Maanshan Travel Guide

Population: 1,265,700

Area: 1,686 square kilometers (651 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 3 districts (Yushan, Huashan, Jinjiazhuang); 1 county (dangtu)

Seat of the city government: No.35, Hubei Road, Huashan District, Maanshan City

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0555-2360101
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Maanshan Branch: No.1, Huayu Road, Huashan District, Maanshan City
China Post Maanshan Branch: Middle Section, Hudong Road, Huashan District, Maanshan City

Location: Lies in the east of Anhui Province, on the south bank in lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the city is bordered by Jiangsu Province in the east, and adjacent to the Yangtze River in the west. In the south, downtown Wuhu is only 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Maanshan, while in the north, it shares boundary with Nanjing.

History: Gushu Town set up in Sui Dynasty (581-618) is the initial form of Dangdu County which was put under the administration of Maanshan City when it first established in 1950. Through over fifty years of development, Maanshan, the former rather minor town has become a new industrial city of steel and iron uprising in the late 1950s.

Physical Features: The eastern terrain of the city is made up of undulant hills, which is the main womb of rivers within Maanshan. The western land is comparatively flat, mainly occupied by plains along the Yangtze River with some massifs distribute among them.

Climatic Features: Maanshan enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate having four distinct seasons. July is the hottest period during the whole year with an average temperature of 28.3C (82.9F). Meanwhile it is also the period concentrates majority of the city's rainfall of a year.

When to Go: On consideration the climate and ceremonies, April to October is the most favorable season to Maanshan.

Special Local Products: Caishi Chagan (a kind of accompaniment to tea made of soybean with other ingredients), Huangchi pickled vegetable, Turquoise article

Scenic Spots:
Caishiji Scenic Area lies at the foot of Cuiluo Mountain 5 kilometers (3 miles) southwest of Maanshan city proper. It has the commercial hall for the great poetry in Tang Dynasty (618-907), Li Bai, whose rest location is nearby on the Qingshan Mountain. It is also one of the earliest Buddhist sites in China boasting the Guangji Temple first constructed in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). From the scenic area, visitors can have a good view of the Yangtze River flowing aside.

Putang Landscape Zone is located in the eastern outskirt of Maanshan like a fairyland featuring the bamboo sea, ancient trees, clear springs and brooks, as well as some old religious buildings.

Tourist Tips:
1. Maanshan is 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Nanjing Lukou International Airport that can be reached within 50 minutes by expressway. Visitors should get in and out of the city by air having the aid of this airport.
2. Nanjing-Shanghai Expressway shortens the drive between Maanshan and Shanghai into three hours. In addition, Maanshan's bus station south to the railway station in Hongqi Road (North) will offer buses to other places, either. Buses from Maanshan to Nanjing and Wuhu depart every 20 minutes and get to the destinations in one hour. To the capital city of the province, Hefei, three hours' drive is enough.
3. The Port of Maanshan is one of the ten big ports along the Yangtze River, and it also operates passenger transport routes. Nanjing-Hankou ship routes will make a stop in Maanshan.