. Education

7.1 Key High Schools

Chuzhou High School, Chuzhou No. 2 High School, Lai'an High School, Quanjiao High School, Dingyuan High School, Dingyuan No. 3 High School, Fengyang High School, Fengyang Zhongli High School, Tianchang High School, Tianchang Binghui High School, Mingguang High School

7.2 Higher Education Institutions

Chuzhou University Chuzhou Vocational & Technical College Chuzhou City Vocational College Anhui Science and Technology University Jinniuhu Campus of Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology

7.3 Adult Education

Chuzhou Radio & Television University Chuzhou University for the Aged

7.4 Vocational Education

Chuzhou No. 1 Vocational High School Chuzhou Tourism & Commerce School (Chuzhou No. 2 Vocational High School) Chuzhou Electronic Engineering School Chuzhou Light & Textile Technical School Chuzhou Transportation Technical School

7.5 Private Schools

Chuzhou Xinrui School Chuzhou Qinghua Middle School Chuzhou Xinying Middle School Chuzhou Bosch Bilingual School Chuzhou No. 11 Middle School

8. Population

At the end of 2022, the city had a permanent resident population of 4.05 million, with an urbanization rate of 63.1%.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 3,987,054. Compared with the 3,937,868 people recorded in the Sixth National Population Census, the population increased by 49,186 over the ten-year period, representing a growth rate of 1.25% and an average annual growth rate of 0.12%. Among them, the male population was 2,052,337, accounting for 51.48% of the total population; the female population was 1,934,717, accounting for 48.52% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 106.08. The population aged 0–14 was 648,179, accounting for 16.26% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,547,294, accounting for 63.89% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 791,581, accounting for 19.85% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 636,867, accounting for 15.97% of the total population. The urban population was 2,465,704, accounting for 61.84% of the total population; the rural population was 1,521,350, accounting for 38.16% of the total population.

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9. Culture

9.1 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Imperial City of Ming Zhongdu and Stone Carvings of the Imperial Tombs
• Site of the Banta Defense Battle
• Cliff and Stone Inscriptions of Langya Mountain
• Chihe Taiping Bridge
• Beamless Hall of Langya Temple

9.2 Anhui Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Zuiweng Pavilion
• Fengle Pavilion

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Nanqiao District

Dingyuan County

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Langya Elm

Chu Chrysanthemum