📖 About Hefei

Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, achieved a major milestone by becoming the fourth city in the Yangtze River Delta to surpass 10 million residents, joining Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou in this exclusive club. This remarkable growth—a population increase of 1.9 million from 2014 to 2024—reflects Hefei's rapid transformation into one of China's premier innovation hubs. The city's GDP hit an impressive 1.35 trillion yuan in 2024, powered by cutting-edge industries including quantum technology, semiconductors, new energy vehicles, and artificial intelligence.

Hefei's scientific prowess has earned global recognition, ranking 12th globally and 161st overall for scientific research in the Nature Index 2025. The city is home to one of China's four National Science Centers designated in the 14th Five-Year Plan, cementing its status as a crucial node in China's innovation network. Hefei's famous "Quantum Street" concentrates over 30 quantum technology enterprises—the most concentrated quantum cluster in China. This combination of rapid population growth, robust economic expansion, and world-class scientific research makes Hefei one of contemporary China's most dynamic success stories.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Hefei's economy has undergone spectacular transformation, evolving from a modest provincial capital to a trillion-yuan GDP powerhouse (1.35 trillion yuan in 2024). The city has strategically focused on emerging technologies: quantum computing, semiconductors, new energy vehicles, AI, and advanced displays. Quantum Street alone houses over 30 quantum enterprises, making Hefei the global leader in quantum technology commercialization. The semiconductor and display panel industries contribute significantly to economic output, with Hefei producing 10%+ of China's semiconductor chips and leading in display technology manufacturing.

The city's cultural development has evolved alongside its economic growth, with major investments in education, research institutions, and quality of life improvements attracting 1.9 million new residents over the past decade. Hefei's universities and research institutes create a vibrant intellectual community, while the city's position in the Yangtze River Delta provides access to Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou. This combination of cutting-edge industry, world-class research, and strategic location has transformed Hefei from a regional center into a nationally significant innovation hub competing with Beijing and Shenzhen in advanced technologies.

📜 History

Hefei's transformation is one of contemporary China's most remarkable urban development stories. Historically a modest provincial capital in landlocked Anhui Province, Hefei was far from China's coastal economic powerhouses. The city's fortunes changed dramatically in the 21st century when strategic government investments designated it as a National Science Center and quantum technology hub. The establishment of leading research institutes, including facilities for quantum physics and synchrotron radiation, attracted top scientists and created a foundation for high-tech industries. Major companies like BOE Technology (displays) and NIO (electric vehicles) established significant operations in Hefei, creating industrial clusters. Within two decades, Hefei evolved from relative obscurity to ranking 12th globally in scientific research, surpassing 10 million residents, and achieving a GDP of 1.35 trillion yuan. This rapid ascent demonstrates how strategic planning, focused investment in science and technology, and favorable policies can dramatically transform a city's trajectory in China's development model.