Wuhu

Wuhu is a prefecture-level city located in southeastern Anhui province, China. It sits prominently on the southeast bank of the Yangtze River.

The city is a vital part of a growing urban area. This conurbation includes the nearby cities of Nanjing and Ma'anshan. Together, these connected urban areas house over 10.66 million inhabitants. Wuhu shares borders with several other locations. It is near Xuancheng to the southeast and Chizhou to the southwest. It also borders Tongling, Hefei, and Ma'anshan. To the east, it meets Jiangsu province. Wuhu is also situated southwest of the city of Nanjing.

The history of Wuhu stretches back thousands of years. Evidence shows people inhabited the area since at least 570 BCE.

The modern city evolved from an ancient settlement called Jiuzi. This settlement was located on the southern bank of the Shuiyang River. Before 670 BCE, Jiuzi was a site of conflict between the Chu and Wu states. During the Spring and Autumn period, the Yue took Jiuzi from the Wu in 473 BCE. Later, the Chu took the settlement in 306 BCE. During the Qin dynasty, the area was part of the Zhang Commandery. By 109 BCE, this was renamed to Wuhu Commandery. During this era, the area was reorganized as Wuhu County.

Administrative changes continued throughout many Chinese dynasties. In 223 CE, the county seat moved during the reign of Sun Quan. It moved to the highlands along the north banks of the Qingyi River. In 281 CE, the area was carved out of Danyang Commandery. During the Eastern Jin period, many people migrated to the area from the Central Plains. In 363 CE, the area fell under the jurisdiction of Xuancheng Commandery. The Sui dynasty abolished both Xuancheng and Huainan commanderies in 589 CE. Under the Tang dynasty in 627 CE, the area became Xuan Prefecture. It was part of the Jiangnan Circuit at that time. In 937 CE, Wuhu County was established under the Southern Tang. It remained a steady administrative unit through the rest of dynastic China.

During the Ming dynasty, Wuhu became a major commercial center. It developed into a significant river port. The city became famous as a center for the rice trade. In fact, it was one of China's four major rice market cities. This role made it crucial for the domestic grain trade. However, the city also faced periods of great conflict. In 1644, the Hongguang Emperor was captured by Qing dynasty forces in Wuhu. During the Taiping Rebellion, the county changed hands more than five times. It moved between Taiping and Imperial forces during this struggle. In 1876, Wuhu became a treaty port. This era saw the construction of St. Joseph's Cathedral.

The 20th century brought further political and military shifts. In 1912, the Republic of China established new administrative levels. Wuhu County was governed directly by Anhui province until 1914. Trade in rice, wood, and tea flourished until the Warlord Era. During the 1920s and 1930s, bandits were active in the region. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japan occupied Wuhu on December 10, 1937. This occupation was a prelude to the Battle of Nanjing. Local resistance fighters used the surrounding lakes to hide. They submerged themselves and breathed through reeds to avoid detection. Japanese forces were eventually expelled by August 1945. The People's Liberation Army captured Wuhu on April 24, 1949.

Today, Wuhu is a powerful economic engine in Anhui province. It has the second largest economy in the province, following Hefei. The city has seen rapid growth in the 21st century. Its gross domestic product (GDP) nearly doubled between 2014 and 2022. In 2022, the city's GDP was 450.213 billion renminbi (RMB). The economy is divided into three main sectors. The secondary sector, which involves manufacturing, accounts for 47.43% of the GDP. The tertiary sector, or services, accounts for 48.58%. The primary sector, which involves agriculture, accounts for 3.98%. Wuhu is a major hub for manufacturing automobiles, glass, and steel.

Transportation in Wuhu is highly developed and efficient. The city is the fifth largest port on the Yangtze River. Yuxikou Pier serves as a massive inland river coal harbor. For travelers, the Wuhu Xuanzhou Airport opened in 2021. The city is also connected to the high-speed rail network. A train can reach Shanghai from Wuhu in just 2.5 hours. Within the city, people use the Wuhu Bus service. Over 200,000 passengers use these buses daily. There is also a monorail system called Wuhu Rail Transit. It consists of two lines that opened in 2021.

The Wuhu Yangtze River Bridge helps move cars and trains across the river.