Panzhihua

Panzhihua is a prefecture-level city located in Sichuan Province, south central China, on the confluence of the and Yalong Rivers. It has an area of 7440.398 square kilometers and a population of 1,100,800 as of 2007.

Geography

Panzhihua is a treasure of natural resources, but remained a wasteland until 1960. It was founded on a remote headwater of the Yangtze River in 1966 as a steel production center. It grew rapidly as it remained relatively prosperous while the rest of the country was undergoing the Cultural Revolution. The city is home to the Panzhihua Iron and Steel Co, called "Pangang 攀钢", the leading steel company in southwest China. There remains a reminant population of the ancient cycad forests which were once home to the giant panda. The area has a subtropical climate.

Panzhihua is a highly industrialized area, which is dominated by a truly gigantic mining operation. Most of the land not in use for mining is taken up by subsistence farming.

Panzhihua is linked to Chengdu and Kunming by rail.

With Panzhihua Airport, Panzhihua is also linked by Air to Chengdu.

Administrative divisions

*East District
*West District
*Renhe District
*Miyi County
*Yanbian County

Geology

Panzhihua is close to Xigeda-Yuanmou fracture in the Sichuan-Yunnan border. It's Renhe District was the epicenter of the 2008 Panzhihua earthquake.