Heyuan (河源)

1. Introduction

Heyuan City, also known as Chacheng, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the northeastern part of Guangdong Province, in the middle and upper reaches of the Dongjiang River. The city borders Meizhou City to the east, Shanwei City to the southeast, Huizhou City to the south, Shaoguan City to the northwest, and Ganzhou City of Jiangxi Province to the north. Situated in the mountainous and hilly region of northeastern Guangdong, the terrain is higher in the northeast and lower in the southwest. The northwest is dominated by the Jiulian Mountains, the central area by the Luofu Mountains, and the southeast by the Lotus Mountains, interspersed with the Xinfeng River Valley and the Dongjiang River Valley. The Xunwu River and Anyuan River converge in Longchuan County to form the Dongjiang River, which flows southwestward diagonally through the urban area. The Xinfeng River Reservoir, also known as Wanlv Lake, is located in the western part of the city. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 19 Yanjiang Middle Road, Yuancheng District.

Heyuan is the birthplace of Hakka culture and serves as the settlement center for Hakka people in the Dongjiang River Basin, earning it the reputation as the "Ancient Hakka Town · Wanlv Heyuan."

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2. History

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the coastal regions of southeastern China, including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi, as well as the Indochina Peninsula, were inhabited by diverse groups of Yue people, collectively known as the Baiyue (Hundred Yue). Like other areas in Lingnan, the Heyuan region was part of the Baiyue territories.

In 214 BCE, Emperor Qin Shi Huang conquered the lands of the Southern Yue and established commanderies and counties. Zhao Tuo built a city and established Longchuan County, stationing troops there and serving as its first magistrate. At that time, ancient Longchuan County was one of the four counties in the Qin Dynasty's Nanhai Commandery. It was named after the Longshan Cave in the north of the county, through which the upper reaches of the Dongjiang River flowed. Later, Zhao Tuo declared himself king, and Lingnan was incorporated into the territory of the Nanyue Kingdom. In 111 BCE, the Han Dynasty pacified Nanyue and established nine commanderies. According to the Book of Han, Volume 28, "Treatise on Geography, Part Two": "Nanhai Commandery had six counties: Panyu, Boluo, Zhongsu, Longchuan, Sihui, and Jieyang." Throughout the Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties, the Heyuan region belonged to ancient Longchuan County and Nanhai Commandery. This serves as evidence that Longchuan County is considered the historical and cultural origin of today's entire Heyuan City.

In the first year of the Yongming era of the Southern Qi Dynasty (483 CE), Heyuan County was separated from Longchuan County and placed under Nanhai Commandery. According to the Book of Southern Qi, Volume 14, "Treatise on Provinces and Commanderies," under the Guangzhou entry, Nanhai Commandery administered the counties: "Panyu, Xi'an, Boluo, Zengcheng, Longchuan, Youping, Suining, Xinfeng, Luoyang, Gaoyao, Anyuan, and Heyuan." The Yongzheng edition of the General Gazetteer of Guangdong, Volume 5, "Evolution of Administrative Divisions," records: "In the first year of the Yongming era of the Qi Dynasty (483 CE), Longchuan was divided to establish Heyuan and Xinfeng counties, both belonging to Nanhai Commandery." The place name "Heyuan" thus appeared for the first time. At its establishment, the county covered a vast area, including parts or most of present-day Heping, Lianping, Xinfeng, Longmen, Boluo, and other counties. Subsequently, Heyuan County was successively under the jurisdiction of Lianghua Commandery, Xunzhou, Longchuan Commandery, Leixiang Commandery, Haifeng Commandery, Lianping Zhou, Chaoxun Circuit, and the Dongjiang Administrative Office. For most of its history, it belonged to Xunzhou (once called Zhenzhou and later renamed Huizhou). After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, it was successively under the Dongjiang Special District, Eastern Guangdong Administrative Region, Huiyang Special District, Shaoguan Prefecture, and Huiyang Prefecture.

From 483 CE to 1987, a span of 1,504 years, although the administrative boundaries of Heyuan County changed frequently, its establishment was never abolished, and its county seat and name remained unchanged. In the historical evolution of Heyuan County's administrative system, it played a significant role in shaping the relatively independent yet closely related territories of present-day Huizhou, Meizhou, and Heyuan cities.

On January 7, 1988, the State Council of China approved the abolition of Heyuan County and the establishment of Heyuan City, administering Yuancheng District, Suburban District, Longchuan County, Zijin County, Lianping County, and Heping County. On November 8, 1993, the State Council of China approved the abolition of the Suburban District of Heyuan City and its redesignation as Dongyuan County.

Since 1996, over 10,000 dinosaur egg fossils, 8 dinosaur skeletal fossils, and 168 dinosaur footprint fossils have been excavated in the area. On April 10, 2005, Heyuan was officially awarded the title "Hometown of Chinese Dinosaurs" by the Stratigraphy and Paleontology Research Center of the China Geological Survey.

3. Geography

Heyuan City is located in the northeastern part of Guangdong Province, northeast of the Pearl River Delta. Its geographical coordinates are between 114°14′ and 115°36′ east longitude and 23°10′ and 24°27′ north latitude. Situated at the junction of the mountainous region of northeastern Guangdong and the plains of the Pearl River Delta, Heyuan plays a crucial role as a transportation hub connecting the Pearl River Delta region with the mountainous areas of northern Guangdong and the regions of southern Jiangxi and western Fujian.

The terrain of Heyuan City is predominantly mountainous and hilly, with the northeast being slightly higher and the southwest lower, featuring an alternating pattern of mountains and basins. The Dongjiang River, the Xinfeng River, and their tributaries significantly influence the topographic distribution. Alluvial plains and broad valleys, suitable for cultivation, are distributed among the mountains and along the banks of the Dongjiang River. Heyuan City is rich in water resources. The Dongjiang River, which flows through the entire area, is the largest tributary of the Pearl River system in eastern Guangdong. About 87% of the city's area lies within the Dongjiang River basin, with a stretch of approximately 254 kilometers within the city, accounting for over 45% of the Dongjiang's total length. In 2007, the water quality at six monitoring sections along the Heyuan stretch of the Dongjiang River was good, with all 24 monitored indicators meeting the Class II standards of China's national "Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water" (GB3838-2002). This is closely related to water safety for areas along the Dongjiang River basin and downstream. Furthermore, the largest reservoir in South China, the Xinfengjiang Reservoir (also known as Wanlv Lake), is located within its territory and is often called the "Treasure Trove of Eastern Guangdong." The water quality of Wanlv Lake has consistently maintained the national Class I standard for surface water and serves as the drinking water source for residents of Heyuan's urban areas.

3.1 Climate

Heyuan City has a subtropical monsoon climate. The main climatic characteristics in 2007 were: higher temperatures, with an annual average temperature of 21.0°C, 0.5°C higher than the perennial average, and abnormal temperature fluctuations throughout the year with many high-temperature days; annual average precipitation was 1,742.0 mm, slightly higher than the perennial average, with uneven spatial and temporal distribution; sunshine hours were lower, with an annual average total sunshine duration of 1,733.9 hours, 10% less than the perennial average, also unevenly distributed. | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------| | Record high °C | 28.3 | 29.9 | 33.0 | 33.8 | 36.0 | 38.6 | 39.0 | 38.8 | 37.5 | 36.6 | 34.2 | 29.9 | 39.0 | | Record high °F | 82.9 | 85.8 | 91.4 | 92.8 | 96.8 | 101.5 | 102.2 | 101.8 | 99.5 | 97.9 | 93.6 | 85.8 | 102.2 | | Average high °C | 18.4 | 18.9 | 21.7 | 26.0 | 29.7 | 31.6 | 33.4 | 33.3 | 31.8 | 29.2 | 25.0 | 20.3 | 26.6 | | Average high °F | 65.1 | 66.0 | 71.1 | 78.8 | 85.5 | 88.9 | 92.1 | 91.9 | 89.2 | 84.6 | 77.0 | 68.5 | 79.9 | | Daily mean °C | 13.1 | 14.3 | 17.4 | 22.0 | 25.5 | 27.4 | 28.5 | 28.4 | 27.1 | 24.1 | 19.5 | 14.7 | 21.8 | | Daily mean °F | 55.6 | 57.7 | 63.3 | 71.6 | 77.9 | 81.3 | 83.3 | 83.1 | 80.8 | 75.4 | 67.1 | 58.5 | 71.3 | | Average low °C | 9.6 | 11.2 | 14.3 | 19.1 | 22.4 | 24.5 | 25.2 | 25.2 | 23.7 | 20.2 | 15.6 | 10.8 | 18.5 | | Average low °F | 49.3 | 52.2 | 57.7 | 66.4 | 72.3 | 76.1 | 77.4 | 77.4 | 74.7 | 68.4 | 60.1 | 51.4 | 65.3 | | Record low °C | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 7.9 | 15.0 | 18.6 | 18.5 | 21.4 | 16.0 | 10.3 | 3.8 | -0.7 | -0.7 | | Record low °F | 33.6 | 35.2 | 35.6 | 46.2 | 59.0 | 65.5 | 65.3 | 70.5 | 60.8 | 50.5 | 38.8 | 30.7 | 30.7 | | Average precipitation mm | 51.2 | 96.0 | 160.3 | 230.8 | 290.0 | 351.3 | 221.5 | 248.4 | 160.2 | 41.8 | 38.8 | 37.5 | 1,927.8 | | Average precipitation inches | 2.02 | 3.78 | 6.31 | 9.09 | 11.42 | 13.83 | 8.72 | 9.78 | 6.31 | 1.65 | 1.53 | 1.48 | 75.92 | | Average precipitation days | 8.0 | 12.5 | 16.4 | 17.8 | 20.1 | 19.5 | 16.7 | 17.8 | 12.6 | 6.1 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 158.6 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 69 | 74 | 78 | 80 | 80 | 82 | 79 | 80 | 75 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 74 | | Monthly sunshine hours | 135.8 | 91.7 | 85.3 | 92.8 | 122.5 | 155.3 | 219.0 | 200.9 | 189.7 | 197.1 | 180.5 | 172.0 | 1,842.6 | | Percentage of possible sunshine | 41 | 29 | 23 | 24 | 30 | 38 | 53 | 50 | 52 | 55 | 55 | 52 | 42 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Heyuan City administers 1 district and 5 counties.

District: Yuancheng District Counties: Zijin County, Longchuan County, Lianping County, Heping County, Dongyuan County | Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (Nov 1, 2020) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|----------------------| | 441600 | Heyuan City | Héyuán Shì | 15,653.63 | 2,837,686 | Yuancheng District | 517000 | 6 | 94 | 1 | | 441602 | Yuancheng District | Yuánchéng Qū | 361.47 | 703,607 | Shangcheng Subdistrict | 517000 | 6 | 2 | | | 441621 | Zijin County | Zǐjīn Xiàn | 3,635.13 | 551,095 | Zicheng Town | 517400 | 18 | | | | 441622 | Longchuan County | Lóngchuān Xiàn | 3,081.31 | 595,471 | Laolong Town | 517300 | 24 | | | | 441623 | Lianping County | Liánpíng Xiàn | 2,275.08 | 285,224 | Yuanshan Town | 517100 | 13 | | | | 441624 | Heping County | Hépíng Xiàn | 2,291.47 | 353,903 | Yangming Town | 517200 | 17 | | | | 441625 | Dongyuan County | Dōngyuán Xiàn | 4,009.17 | 348,386 | Xiantang Town | 517500 | 20 | 1 | |

5. Economy

In 2017, the city's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 95.212 billion yuan, an increase of 5.1% over the previous year. The per capita GDP of the city was 30,853 yuan, which was only 51.7% of the national average (59,660 yuan) and 38.0% of the provincial average (81,089 yuan). Converted at the average exchange rate, this amounted to 4,569 US dollars.

Agriculture is primarily dominated by traditional rice cultivation, with livestock farming such as hog and broiler production, as well as fruit cultivation including citrus, lychee, longan, and plum, holding significant proportions. In recent years, due to an emphasis on eco-tourism, the forestry sector has also developed rapidly.

Traditional industries are mainly resource-based, including mineral metallurgy, cement, building materials, and hydropower, with heavy industries outweighing light industries. Heyuan is located in the middle and upper reaches of the Dongjiang River, where the water quality is relatively clean. This has a close relationship with the water safety for the residents along the Dongjiang River basin and its downstream areas, affecting over 20 million residents in regions such as Dongguan, Huizhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Due to Heyuan's responsibility to protect water source cleanliness, the city has long faced certain restrictions in industrial development.

After 2000, Guangdong Province introduced policies to promote industrial relocation, accelerate the development of eastern Guangdong (mountainous areas), and support poverty alleviation in Heyuan. As a result, an increasing number of emerging and high-tech industries have settled in Heyuan, and the development of light industries has gradually accelerated. In June 2003, the Heyuan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone was established, attracting the electronics information industry, primarily focused on mobile phones, and the machinery manufacturing industry, mainly centered on molds. Currently, Heyuan has preliminarily formed the "Four New" industries: new electronics (primarily mobile phones), new energy (mainly solar photovoltaic power generation), new materials (primarily hard alloys), and new pharmaceuticals (mainly biopharmaceuticals). The city is striving to become a new high-end manufacturing base in Guangdong, with ZTE Corporation already establishing a production base in Heyuan. According to Guangdong Province's "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Leapfrog Development of Northern Guangdong's Mountainous Areas," Heyuan's short- to medium-term development positioning is to "build a modern ecological garden city, a new industrial cluster around the Pearl River Delta, and a regional logistics center for northern Guangdong and southern Jiangxi."

In terms of commerce, the urban area and several county towns have experienced rapid development. Particularly, the Yuancheng District has a well-developed commercial market network, smooth circulation, and continuously improving specialization. The district is dotted with hotels and commercial buildings, which have developed well alongside the thriving tourism industry.

6. Transportation

6.1 Urban Transportation

Road transport is the primary mode of urban transportation in Heyuan. Passenger bus services have been established between counties, from counties to the city center, and from central towns to counties and the city center.

The city's bus transportation system is becoming increasingly well-developed. In 2019, eight new bus routes were added, bringing the total number of routes to 44, with a total length extending to 682.3 kilometers.

6.2 External Transportation

Heyuan is the first city in Guangdong Province to be connected by the Beijing-Kowloon Railway and is also the city with the longest railway network in Guangdong. The Beijing-Kowloon Railway and the Guangzhou-Meizhou-Shantou Railway intersect in Longchuan County, Heyuan, which hosts the largest marshaling yard in South China. Heyuan's expressways and national highways extend in all directions, making it one of the most important transportation hubs in northeastern Guangdong.

In May 2009, the Huihe Intercity Light Rail project, connecting Heyuan and Huizhou via intercity light rail, was officially launched. Upon completion, the travel time from Heyuan to Guangzhou and Shenzhen will be reduced to just 50 minutes each, over an hour shorter than the current highway travel time. Heyuan will then be fully integrated into the Pearl River Delta's one-hour living circle.

7. Education

The Dongjiang Education City (University Town) is currently a major educational construction project in Heyuan City. According to the 2007 plan by the municipal Party committee and government, the Dongjiang Education City has an overall planned area of 10 square kilometers and is estimated to accommodate approximately 100,000 students. The first phase of the project includes the construction of six schools, each with a capacity of over 5,000 students, accommodating a total of around 50,000 students. Currently, five schools have been completed in the Dongjiang Education City, with an enrollment of 26,200 students, forming a preliminary scale.

Additionally, the development of senior secondary education is another key focus of the city's educational construction. In May 2007, the Fifth Plenary Session of the Third Municipal Party Committee proposed the goal of universalizing senior secondary education within five years, aiming for a gross enrollment rate of 85% by 2011, with an estimated investment of 2.8 billion yuan. As a result, by the end of 2009, Heyuan City had newly built five senior secondary schools, including Dongjiang Middle School in Dongyuan County, and expanded 33 senior secondary schools, such as Heyuan Middle School and Heping Middle School. The cumulative investment for new construction and expansion amounted to 721.0785 million yuan, with a total newly built and expanded area of 194,032 square meters.

By the end of 2011, the city had a total of 1,192 primary schools with an enrollment of 249,100 students, and 150 junior secondary schools with an enrollment of 154,200 students. The enrollment rates for primary school-age children and junior secondary students were 99.96% and 99.66%, respectively, with a 100% coverage rate for nine-year compulsory education. There were 15 senior secondary schools and 21 complete secondary schools, with a total enrollment of 75,500 students in regular senior secondary education and a gross enrollment rate of 87.64%. Various types of secondary vocational education institutions had an enrollment of 52,500 students, while technical schools had an enrollment of 13,500 students. The city's regular higher education institutions admitted 4,001 students, with a total enrollment of 11,875 students.

8. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 2,837,686. Compared with the 2,950,195 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a total decrease of 112,509 people over the ten years, a decline of 3.81%, with an average annual growth rate of -0.39%. Among them, the male population was 1,448,488, accounting for 51.04% of the total population; the female population was 1,389,198, accounting for 48.96% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 104.27. The population aged 0–14 was 717,521, accounting for 25.29% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 1,652,923, accounting for 58.25% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 467,242, accounting for 16.47% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 333,218, accounting for 11.74% of the total population. The urban population was 1,376,168, accounting for 48.5% of the total population; the rural population was 1,461,518, accounting for 51.5% of the total population.

8.1. Ethnic Groups

Heyuan City is predominantly composed of Han Chinese Hakka people, making it a prefecture-level city with a purely Hakka ethnic population. The She people are the second-largest ethnic group, whose customs and habits are largely Sinicized but still retain some of their own traditions, such as the emphasis on martial arts. Apart from the Hakka and She people, the remaining population mainly consists of ethnic minorities such as the Zhuang and Miao.

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9. Culture and Society

9.1 Hakka Culture and Arts

Hakka mountain songs, horse lantern dances, dragon and lion dances are all traditional Hakka folk arts. Festive customs, as well as wedding and funeral traditions, also bear strong Hakka characteristics. Furthermore, the Heyuan area is rich in local folk customs. The "Zhongxin Flower Lantern," listed in the first batch of Guangdong Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage, is prevalent in several townships centered around Zhongxin Town in Lianping County. In the past, "Paper Horse Dances" were performed during the Spring Festival in Pitou Town, Lianping County, and Zicheng Town, Zijin County. Since the Ming Dynasty, the "Incense Dragon Dance" has been passed down in Yuanshan Town, Lianping County. Historical records indicate that fishermen living along the Dongjiang River in the past led difficult lives, but their wedding ceremonies were very grand, featuring customs like receiving the flower boat and singing wedding songs. Influenced by this, by the late Qing Dynasty, people along the coasts of Guzhu Town in Zijin County and along the Hanjiang and Qinjiang Rivers in Longwo Town also imitated these practices, known as the "Flower Boat Dance."

The custom of market days in Hakka townships is also very common. In the rural dialect of Heyuan, townships are generally called "xu," and the conventionally established market trading day is called "xuri" (market day). On market days, farmers carry their produced grains and daily necessities to the township for trade; small traders and peddlers quickly follow suit, transporting daily necessities from the city to the market to sell loudly; villagers needing to shop, having long been eager with money in hand, rush to the market full of bargaining spirit—this is called "fu xu" (going to the market). When both buyers and sellers complete their transactions and leave the market with their successful gains, it is called "san xu" (dispersing from the market). The day after the market day is called "xu bei ri" (the day after the market), which is the least busy day for business. Generally, vendors in the market use this time to go to the city to purchase or restock goods, preparing for the next market day's business.

In terms of architectural art, structures such as Weilong houses, Zouma buildings, and Four-Corner towers are the most distinctive local features. Together with Heyuan's Hakka cuisine, folk arts, and customs, they represent the essence of traditional Hakka culture. The Weilong house is a typical Hakka residential building rich in Central Plains characteristics. According to expert research, this type of residential architecture closely resembles the courtyard houses of Central Plains nobility. Unlike many circular Weilong houses, many in Heyuan are square, referred to as "mansion-style" or "corner towers," similar in form to the traditional northern "siheyuan" (courtyard houses). Around Xiantang Market Town in Dongyuan County, suburbs of the city, there are over 30 well-preserved Hakka residences built in the 17th year of the Qianlong era (1749). These ancient buildings have now been converted into the "Hakka Folk Custom Museum" for tourists to visit and are considered typical representatives of Heyuan's Weilong houses. Other well-known Heyuan enclosed houses include Dexian Tower in Lianping County and Lecun Stone Tower in Lankou Town, Dongyuan County. The Four-Corner tower, another form of Hakka residential architecture besides earth buildings and Weilong houses, enhances village house defense. The most famous is the black-tiled, white-walled Four-Corner tower in Linzhai, Heping County, built in the late Qing and early Republican periods. Traditional villages generally construct residences centered around clans and families. People often choose residential locations based on so-called feng shui principles, such as being near mountains and water, facing the sun. Houses are typically oriented north-south or west-east.

In terms of folk customs, Hakka folk customs are generally those of the Han people from the Central Plains. However, compared to other areas, Hakka folk customs in the Hanjiang River basin retain more traces of ancient Central Plains customs, especially in areas like Meizhou and Xingning. In contrast, Hakka folk customs in the Dongjiang River basin bear many imprints of She and Yao ethnic customs, particularly in some remote mountainous areas where these remnants are more prevalent.

9.2 Culinary Culture

Heyuan cuisine is a typical representative of Dongjiang cuisine, which is one of the main branches of Cantonese cuisine. Its characteristics emphasize "richness, saltiness, and thorough cooking," focusing on main ingredients, original flavors, and a rustic atmosphere, full of pastoral charm. Heyuan is a hilly region where coarse grains like sweet potatoes and taro are widely cultivated, gaining popularity as people pay increasing attention to healthy eating habits. Additionally, Heyuan people have a dietary preference that people from other regions may find hard to understand: they particularly enjoy eating animal offal. Offal from chickens, pigs, cows, and other animals is all welcomed by Heyuan people. These offal are made into various dishes and promoted by citizens, gradually forming a unique culinary culture. At the same time, there is a saying in Heyuan that "no banquet is complete without chicken," taking advantage of the homophony between "chicken" (鸡) and "auspicious" (吉) to signify good fortune. Therefore, most banquets in Heyuan, large or small, feature dishes made with chicken.

Heyuan's top ten famous Hakka dishes are: Dongjiang Salt-Baked Chicken, Braised Pork in Soy Sauce, Dongjiang Stuffed Tofu, Superior Soup with Mandarin Fish, Hakka Stuffed Three Treasures, Mother Wine Drunken River Shrimp, Clear-Simmered Grass Carp, Crystal Chicken, Sweet Potato Threads Casserole, and Savory Duck. Among these, "Hakka Stuffed Three Treasures" refers to "stuffed bitter melon," "stuffed chili peppers," and "stuffed eggplant" (in some areas, "stuffed tofu" replaces "stuffed chili peppers"). Additionally, "Heyuan Pork Trotters Rice Noodles," "Zijin Beef Balls," "Eight-Knife Soup," "Heping Tripe Soup," Longchuan's "Chetian Tofu," Lianping's "Zhongxin Field Snails," Dongyuan's "Sanhuang Chicken," Five-Finger Peach Soup, fried oil fruits, rice cakes, etc., are also renowned locally.

9.3 Local Specialties

Heyuan has a wide variety of local specialties, mainly including: Hakka Yellow Rice Wine, Five-Finger Peach Wine, Longchuan Beef Tendon Cake, Rice Vermicelli (Heyuan Rice Noodles is a Chinese geographical indication product), Pickled Radish, Wanlv Lake Natural Mineral Water, Longchuan Natural Mineral Water, Xianhu King Tea, Bamboo Shell Tea, Fire Garlic, Zhongxin Peanuts, Kiwifruit, etc.

9.5 Mass Media

Heyuan Radio officially began broadcasting in December 1993. It currently operates FM 91.1 Comprehensive Channel and FM 97.8 Travel Music Channel, with signals covering five counties and one district of Heyuan, as well as parts of surrounding cities like Huizhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Shanwei. On March 9, 2005, the original Heyuan People's Radio Station, Heyuan Television Station, Heyuan Cable Radio and Television Network Center, Heyuan Radio and Television Microwave Station, Heyuan Radio and Television Weekly, and Heyuan Television Advertising Production Center merged to form Heyuan Broadcasting and Television Station. In 2006, "Heyuan Television Public Channel" began broadcasting, and the original Heyuan Television Station was renamed "Heyuan Television Comprehensive Channel." In 2008, the cable television network used by general households in Heyuan urban area was converted to digital signal transmission.

In terms of newspapers, the Heyuan Daily Press publishes the official newspaper of the Heyuan Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, "Heyuan Daily," as well as "Heyuan Evening News." Heyuan Broadcasting and Television Station publishes "Heyuan Radio and Television Weekly."

In 2011, the city had 6 radio stations, with a comprehensive population coverage of 93.5%; 6 television stations, with a comprehensive population coverage of 94.14%. The city had 395,200 cable television subscribers and 312,100 digital cable television subscribers, with coverage rates of 44% and 15% respectively in 2009. Throughout 2011, a total of 3 types of newspapers were published, with 23.82 million copies issued.

9.6 Tourism

Heyuan City is located in the middle and upper reaches of the Dongjiang River, south of the Nanling Mountains, with beautiful landscapes and abundant tourism resources. Heyuan City has always advocated ecotourism, with a forest coverage rate of 70.3%. It is the only city in Guangdong Province without acid rain. Heyuan's tourism, focusing on "Wanlv Lake" and "Hakka Culture," has a distinct image. It can be summarized in one sentence: "Beautiful landscape paintings, the dinosaur hometown of southern China, simple Hakka customs, and unique ecotourism."

Xinfengjiang Reservoir, known as Wanlv Lake because it is green all year round and everywhere, is a water resource treasure for the middle and lower reaches of the Dongjiang River. It is a national 4A-level tourist area and a national forest park. Tuocheng Town in Longchuan County, long serving as the ancient seat of Longchuan County, is a provincial-level historical and cultural city, preserving important cultural relics such as Zhengxiang Pagoda, Xia Pagoda, and Longchuan Confucian Temple. Meanwhile, Guifeng Pagoda, as the only existing ancient Buddhist pagoda in old Heyuan City, has been listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit. Additionally, villages rich in Hakka culture and Hakka enclosed house complexes are widely distributed throughout the region.

In the urban area, Cultural Square, Chashan Park, and Ehu Park are the main venues for citizens' leisure and outdoor activities. Cultural Square is located in the city center at the confluence of two rivers, built in 2002, and is also a venue for major events and ceremonies. Chashan Park, nestled against Chashan and beside the Xinfeng River, is the best spot to watch the musical fountain. Records indicate that Ehu Lake has been excavated for hundreds of years and is related to the "fortunes and misfortunes" of Heyuan City, "tying to the city's rise and fall." In the late Yuan and early Ming periods, Heyuan suffered several floods and bandit troubles. After Ehu Lake was completed, "circling the west of the city and surrounding its north, converging east into Ehu Lake," it could serve as a moat, "remaining trouble-free for over a thousand years." During the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, Li Tao diverted Guishan water here, "drawing its clarity for drinking, harnessing its elegance to promote literary fortune." Soon, numerous palaces, academies, and pavilions were built around Ehu Lake, such as Shangcheng Wenchang Palace, Wanshou Palace, Tianhou Palace, Hushan Academy, Chajiang Academy, etc., creating a flourishing scene of "literary fortune." Unfortunately, these Confucian buildings were largely destroyed in later years. Guishan and Bijia Mountain, as sacred heights for citizens to overlook Wanlv Lake and the urban area, along with cultural relics like Guifeng Pagoda and Ehu Lake, are included among the eight scenic spots of Heyuan by the people.

10. Sister Cities

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (Established on June 24, 2010) Anseong, South Korea (Established in November 2013) Ferrara, Italy (Established in May 2015) Tustin, United States (Established in October 2015)

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"Yuanhe Prefecture and County Gazetteer": "Three hundred li northeast of the county lies the source of the three rivers, hence the name."

Yuancheng District

Yuancheng District

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Camphor tree

Bougainvillea