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Huizhou

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Huizhou is a prefecture-level city located in east-central Guangdong Province, China.

20240111 View of Huicheng District, Huizhou 02
20240111 View of Huicheng District, Huizhou 02

It sits within the Pearl River Delta, a major economic region. The city is positioned about forty-three miles north of Hong Kong. Huizhou shares borders with several important areas. To the west lies Guangzhou, the provincial capital. To the southwest, it borders Shenzhen and Dongguan. To the north is Shaoguan, and Heyuan lies to the northeast. Shanwei is located to the east. To the south, the city reaches the Daya Bay area of the South China Sea.

The history of Huizhou is tied to its role as a cultural center. During the Song dynasty, it served as the prefectural capital of Huiyang. A famous figure named Su Shi lived there after being exiled by the imperial government at age 59. He visited a place then called Feng Lake. He found the scenery as beautiful as the West Lake in Hangzhou. Consequently, he renamed the area West Lake. Su Shi also funded the construction of two bridges to improve local traffic. These are known as the Su Di bridges. They are now part of a scenic spot called "Su Di Play Moon."

Nanhu
Nanhu

Demographics in the region have changed significantly over many centuries. In the 14th century, during the late Yuan dynasty, the area had only 45,410 inhabitants. This meant there was only one household for every five square kilometers. Most current residents are descendants of migrants from the late Yuan, early Ming, and Qing dynasties. Today, the population is much larger. The 2020 census recorded approximately 6,042,852 inhabitants. This was a 31.43% increase from the 2010 census, which counted 1,444,450 fewer people. The city is home to a diverse group of people. Most residents, about 97.69%, are Han Chinese. This group includes the Hakka and Hoklo people.

Haaka Gan Min Yue
Haaka Gan Min Yue

Language and ethnicity define the local culture. Huizhou sits at the boundary of the Gan, Min, and Yue speaking areas. The main languages spoken are Hakka, Cantonese, Hokkien, and the Huizhou dialect. The Hakka people are spread across all districts and are known for their walled villages. The Hoklo people are mostly found in Boluo and Huidong counties. There are also 85,500 residents from minority ethnic groups, such as the Yao and She. Interestingly, more than 800,000 people with Huizhou ancestry live in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Economically, Huizhou has transformed into a major manufacturing base. This shift began after the 1980s. The city is a key part of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone. One major area is the Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone. The State Council approved this zone in 1993 and expanded it in 2006. It focuses on industries like automobile assembly, chemical processing, and electronics. Another important area is the Zhongkai High-tech Industrial Development Zone. This zone is connected to Shenzhen and Guangzhou by major highways. It also links to Beijing and Hong Kong via the Beijing-Kowloon Railway. This zone specializes in information technology and new materials.

Transportation and infrastructure support this large industrial and urban area. The urban center, Huicheng, is served by the Jingjiu Railway. This line includes the Huizhou West and Huizhou stations. The city is vast, similar in size to Los Angeles County. For air travel, the Huizhou Pingtan Airport reopened in 2015. Travelers can also reach Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport by a ninety-minute bus ride. A notable technological development is the construction of the world's first automatic railroad. This pilot project runs between Dongguan and Huizhou. It features driverless trains and robotic assistance for passengers.

The natural environment of Huizhou includes a humid subtropical climate. Summers are long, hot, and humid. Winters are short, mild, and dry. The South China Sea coast at Daya Bay features nearly 100 islands and reefs. Historically, this bay was a breeding ground for gray whales. These whales migrated there to calve during the winter and spring. Humpback whales also visited the area in the past. However, whaling stations established by Japanese whalers wiped out these populations. Today, visitors might still see Chinese white dolphins in the bay. The city also supports modern amenities like the Huizhou Olympic Stadium, which opened in 2010.

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File:Haaka Gan Min Yue.png
Haaka Gan Min Yue.png
File:20240111 View of Huicheng District, Huizhou 02.jpg
20240111 View of Huicheng District, Huizhou 02.jpg
File:Nanhu.jpg
Nanhu.jpg
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