Overview

Fuyang is located in the northwest of Anhui, in the southern part of the Plain along Yellow River and Huihe River and the western part of Huibei Plain. It is next to Zhoukou and Zhumadian in Henan Province on its west, Xinyang of Henan Province on its southwest, Bozhou on its north and northeast, Huainan on its east and Huaihe River on its south, far across is Liu’an. According to historical record, Fuyang was an area whose geography was around the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, surrounded by different countries at that time -- presently Shangdong, Henan and so on. The city is rich in resources and talents. This is the hometown of ancient elites -- Guanzhong, Pao Shuya and Jikang. The great poets in the Song Dynasty -- Yanshu, Ouyangxiu and Sushi -- had been governors of the city. There is a saying about the city that “it is difficult to tell which is better between Hangzhou and Fuyang.” In the city, there are both ancient relics and cultural heritage. From Xia to Qing Dynasties, each reign had assigned its administrators here. In history, Bozhou and Fuyang (historically known as Yingzhou) in neighborhood south and north had been unified and divided for several times. In the sixth year of Hongwu in Ming Dynasty (AD 1373), Fuyang and Bozhou was unified into Yingzhou for the first time. In the ninth year of Hongzhi (AD 1496) Bo County which was promoted again to Zhou was a part of Fengyang Prefecture with Yingzhou. In the thirteenth year of Yongzheng (AD1735), Yingzhou was promoted to Fu (State), while Bozhou was lowered to county again to be a part of Yingzhou Prefecture. In 1949, Fuyang acquired the capacity of prefectural commissioner’s administrative office. In 1996, Fuyang acquired the capacity of city administration by the State Council, with jurisdiction over two prefectural cities -- Bozhou and Jieshou, seven counties -- Taihe, Lixin, Guoyang, Mengcheng, Yingshang, Funan, Linquan, and three districts --Yingzhou, Yingquan and Yingdong. The whole area of Fuyang is 18,000 km² with 16,500,000 mu arable land and a population of 13,200,000. The population, arable land, and grain yield made up 1% of the national total at the time. In February, 1998, Bozhou became a city under direct provincial jurisdiction. In May, 2000, Bozhou was approved as a perfectural city by the State Council, with jurisdiction over three counties -- Guoyang, Mengcheng and Lixin. Presently, Fuyang is made up of a perfectural city Jieshou, four counties -- Taihe, Linquan, Yingshang and Funan and three districts -- Yingzhou, Yingquan and Yingdong, with an area of 9775 km² and 9,540,000 citizens, the most populous in Anhui Province.