Anhui's advantages for investment

Scientific research

Since reform and opening-up was initiated in 1978, Anhui province has made great progress in scientific and technological innovation. In 2004, Hefei, its capital city, was listed as the country's first pilot city for science and technology innovation, while in 2008, Wuhu and Bengbu were added to that list, and the province started construction of the Hefei-Wuhu-Bengbu Innovation Demonstration Zone. The zone obtained approval from the State Council in 2011 to conduct corporate equity and dividend incentive pilot projects with applicable policies similar to those of Beijing's Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone.

In 2012, the Institute of Advanced Technology of USTC was founded, and in 2013 Anhui province won approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology to set up a pilot program as a National Innovative Province. In 2018, 13 projects won prizes at the National Science and Technology Awards.

Five key national scientific engineering projects and 26 national key (engineering) laboratories are also based in Anhui. The province is leading the world in the fields of quantum communication and voice-over technology. By the end of 2018, Anhui was home to six national and 19 provincial high-tech zones, 6,018 research and development institutions, 21 units for training postgraduates, and 110 regular institutions of higher learning.

Over the years, the province's ability in scientific and technological innovation has been upgraded. By the end of 2018, there were 5,403 high-tech enterprises, and the value-added of the province's high-tech industries grew by 13.9 percent year-on-year. The output value of strategic emerging industries increased by 16.3 percent, accounting for 29.4 percent of the total output value of industries above the designated scale in Anhui.

Resources

Blessed with unique conditions and advantages, Anhui province has rich natural and tourism resources. Two of China's major waterways – the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers – flow through Anhui and divide the province into three topographic forms: plain, hilly and mountainous regions. It is home to China's fifth-largest freshwater lake, Chaohu Lake, and is an important part of the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone.

There are 104 nature reserves in the province, including eight national-level and 30 provincial-level reserves. Endangered species found in the province include Chinese alligators and the white-flag dolphin. The Anhui Yangtze Alligator Reserve is the only artificial breeding base for Chinese alligators worldwide.