How did Hefei develop into Anhui’s major industrial centre?

Hefei’s transformation into Anhui’s major industrial centre began in the 1950s, following its designation as the provincial capital in 1952. Several key factors drove this rapid development:1

• Industrial Relocation: The city’s industrial base was significantly bolstered by the transfer of various textile and light industry plants from Shanghai during the 1950s.2
• Infrastructure and Energy: The construction of a railway in the 1930s linking Hefei to the Huai River at Huainan provided essential access to coal resources. This coal fueled a thermal-power-generating plant established in the early 1950s, providing the energy necessary for industrial growth.12
• Diversification: The city expanded into heavy and chemical industries, including the construction of an iron and steel complex in the late 1950s, as well as facilities for producing chemical fertilizers, machine tools, and engineering machinery.12
• Sector Expansion: Over time, Hefei further diversified its economy to include the production of aluminum, electronics, and various light manufactures, solidifying its status as the province's primary economic and industrial hub.12