Introduction to Hengyang, a Tourist City in Hunan
Origin of the Name. Hengyang lies south of Mount Heng; since the south of a mountain and north of a river are considered "yang," it got this name. Because "wild geese fly south and stop here to rest their wings," roosting at Huiyan Peak in the south of the city, it is also elegantly called "Wild Goose City." It is the second-largest city in Hunan Province. Geographic Overview: Hengyang is located in the central-southern part of Hunan Province, in the middle reaches of the Xiang River, at 110°32'1"E...
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Origin of the Name
Hengyang is located south of Mount Heng. Since the south of a mountain and the north of a river are considered 'yang,' it got this name. Because 'wild geese fly south and stop here to rest their wings,' roosting at Huiyan Peak in the south of the city, it is also elegantly called 'Wild Goose City.' It is the second-largest city in Hunan Province.
Geographical Overview
Basic Geographical Information: Hengyang is located in the central-southern part of Hunan Province, in the middle reaches of the Xiang River; it lies between longitude 110°32'16"–113°16'32" E and latitude 26°07'05"–27°27'24" N.
Night View of the Xiang River Banks
It is 150 kilometers from north to south and 173 kilometers from east to west, with a total area of 15,310 square kilometers, or 1.531 million hectares, accounting for 7.23% of the province's total land area. Among all cities and prefectures in the province, it ranks seventh in size. It borders Zhuzhou, Youxian, and Anren to the east; Yongxing and Guiyang to the south; Lengshuitan, Qiyang, Dong'an, Shaoyang, and Shaodong to the west; and Shuangfeng and Xiangtan to the north.
Topography and Landforms: Hengyang City is situated in the axial zone of Hunan Province's concave surface. It is surrounded by intermittent ring-like ridge mountains formed by ancient rock strata, with large areas of red hills of Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary red beds inset within.
Platforms form a typical basin configuration. The Hengyang Basin is high in the south and low in the north. The southern part of the basin has relatively high terrain, with mountains over 1,000 meters
The Developing Huaxin Development Zone
extending for dozens of kilometers from east to west; the northern part of the basin is relatively low. Although the Hengshan Mountain Range is fairly high, its peaks stand in a peak-forest formation in the middle, with lower northward passages on both its east and west sides. The elevation on both banks of the Xiang River valley on its eastern side is below 100 meters. The entire terrain slopes in a compound manner from southwest to northeast, while the basin descends from the periphery toward the center, presenting four levels of erosion surfaces at 1,000 meters, 800-700 meters, 400-300 meters, and 150 meters. Surrounding hills encircle the area, and the central part has interlacing plains, ridges, and hills. The eastern part consists of the Luoxiao Mountain remnants — Tianguang Mountain, Sifang Mountain, and Yuanming'ao; the southern part consists of the Nanling Mountain remnants — Ta Mountain, Dayi Mountain, Tianmenxian, and Jingfeng'ao; the western part consists of the extensions of the Yuecheng Ridge — Xiongpi Ridge, Siming Mountain, and Tengyun Ridge; the northwest and north consist of Dayun Mountain, Jiufeng Mountain, and Nanyue Hengshan. The overall terrain gradient is 7.9‰. Most peaks in the south are above 600 meters in elevation, with Tiantang Mountain in Changning being the highest at 1,265 meters. Most peaks in the west are above 500 meters, with Tengyun Ridge in Qidong being the highest at 1,044 meters. In the northeast, apart from Nanyue Hengshan, the general ground elevation is 300-500 meters. The highest point in the city is Zhurong Peak of Mount Heng, which according to the latest national survey data has an elevation of 1,300.2 meters; the lowest point is Pengpi Port in Hengdong, with an elevation of only 39.2 meters.
The landform types are dominated by ridges and hills. Mountains account for 21% of the total area, hills 27%, ridges 27%, plains 21%, and water surfaces 4%. The central area has a large distribution of Cretaceous and Tertiary red beds, covering 3,550 square kilometers, forming the main body of the Hengyang Basin. Within the territory, there are 393 rivers and streams with a length of 5 kilometers or more or a drainage area of 10 square kilometers or more, with a total length of 8,355 kilometers and a drainage density of 0.55 kilometers per square kilometer. The main stream of the Xiang River, originating in Xing'an, Guangxi, enters the territory at Guiyang Town in Qidong, and flows successively through Qidong County, Hengnan County, Changning City, the urban area, Hengyang County, Hengshan County, and Hengdong County, with a length of 226 kilometers within the territory. The first-level tributaries of the Xiang River with a drainage area of over 3,000 square kilometers within the territory include Chongling Water, Zheng Water, Lei Water, and Mi Water. The theoretical hydropower reserves are 876,100 kilowatts, with a developable capacity of 641,700 kilowatts.
Minerals and Geographical Resources:
Hengyang is rich in resources and abundant in products, with attractive development prospects. It is a nationally renowned 'Land of Nonferrous Metals,' 'Land of Nonmetals,' and 'Land of Fish and Rice.'
The land resources, dominated by red soil and purple soil, are extremely suitable for the development of agriculture, forestry, and fishery. The city has more than 10 categories and over 1,100 varieties of grain, oil crops, and cash crops; among the forest resources, there are many patches of virgin secondary forest, and the Qishan virgin secondary forest has long been a focus of academic attention and serves as a teaching and research base. The city has 1,047 species of trees, including 12 rare species; among them, nanmu (Phoebe zhennan) is a national first-class protected tree species; those under national second-class protection include fragrant fruit tree (Emmenopterys henryi), Bretschneidera sinensis, Cephalotaxus fortunei var. alpina, golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis), and Tetracentron sinense. There are more than 240 species of ornamental flowers such as camellia and hibiscus; and more than 500 species of medicinal plants such as tree peony bark and white peony root. The city's theoretical hydropower reserves are about 880,000 kilowatts, with 544 developable sites and a developable capacity of about 640,000 kilowatts.
The city is rich in mineral resources with favorable mining conditions. The proven mineral deposits mainly include more than 50 types such as lead, zinc, copper, iron, gold, silver, coal, rock salt, kaolin, albite, fluorite, barite, and gypsum, with over 440 ore deposits, occurrences, and mineralization points. In particular, non-ferrous metals such as lead and zinc have large reserves and a long mining history, earning it the reputation of a "Little Home of Non-ferrous Metals," renowned worldwide. Among non-metallic minerals, the long-famous kaolin (porcelain clay), with its excellent quality of being "pure, fine, and white," is favored by the ceramics industry across the country.
Basic climate overview: In the first half of the year, temperatures continued the trend of being higher than usual over the past decade, mainly due to a warmer winter, while spring temperatures also repeatedly ran high. This is conducive to the sowing of overwintering and spring crops, but also affects the environment and the life patterns of humans and various organisms, such as migratory birds returning north earlier and crops sprouting prematurely. After the onset of spring, rainfall was relatively concentrated, affecting spring harvest and spring transplanting. Basic climate trend for the second half of the year: abundant rainfall in summer and autumn, relatively cool, with the rainy season ending indistinctly, showing a good correlation with the warm winter event in the first half of the year—an important manifestation of abnormal climate change caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
Administrative Divisions
Basic Overview:
Area code: 0734
Code: 430400
Postal code: 421001
Administrative jurisdiction: Hengyang City governs 5 districts—Zhengxiang, Shigu, Yanfeng, Zhuhui, and Nanyue; 2 county-level cities—Changning and Leiyang; and 5 counties—Hengnan, Hengyang, Hengshan, Hengdong, and Qidong. The city has a total of 111 towns, 74 townships (including one Yao Autonomous Township), 25 subdistrict offices, 162 village community committees, and 4,897 villagers' committees.
1. Zhengxiang District: 4 subdistrict offices, 31 community committees, 1 town, 2 townships, 34 villagers' committees. Area: 111 square kilometers. Postal code: 421001. District People's Government located on Lianhu Road.
2. Shigu District: 7 subdistrict offices, 42 community committees, 2 townships, 28 villagers' committees. Area: 112 square kilometers. Postal code: 421001. District People's Government located on Siqian Street.
3. Yanfeng District: 5 subdistrict offices, 41 community committees, 1 town, 1 township, 25 villagers' committees. Area: 93 square kilometers. Postal code: 421001. District People's Government located on Xiangjiang South Road.
4. Zhuhui District: 6 subdistrict offices, 42 community committees, 2 towns, 2 townships, 54 villagers' committees. Area: 227 square kilometers. Postal code: 421002. District People's Government located on Xiangjiang East Road.
5. Nanyue District: 1 subdistrict office, 6 community committees, 1 town, 3 townships, 31 villagers' committees. Area: 179 square kilometers. Postal code: 421000. District People's Government located in Nanyue Town.
6. Changning City: 16 towns, 7 townships (including 1 ethnic autonomous township), 52 community committees, 706 villagers' committees. Area: 2,014 square kilometers. Postal code: 421500. City People's Government located in Yiyang Town.
7. Leiyang City: 3 subdistrict offices, 50 community committees, 13 towns, 18 townships, 635 villagers' committees. Area: 2,502 square kilometers. Postal code: 421800. City People's Government located on Cailun Middle Road.
8. Hengnan County: 22 towns, 3 townships, 74 community committees, 740 villagers' committees. Area: 2,621 square kilometers. Postal code: 421001. County People's Government located in Yunji Town.
9. Hengyang County: 13 towns, 13 townships, 69 community committees, 893 villagers' committees. County People's Government located in Xidu Town.
10. Hengshan County: 8 towns, 10 townships, 25 community committees, 324 villagers' committees. Area: 936 square kilometers. Postal code: 421300. County People's Government located in Kaiyun Town.
11. Hengdong County: 15 towns, 9 townships, 28 community committees, 560 villagers' committees; Daqiao Township was upgraded to Daqiao Town. Area: 1,926 square kilometers. Postal code: 421400. County People's Government located in Chengguan Town.
12. Qidong County: 19 towns, 4 townships, 49 community committees, 868 villagers' committees. Area: 1,871 square kilometers. Postal code: 421600. County People's Government located in Hongqiao Town.
Transportation
Hengyang enjoys a superior location, close to the coast and near Hong Kong and Macao, bridging east and west, serving as the hinterland of the coast and the frontier of the interior; "commanding the two Guang (Guangdong and Guangxi) regions and locking Jing and Wu," situated at a "north-south thoroughfare," it has always been a gathering place for merchants and a major commodity distribution center in Jiangnan. It is not only a connection point for different modes of transportation but also a logistics distribution center.
Highways: Hengyang is one of the 45 major highway transport hub cities in China, with a crisscrossing and well-connected road network. The Xiangtan–Leiyang section of the Beijing–Zhuhai Expressway, the Hengyang–Zaomu section of the Hengyang–Kunming Expressway, and the Hengyang–Dapu Expressway meet at Hengyang; National Highway 107 (Beijing to Guangzhou), National Highway 322 (Hengyang to Friendship Pass in Pingxiang, Guangxi, and on to Vietnam), and the "Three South Highway" (connecting southern Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian) run through the entire territory. The Hengyang–Shaoyang, Hengyang–Yanling, Beijing–Hong Kong–Macao (the second line of the Beijing–Zhuhai Expressway) Xiangtan–Hengyang and Hengyang–Linwu sections, and Hengyang–Nanyue expressways are under construction.
Hengyang currently has two large long-distance bus passenger stations: the Central Bus Station (formerly Hengyang West Bus Station) and the Linghu Bus Station (formerly Hengyang East Bus Station). The Central Bus Station is currently located at the junction of Jiefang West Road, Hengqi Road (National Highway 322), Tianmashan South Road (old National Highway 107), and Jingyuan Road, in front of Shihua Square, and will be relocated to the Lixin Development Zone; long-distance buses are basically based at this station. It can be reached by city buses 1, K1, 6, 8, 12, 14, 19, 22, 24, 28, 31, 39, 49, 101, 303, Tourist Line 1, and Ring A. The Linghu Bus Station is located at the junction of Dongfeng Road and the Hengcha Provincial Highway, mainly operating passenger services to surrounding cities and counties of Hengyang, and also operating cross-regional and cross-provincial long-distance passenger services. It can be reached by city buses 2, 7, 11, 23, 25, 27, 36, 37, 40, and 81. The South Bus Station is under construction, located not far from the intersection of Nanjiao Avenue and First Ring South Road in the Baishazhou Industrial Park. Hengyang bus inquiry telephone: 0734-8218742.
Railways: The future Hengyang railway hub will introduce seven directions and thirteen lines, and will become the largest railway hub in the south. The Beijing–Guangzhou Railway and the Wuhan–Guangzhou section of the Beijing–Guangzhou–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway run in parallel with four tracks; the old Xiang–Gui Railway and the double-track rapid railway under construction (capacity expansion and renovation has started) run in parallel with three tracks; the Hengyang–Chaling–Ji'an Railway (single-track electrified) is under construction; the Huaihua–Shaoyang–Hengyang section of the Lanzhou–Xiamen Railway (single-track electrified, with reserved conditions for double tracking) started construction in 2010; and the Ankang–Zhangjiajie–Hengyang section of the Xi'an–Guangzhou Railway (double-track electrified) is being planned. The Hengyang North Marshalling Station, with its large throughput and high degree of modernization, has become one of the large railway marshalling stations in the country, with an average daily arrival and dispatch of 15,000 railcars.
Hengyang Railway (East) Station is located in Zhuhui District of the city and can be reached by city buses 1, K1, 7, 11, 16, 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38, 81, Ring A, and others. Trains run daily to large and medium-sized cities both within and outside the province. The West Railway Station is located in Zhengxiang District.
Waterways: Water transport resources are very rich, with rivers such as the Xiangjiang, Leishui, Zhengshui, and Mishui within the territory. The Xiangjiang River traces upstream to the Xiaoshui and flows downstream into Dongting Lake, connecting to the sea via the river, and can accommodate thousand-ton ships year-round. In recent years, in order to vigorously develop water transport, the city has strived to build a three-dimensional transportation network integrating railway, highway, and waterway, and starting with infrastructure, has effectively strengthened the construction of waterway channels and ports, achieving a qualitative leap.
Hengyang Port is located on the extension section of the newly built Xiangjiang South Road, directly facing Dongzhou in the middle of the river.
Air transport: During the Republic of China period, there were many military airports in the Hengyang area; there was a small reserve airport at Yanwuping in the city, a water airport at Taizi Wharf and the Laiyan Pagoda river surface, and the Jiangdong Bajialing Airport once accommodated over a hundred military aircraft of the American Flying Tigers in a single day, serving as an important forward base for the Flying Tigers and playing an immeasurable role in the War of Resistance Against Japan. After the founding of New China, only two military airports were retained: Jiangdong Bajialing Airport and Leiyang Yaotian Fengchong Airport. Hengyang Airport served as a civil airport from 1988 to 1995. According to the national "Eleventh Five-Year Plan," Hengyang has been included in China's civil aviation plan, and the new Hengyang Airport will be located between Yunji and Chejiang in Hengnan County. The urban area is about 170 kilometers from Changsha Huanghua International Airport, about a 2-hour drive.
Population Control
Main urban area: By the end of 2006, the total registered population of the city's four main urban districts was about 950,000 (with a non-agricultural population of about 800,000), but due to high population mobility, the actual resident population in the urban area has exceeded 1 million. It is the second-largest city in Hunan Province.
Whole city: By the end of 2007, the total population of the city was 7,189,500, an increase of 0.7% over the previous year. Among them, the urban population was 2,270,400, an increase of 10%, accounting for 31.6% of the total population; the rural population was 4,919,100, a decrease of 3.1%. The birth rate was 12.56‰, the death rate was 7.0‰, and the natural growth rate was 5.56‰.
At the end of 2008, the total population of the city was 7,311,400, an increase of 22,600. Among them, the urban population was 3,112,500, an increase of 108,200; the rural population was 4,198,900, a decrease of 85,600. The birth rate was 12.8‰, up 1.2 per mille points; the death rate was 7.9‰, down 0.02 per mille points; the natural growth rate was 4.9‰, down 0.1 per mille points. The city's permanent resident population was 6.74 million.
Historical Evolution
Hengyang City has a long history. According to archaeological findings from unearthed artifacts, five or six thousand years ago, our ancestors used primitive tools such as stone implements to plant rice, raise pigs and cattle, and live settled lives in the Hengyang area.
Pre-Qin: The Hengyang area anciently belonged to the Sanmiao and Yangyue peoples, and during the Warring States period it was under the jurisdiction of the State of Chu and was an important town of Chu.
Qin and Han Dynasties: In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang unified the country and divided the southern part of the former Chu into Qianzhong and Changsha commanderies; the Hengyang region belonged to Changsha Commandery.
Three Kingdoms, Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties: Hengyang was divided between Hengyang Commandery and Xiangdong Commandery, resulting in the coexistence of two commanderies. In 220 AD, the Sun Wu regime established Xiangdong Commandery southeast of Changsha Commandery, with the commandery seat at present-day Ling County; and established Hengyang Commandery west of Changsha Commandery, with the commandery seat at present-day Xiangxiang, governing counties such as Zhengyang (present-day Hengyang County), Chong'an (present-day Hengnan County), Xiangnan, Xiangxi (present-day Hengshan, Hengdong, and Nanyue District), Xiangxiang, and Yiyang. This was the first time in history that a commandery named after Hengyang appeared.
Sui and Tang Dynasties: In 589 AD, the Sui Dynasty destroyed Chen and changed commanderies to prefectures, changing Xiangdong and Hengyang commanderies to Hengzhou, and Linzheng to Hengyang County, with both the prefecture and county seats on the east bank of the river. This was the first time in history that a county named after Hengyang appeared. During the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, Hengzhou was again renamed Hengyang Commandery, and it was not until the first year of the Qianyuan era of the Tang that the name Hengzhou was restored.
Song Dynasty: Hengzhou was again Hengyang Commandery.
Yuan Dynasty: It was changed to Hengzhou Route.
Ming and Qing dynasties: changed to Hengzhou Prefecture.
Republic of China period: In the early years of the Republic, prefectures and circuits were abolished while counties remained. In 1938 it belonged to Hunan's Second Administrative Inspection District. On New Year's Day 1942, Hengyang City was formally established. In 1943 Hengyang City was changed to a province-administered city.
New China: On October 8, 1949, Hengyang was liberated, and city and county still coexisted. In 1980 it became a province-administered city. In July 1983, the former Hengyang Prefecture and Hengyang City merged, implementing the new system of city administering counties. Hengyang City administered seven counties—Hengyang, Hengnan, Hengshan, Changning, Leiyang, and Qidong (Leiyang and Changning being county-level cities)—as well as five county-level districts: Jiangdong, Chengnan, Chengbei, Jiaoqu, and Nanyue. In 2001, the four districts of Chengbei, Chengnan, Jiangdong, and Jiaoqu were respectively renamed the four county-level districts of Shigu, Yanfeng, Zhuhui, and Zhengxiang.
Cultural Origins
The restored Shigu Academy
Legend has it that wild geese from the north, fearing the biting cold winds beyond the frontier, migrated south in flocks. They flew over countless mountains and rivers to this place of mild climate and beautiful scenery, where they set up camp and rested—this is Yancheng (Wild Goose City) Hengyang. It is said that the wild geese often gathered on the Xiangjiang riverbank below Huiyan Peak, which is one of the Eight Scenes of Xiaoxiang, 'Wild Geese Alighting on the Flat Sand.' A stone inscription in today's Huiyan Peak Park records that one winter a flock of wild geese rested at a certain mountain in Hengyang. Because a male goose was shot dead by a hunter, a female goose also dashed herself to death against the mountain, and so they refused to fly away, crying mournfully over the city all day long, uttering very plaintive and desolate sounds. People did not know what was going on. After winter passed, no matter how people tried to drive them away, they would not leave. The county magistrate at the time posted a reward notice to resolve the matter. Later, an elder at Huiyan Peak recognized the sorrow in the geese's cries and
Looking out over the Jiangdong urban area from Shigu Academy
went to the places where the wild geese often rested to visit the hunters and see whether anyone had shot a wild goose, and found the hunter, who claimed the notice. The county magistrate then punished that hunter and issued a decree: it was forbidden to shoot wild geese, and a goose statue was carved and erected on the mountain with a stele bearing elegiac poems, and incense was burned at Yanfeng Temple for three days to release the souls, only then did the flock of wild geese fly away. Thereafter, every year when the wild geese flew south, passing over Yanfeng Mountain, it seemed they all heard the mournful calls of that dead pair of geese summoning them, and they no longer flew farther south, but rested on Yanfeng to pass the winter. Many men of letters inscribed elegiac poems for the geese in the temple. Hence Fan Zhongyan's verse: 'The geese of Hengyang depart without a backward glance.' To this day, among the people of Hengyang there is the custom of not shooting wild geese.
Since ancient times, Hengyang has been rich in literary spirit and has produced talents in abundance. In ancient times there were Jiang Wan, a minister who assisted the State of Shu; Cai Lun, the inventor of papermaking; the famous thinker Wang Fuzhi (Wang Chuanshan), and others. It is said that Zhou Dunyi wrote the timeless masterpiece 'On the Love of the Lotus' outside the West Lake at Hengyang's Yanwu Ping.
Remains of the Zhujiang temporary bridge piers during the War of Resistance
In that year, Wu Sangui held his imperial coronation ceremony at Mantou Ridge in front of Huiyan Peak in Hengyang, enfeoffed civil and military officials, and held imperial examinations to recruit scholars. What he valued was not only Hengyang's geographical position and the auspicious aura of the unity of Buddhism and Daoism at Mount Heng, but also its distant and rich literary spirit. Looking across the seventy-two peaks of Mount Heng, stretching for hundreds of li, the first peak is Huiyan Peak and the last peak is Yuelu Mountain. To the north, Changsha has Yuelu Academy; to the south, Hengyang has Shigu Academy. Besides Shigu Academy, Hengyang also has Chuanshan Academy, named after Wang Fuzhi.
In modern and contemporary Chinese history, Hengyang has produced countless patriots who shed their blood and laid down their lives for the revolution. There was Tang Qunying, the only woman in the Chinese United League and 'the soul of a generation of women'; Marshal Luo Ronghuan, who spent his life in military service for New China; martyr Xia Minghan, who said, 'Beheading is nothing, so long as the doctrine is true'; and Mao Zedong's cousin Mao Zejian, who sleeps forever beside the green pines of Mount Heng. In 1944, Hengyang fought a bloody battle for 47 days, a rarity in the whole country. In Hunan, the intelligence, practicality, perseverance, and tenacity of Hengyang people are evident to all, and the uprightness, bravery, and wisdom of Hengyang soldiers are also admired by later generations, hence the saying that this is the origin of 'Xiang Army culture.'
Today, Qiong Yao's homesickness leaps off the page, as she never forgets Taipei's 'Hengyang Road'; 'Poetry Demon' Luo Fu said, 'I am not a coward, I am a Hengyang native'; the famous writer Long Yingtai said, 'Hengyang is my eternal dreamland'; current Taipei leader Ma Ying-jeou said, 'Actually, I am a Hengyang native'; former State Sports Commission director Wu Shaozu said, 'My roots are in Hengyang.' There are also a large number of famous figures of Huxiang culture, such as Hunan's 'Zhang Haidi' Li Li, earthquake-rescue hero Tan Qianqiu, new Taiwan 'Premier' Liu Chao-shiuan, great photographer Chen Changfen, great painter Zhong Zengya, Shenzhen mayor Xu Zongheng, Ma Jigao, Bai Shuxiang, Zi Huajun, Teng Wensheng, Long Xinmin, Tang Haoming, Guan Chufei, Wang Zhi, Xie Lisi, Wu Yujuan, and others. In addition, Hengyang is also the cradle of sports champions. World champions Li Jing, Ling Jie, Liu Yuxiang, and Luo Xihe, who defeated 'Stone Buddha' Lee Chang-ho, are all stars who came out of Hengyang.
Tourism Resources
'Yanfeng Misty Rain' (today's Huiyan Peak Park), 'Shigu Rivers and Mountains,' 'Zhuling Back Cave,' 'Qingcao Fisherman's Home' (today's Shigu Academy Park, the Zhuling Cave beside the academy, and the nearby Qingcao Bridge), 'Huayao Spring Stream,' 'Yueping Snow Scene' (today's Yueping Mountain in Yueping Park and the destroyed Huayao Temple southwest of the original Yueping Mountain), 'Dongzhou Peach Waves' (today's Dongzhou), and 'West Lake White Lotus' (today's West Lake Park) were formerly the Eight Scenes of Hengyang.
The counties under its jurisdiction also had eight scenes and the like, such as Changning county seat's 'Heaven-Opened Stone Tablet,' 'Meitan Evening Fishing,' 'Earth-Gushing Kuixing,' 'West Bridge Night Moon,' 'Nanling Snow Piles,' 'Taozhou Spring Waves,' 'Xiang Temple Morning Bell,' and 'Quanfeng Sunset Glow.' Leiyang also had ten scenes, including 'Mafu Clear Mist,' 'Luqi Evening Screen,' 'West Lake Lotus Mooring,' 'Yikou Fisherman's Home,' 'Duling Misty Rain,' 'Cai Ta Moonlit Night,' and 'Leishui Sunset Glow.'
In 2007, Hengyang strove to become a 'National Excellent Tourist City,' and has unearthed the following tourist attractions symbolizing the cradle of Huxiang culture: the Huxiang Culture Museum (formerly the Municipal Museum), the Anti-Japanese War Memorial City Chiang Kai-shek inscription (Yueping Park), the Hengyang Defense Battle Memorial Hall (formerly the Lu Family New House, located in the Huaxin Development Zone), the Ming-Qing Street (the scenic belt on the east bank of the Xiangjiang), and others. In addition, in the urban area there are also Dongzhou Chuanshan Academy (abandoned), Laiyan Pagoda (surrounded by walls), Jielong Pagoda (opposite Huiyan Peak), and Zhuhui Pagoda (requiring a river crossing); outside the urban area there are the Xuanzhou Ancient River Street, Jiuguan Bridge and the source rafting of Jiulong Gorge, the Mishui cruise, the Mount Heng scenic area, Cai Lun Park, China Seal Mountain, and others.
The old urban district bursting with vitality
Economic Development
Agriculture: mainly vegetable cultivation, followed by pig, chicken, fish, and other livestock and aquaculture industries.
Industry: within the territory there are machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, building materials, textiles, food processing, and other industries. Main products include forklifts, buses, small tractors, diesel engines, transformers, water pumps, steel, cables, wires, bicycles, watches, instruments, light bulbs, ceramics, civil locks, zippers, cotton yarn, cotton cloth, clothing, leather, salt, cigarettes, machine-made paper, plastic products, chemical medicines, refrigeration equipment, mining machinery, and others. The YZ-35 roller-cone drill produced by the Hengyang Nonferrous Metallurgical Machinery Plant once won the National
The thriving commercial district
Gold Medal Award. The Golden Cup brand copper-core wire produced by the Hengyang Cable Factory once won the National Silver Medal Award. More than 10 products, including sports trauma ointment, rolls, and ethyl acetate, won Ministry of Quality Awards. The joint companies formed respectively with Hengyang Tractor Factory and Hengyang Jianxiang Diesel Engine Factory as the main bodies are two important consortiums in Hunan's agricultural machinery industry. Walking tractors, diesel engines, transformers, and others are exported to more than 80 countries and regions.
Prospects: At present, the Xiantang high-speed railway passenger station is about to be completed and the Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway will open to traffic on New Year's Day 2010; major roads such as Hengzhou Avenue, Hongxiang South Road, and Zhengxiang South Road have successively started and been completed; exquisite residential buildings are topping out one after another; the Yanqi Lake comprehensive project
The West Bank of the Xiangjiang scenic belt, part of the planned Three Rivers and Six Banks scenic belt project
and the Lixin Development Zone, Baishazhou Manufacturing Industrial Park, Songmutang Chemical Industrial Park, and Henggang Group Industrial Cluster Park are continuously being developed and expanded.
In 2008, the city's gross domestic product reached 100.009 billion yuan, an increase of 12%. Among this, the added value of the primary industry was 23.575 billion yuan, up 5.3%; the added value of the secondary industry was 41.236 billion yuan, up 14.5%; and the added value of the tertiary industry was 35.198 billion yuan, up 12.6%. Per capita GDP was 13,670 yuan, up 11.6%.
The city's total industrial added value was 38.102 billion yuan, up 15.8%. The added value of industrial enterprises above designated size was 30.478 billion yuan, up 19.2%.
The city's total fixed asset investment exceeded 30 billion yuan, reaching 30.58 billion yuan, up 34.2%.
The city's total retail sales of consumer goods were 33.564 billion yuan, up 23.2%; after deducting price factors, the real increase was 18.2%.
The city's total import and export volume was 1.075 billion US dollars, up 26.0%. Among this, exports were 889 million US dollars, up 48.9%; imports were 186 million US dollars, down 27.2%.
The city's actual utilized foreign direct investment was 326 million US dollars, up 28.4%.
Domestic and overseas tourists numbered 10.9941 million person-times, up 34.2%; the city's total tourism revenue was 5.430 billion yuan, up 36.6%. Inbound tourists received numbered 171,000 person-times, up 40%; tourism foreign exchange income was 105 million US dollars, up 45.0%.
The city's total fiscal revenue was 6.006 billion yuan, up 19.0%; among this, local general budget revenue was 3.794 billion yuan, up 22.1%. Tax revenue accounted for 79.2% of fiscal revenue; fiscal revenue accounted for 6.0% of GDP.
The urbanization rate reached 42.57%.
At the end of the year, the city's total population was 7.3114 million, an increase of 22,600. Among this, the urban population was 3.1125 million, an increase of 108,200; the rural population was 4.1989 million, a decrease of 85,600. The birth rate was 12.8‰, up 1.2 per mille points; the death rate was 7.9‰, down 0.02 per mille points; the natural growth rate was 4.9‰, down 0.1 per mille points. The city's permanent resident population was 6.74 million.
The per capita disposable income of urban residents was 12,420 yuan, up 16.3%; after deducting price factors, the real increase was 9.4%. The per capita net income of farmers was 5,617 yuan, up 15.0%; after deducting price factors, the real increase was 8.1%.
In 2008, the city's GDP broke through the 100-billion-yuan mark, reaching 102.04 billion yuan.
In 2008, Hengyang accelerated the advancement of new industrialization and achieved new results. The city completed a gross industrial output value above designated size of 101 billion yuan and an added value of 28.602 billion yuan, up 30.4% and 19.3% respectively over the previous year. Five key industries—steel pipes and deep processing, power transmission and transformation equipment, nonferrous smelting and deep processing, automobiles and parts, and brine chemicals and fine chemicals—achieved an output value of 50.9 billion yuan, up 34% over the previous year. Industrial enterprises completed new product output value of 12.411 billion yuan, up 25.63% over the previous year. At the same time, energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP fell by 5.3%.
Food and Specialties
Food:
Lixin Development Zone Under Construction
Hengyang Suoluo (Sucked Snails)
Also known as "He Luo" (Drinking Snails). The preparation method: Select field snails or stone snails of uniform size and place them in a basin of clear water, add a small amount of tea oil to make them spit out impurities and dirt. After two or three days, wash them clean with cold water, mix lean pork mince with water until well blended, pour it into the basin to let the snails feed fully, then pinch off the snail tails, add a little salt and rub and wash repeatedly until clean, place in a wok over high heat and stir-fry, and when the moisture is slightly reduced, add tea oil and stir-fry again until the fragrance fills the air and the operculum at the snail opening falls off, then add salt and Shaoxing wine and stir-fry again. After removing from the wok, put them together with ginger, chili, soy sauce, scallions, garlic, monosodium glutamate, and other seasonings into a bone broth pot, cover, and simmer. When eating, scoop them out, hold the snail opening to your mouth, and suck (drink) in; the snail meat then enters the mouth, hence the name "Suo (He) Luo." This dish has fresh broth and delicious flavor, is fragrant, crisp, and tender, clears internal heat, stimulates the appetite, and is refreshing and pleasant.
Fish Head with Tofu
The preparation method: Take a bighead carp fish head with half a slice of fish meat (today most use the forehead fish head), wash it clean, cut off the snout, make several cuts at intervals, spread soy sauce on the front side and doubanjiang on the cut side, put it into a wok with tea oil and fry until both sides are golden yellow, add soy sauce, sugar, and an appropriate amount of clear water, cook the fish for a moment, then add tofu cubes, shiitake mushrooms, minced ginger, and other ingredients and simmer until thoroughly cooked and flavorful, sprinkle with chopped scallions and monosodium glutamate, pour on rendered lard, remove from the wok and serve in a bowl, and it is ready. Eat it while hot; the broth is fresh and delicious, refreshing and pleasant.
Specialties:
Zhang Fei Wine
During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhang Fei inspected Leiyang. County Magistrate Pang Tong, fearing that Zhang's fiery temper would lead to trouble from drinking, ordered the county town to ban the sale of strong liquor for 10 days and entertained Zhang Fei with hu wine brewed from glutinous rice. Hu wine had low alcohol content and was sweet and tasty, and won Zhang Fei's praise. The Leiyang Distillery improved the traditional brewing technique, and the Zhang Fei Wine it produced has a rich aroma, a mellow, thick, and sweet taste, and contains various glucose types and 18 amino acids needed by the human body. Regular drinking can prolong life, and it can also be used medicinally, for seasoning dishes, and to remove fishiness. This wine was rated first place among Hengyang yellow wines in 1985, won the "Great Wall Cup Award" at the First China Wine Culture Expo in 1990, and the "Quality Award" at the Zhuhai China Tourism Products Evaluation Conference. The product sells well in provinces and cities across the country and is in short supply. In 1995, Zhang Fei Wine Industry Co., Ltd. was established, a dedicated Zhang Fei Wine production line was built, and a series of Zhang Fei Wine products was produced.
Premium Xiyan Four Treasures
Namely Hengdong Chinese vine tea, Yingwu daylily, Xiyan dried yellow fungus, and Gelai Xiang squab, which are the most distinctive and representative in Hengyang. As soon as the products hit the market, they were in short supply, and they are the most affectionate gifts. They are exclusively distributed by the Hengyang Xiyan Four Treasures Specialty Food Chain Store, the earliest company in Hengyang engaged in specialty product marketing. They are available at Xiyan Four Treasures chain specialty stores.
Hu Wine
In ancient times it was called Ling Wine, and it was initially "home-brewed wine" made by farmers near Ling Lake. During the Northern Wei dynasty it was a palace tribute wine and was also used as the best sacrificial wine for emperors of successive dynasties to worship their ancestors. Later it gradually entered the market, and every household in Hengyang would brew it. During festivals and for weddings and funerals, this wine was used to entertain guests. Hu Wine has a wide range of uses. Besides being a beverage wine, it is also used as a cooking seasoning to remove spoilage and fishiness and add color and fragrance. Its lees mixed with starch and beaten egg, and sweet fermented rice lees boiled with tangyuan, are delicious and tasty. The Hu Wine series produced by the Hengyang Xiangnan Distillery, including Huanglong Yuye, are exported to Southeast Asian countries and are famous overseas. In 1988 it won the title of provincial and ministerial quality product, and also won the bronze medal at the First China Food Expo.
Shigu Flaky Thin Mooncakes
They have been produced in Hengyang for more than 140 years. The Hengyang Nanbei Te Food Factory conducted detailed research on the ingredients and production of traditional flaky thin mooncakes and created a new generation of Shigu brand flaky thin mooncakes with carefully chosen ingredients, fine workmanship, unique flavor, and a fluffy, crisp, and delicious texture, loved by diners at home and abroad. Shigu brand flaky thin mooncakes use 12 ingredients including high-grade white sugar, maltose, refined flour, cream, animal and vegetable oils, roses, osmanthus, qiaobing, and sesame kernel paste, and are refined through 14 traditional techniques combined with modern technology. The surface is golden yellow, the bottom is rice yellow, the shape is round like the moon, and the thickness is uniform; about 10 weigh 0.5 kilograms. In 1981 it won the national silver medal, and in 1988 it won the gold medal at the First China Food Expo.
Culture and Education
List of Major Universities
University of South China
Hunan Institute of Technology
Hengyang Normal University
Hunan Polytechnic of Environment and Biology
Hunan Vocational and Technical College of Transportation Engineering
Hengyang Vocational and Technical College of Finance and Industry
Hunan Vocational and Technical College of Science, Technology, Economy and Trade
List of Major Middle Schools
Hengyang No. 1 Middle School (Chuanshan Experimental Middle School)
Hengyang No. 2 Middle School
Hengyang No. 3 Middle School
Hengyang No. 5 Middle School
Hengyang No. 6 Middle School
Hengyang No. 7 Middle School
[1] Hengyang No. 8 Middle School (Chengzhang Experimental Middle School)