Basic Information of Bozhou City

Natural Geography

Located in the northwest of Anhui Province, Bozhou sits at the southern edge of the North China Plain, and at the junction of Anhui and Henan provinces. Its topography stretches diagonally from the southeast to the northwest, with a total administrative area of 8,374 square kilometers. Rivers within the city belong to the Huai River system, with main waterways including the Guo River, the Xifei River, and the Cihuai New River. Among them, the Guo River flows 173 kilometers within Bozhou, draining a basin area of 4,039 square kilometers, and is revered as the "Mother River" of the local people.

Bozhou enjoys a favorable climate, classified as a warm temperate semi-humid zone. It features mild temperatures, abundant sunshine, moderate rainfall, and four distinct seasons. The annual average temperature is 15.2°C, with average annual precipitation of 867.2 mm, average annual sunshine hours of 2,040.9, and the frost-free period lasts about 219 days. The synchronized occurrence of rain and heat provides favorable conditions for agricultural production, supporting the growth of winter wheat, soybeans, tobacco, and other grain and economic crops, as well as medicinal herbs like peony, tree peony, and chrysanthemum.

Bozhou has long been known as a "North-South Thoroughfare and the Key to Central China," During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, its prosperous water transport, earning it the nickname "Little Nanjing." Currently, the Shangqiu-Hefei-Hangzhou High-Speed Railway connects Bozhou nationwide. Bozhou Airport has been completed and delivered, awaiting official opening. The first phase of the Bozhou-Mengcheng Expressway and the Guoyang section of the second phase are open to traffic, achieving expressway access to all county seats. The Mengcheng Port Area and Guoyang Jinshahe Wharf are operational, continuously expanding Bozhou's transportation circle and enhancing connectivity with other regions. A regional "asterisk-shaped" three-dimensional transportation corridor and the city center's "one ring, seven east-west, seven north-south" road network have taken initial shape, with the integrated internal and external transport network constantly improving.

Historical Evolution

Bozhou, anciently called Bo and also called Qiaocheng,  derives its alternative name "High Mansion Land" from the fact that the Chinese character "亳" is composed of the upper part of the character "高" (high) and the lower part of the character "宅" (mansion). Human activity dates back seven to eight thousand years, making it one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilization. During the era of the legendary emperors Yan and Huang, Emperor Ku succeeded Zhuan Xu and established his capital at Bo (present-day Bozhou City). After overthrowing the Xia Dynasty, Cheng Tang of the Shang Dynasty founded the Shang Dynasty, with Bo as its capital for 190 years, establishing the Ji Fang state within the territory of Bo. In the second year of the Huangchu era of Emperor Wen of Wei (221 AD), Qiao was designated as the "secondary capital", alongside Xuchang, Chang'an, Luoyang, and Ye, known as the "Five Capitals". In the first year of the Daxiang era of the Northern Zhou Dynasty (579 AD), Southern Yanzhou was renamed Bozhou, marking the first appearance of the name Bozhou. In the 15th year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1355 AD), Liu Futong led a rebellion against the Yuan and installed Han Lin'er as emperor in Bozhou, establishing the "Song" regime with Bozhou as its capital, thus solidifying Bozhou's status as the ancient capital of three dynasties. In the first year of the Republic of China (1912), Bozhou was changed to Bo County. In March 1986, the State Council abolished Bo County and established Bozhou City (county-level), with the former Bo County's administrative region becoming the city's. In February 1998, Bozhou City came under the direct jurisdiction of the province (enjoying sub-prefectural status). In May 2000, the State Council approved the abolition of the county-level Bozhou City and the establishment of the prefecture-level Bozhou City, governing Qiaocheng District, Guoyang County, Mengcheng County, and Lixin County, with Qiaocheng District as the seat of the municipal government.

Profound Cultural Heritage

Bozhou boasts a profound cultural heritage and has nurtured numerous outstanding figures. Laozi, the founder of Taoism, was from Guoyang and authored the Tao Te Ching, presents a comprehensive philosophical system revered as the "Classic of Classics". The great philosopher Zhuangzi was from Mengcheng. Through his romantic masterpiece, Free and Easy Wandering, he inspired people to explore cosmic truths and the principles of health preservation. The renowned Three Kingdoms statesman, strategist, and writer Cao Cao was born in Qiaocheng. He rose among the warlords during chaotic times and unified northern China. Together with his sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, he advocated for and propelled the flourishing of literature and art, shaping the vigorous and poignant "Jian'an style". The divine physician Hua Tuo, also from Qiaocheng, invented "Mafeisan", the world's earliest recorded general anesthetic for surgery, and created the "Five-Animal Exercises"(Wu Wu Qin Xi), one of the first three health-promoting qigong exercises promoted nationwide. Other illustrious figures of this talented land include the sage ruler Cheng Tang of Shang, the Taoist master Chen Tuan, the heroine Hua Mulan, the compassionate poet Li Shen, and Zhang Lei, one of the "Four Scholars of Su".

Bozhou is a National Historical and Cultural City and a China Excellent Tourism City.  It serves as the core area of the cultural and ecological tourism in northern Anhui, one of the four major tourism sectors in the province. Its historical and cultural landscapes complement the natural scenery of Huangshan, giving rise to the saying "North Bo, South Huang".

Millennia of profound history have shaped Bozhou's distinctive regional culture. Taoist philosophy emphasizes natural harmony, the Jian'an culture embodies robust and unyielding spirit, and traditional Chinese medicine and health preservation proposes the balance of yin and yang. Together, they form Bozhou's unique cultural mosaic, nurturing a local character that blends peacefulness, ruggedness, and delicacy. The people of Bozhou value keeping promises, uphold righteousness, and are helpful. Outsiders often remark that people from Bozhou are substantial and genuine.

Local Specialties and Cuisine

Bozhou cuisine emphasizes the "combination of flavor and nourishment", incorporating medicinal ingredients with culinary uses into dishes. Cooking methods aim to preserve the nourishing efficacy of the herbs, achieving both taste and nutrition, pioneering folk dietary therapy. On March 11, 2025, initiated by the Bozhou Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and led by Huaiyangtang Medicinal Cuisine Company, the National Occupational Standard for Chinese Cook (Medicinal Cuisine Chef), jointly drafted by multiple institutions including the Anhui Association of Health-Protection Food and Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, was officially promulgated for nationwide implementation. This marks the elevation of the industry standard for medicinal cuisine chefs spearheaded by Bozhou to a national standard, solidifying Bozhou's status as the undisputed "National Capital of Medicinal Cuisine".

Bozhou Five-Spice Beef selects premium local yellow beef. It features a reddish-brown hue, a rich and mellow flavor, and is rich in trace elements and amino acids, known for its effects of nourishing and warming the stomach, strengthening tendons and bones, and replenishing qi. Brands include Wuzhou Beef and Hengsheng Beef.

As a National Geographical Indication product, Yimen Taigan (also known as Dried Tribute Vegetable) from Guoyang County was presented as tribute to the imperial court during the Qianlong era, hence also called "Tribute Vegetable". Although a dried vegetable, upon rehydration, it "revives", becoming "emerald green in color, crisp and sound-producing when chewed, sweet and delicious in taste, refreshing and invigorating". In 1958, Premier Zhou Enlai, upon tasting Taigan during an inspection of Anhui Province and hearing its crisp sound when chewed, humorously called it "Xiang Cai" (Crisp Vegetable). Yimen Taigan is highly nutritious and possesses heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, offering significant dietary therapy value. Its processing technique is recognized as Anhui Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage. Loved for its texture, it is exported worldwide. The well-known catering chain Haidilao features Yimen Taigan as a star ingredient for hot pot.

Bozhou boasts numerous authentic delicacies, the most famous being Beef Pancake (Niu Rou Mo), featured in A Bite of China 2. Made with high-quality yellow beef as the main ingredient, complemented by vermicelli and other seasonings, it is golden brown, crispy outside and tender inside, oily but not greasy, fragrant and crispy, a beloved breakfast for the people of Bozhou.

Crispy Sesame Pancakes (You Su Shao Bing), Pressed Marinated Chicken (Ban Ji), and other delicacies are also staples on Bozhou tables and cherished hometown flavors for those living away. The constantly rising smoke and aroma infuse this enthusiastic, optimistic, and upward-looking city with even more vitality.