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 Hunan province known
for short as Xiang is located at the south bank of the
middle reaches of Yangtze River, which has area of 210,000
square km. and a population of 62,090,000.
To the east, south and west are mountainous area
on three sides, the terrain slopes gently in the mid-north and a
basin of a horse's hoof shape is formed with Dongting Lake as its
center. The plain accounts for 20% of the total area with Dongting
Lake plain in the north occupying the main part of it. Almost all
the rivers belong to the Dongting Lake water system with the four
rivers -- Xiang, Zi, Hang and Li as the biggest, emptying into China's
important lake -- the Dongting Lake. Hunan Province belongs to the
subtropical humid monsoon climatic zone. It is rich in mineral resources,
such as non-ferrous metals, and rare metals, which occupy an important
place in China. The important metals are stadium, lead, zinc, tungsten,
fluorite, aluminum, mercury, kaolin, manganese, tin, vanadium, etc.
The output of paddy rice and ramie captures an
important place in China's market; the output of tea, rapeseed,
tea-seed oil and tung oil and the number of live pigs also occupy
an important place in China's domestic market. The non-ferrous metal
industry forms the important basis of the country's industry, and
the machinery, papermaking, hemp textile, electric power, iron and
steel and other industries have gained big development. The communications
are convenient with railway traffic as its main and the highway
traffic and inland water transport also occupy an important place.
Hunan Province is famous for its picturesque
scenery. There are places of historic interest and scenic beauty,
such as Yuelu Mountain, Heng Mountain, Yueyang Tower, Dongting Lake
and Wuling Fountainhead. The traditional local products and specialties
are Changsha Xiang Embroidery, Liuyang Fireworks and firecrackers,
Yueuang Fan Changsha Xiang Lotus, Yueyang Whitebait (salangid) and
Shaoyang Bambo shots, etc.
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