Heze

Heze, formerly known as Caozhou, is the westernmost prefecture-level city in Shandong province, China, bordering Jining to the east and the provinces of Henan and Anhui to the west and south respectively.

History
Caozhou was at the center of the Nian Rebellion during the 1850s and 60s.

In August 1949, Heze was detached from Shandong and given to the experimental province of Pingyuan, but was later returned to Shandong just over three years later.

In April 1953, Heze and Jining gained counties from the former prefecture of Huxi after its abolition.

City flower
Mudan is the city flower of Heze. The earliest documentary of Mudan is in Classic of Poetry, written almost 3,000 years ago. Mudan is also called the "king of flowers" from the Bencao Gangmu. It is a symbol of honor, peace, wealth, love, aristocracy and feminine beauty. There are 9 types of Mudan based on the colors: red, white, purple, yellow, blue, green, black, pink, and multi-colored.

Climate
Heze has a monsoon-influenced climate that lies between the humid subtropical and humid continental zones (Köppen Cwa/Dwa), with four well-defined seasons. The city is warm and nearly rainless in spring, hot and humid in summer, crisp in autumn and cold and dry in winter. The mean annual temperature is 14.22 °C, with the monthly 24-hour average temperature ranging from −0.5 °C in January to 27.1 °C in July. Nearly 70% of the annual precipitation occurs from June to September. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 48% in July to 60% in May, the city receives 2,411 hours of bright sunshine annually.

Administration
The prefecture-level city of Heze administers nine county-level divisions. The municipal executive, legislature and judiciary are in Mudan District (牡丹区), together with CPC and public security bureaux.

There are two districts and seven counties,2 additional development zones:
 * Mudan District (牡丹区)
 * Dingtao District (定陶区)
 * Cao County (曹县)
 * Chengwu County (成武县) - originally in Huxi
 * Shan County (单县) - originally in Huxi
 * Juye County (巨野县) - originally in Huxi
 * Yuncheng County (郓城县)
 * Juancheng County (鄄城县)
 * Dongming County (东明县)
 * Heze Economic and Technological Development Zone(菏泽经济技术开发区)
 * Heze High-Tech Development Zone(菏泽高新技术开发区)

These are further divided into 158 township-level divisions.

Demographics
According to the 2020 Chinese census, Heze was home to 8,287,693 people, of whom 1,346,717 live in the built-up area around the seat of government in Mudan District.

Government
The current mayor is Li Chunying and the chairman of the Municipal Council is Wang Weidong.

Places of interest

 * Caozhou Mudan Garden: It is the largest Mudan (Peony) garden in Heze and with the most varieties.
 * One Hundred Lion Square: It is famous for its column carved with 100 stone lions in different postures. It represents best wishes and longevity. The archway is 14 meters high and 9 meters wide. The 100 lions with different shapes represent superb architectural skills and immortal artistic value, which fully embodies the wisdom and strength of the ancient people.
 * Shui Hu Hero City: It is famous for the teaching and communication of martial arts and ancient buildings. It is also the Chinese ancient residence museum, CCTV-recommended tour routes and the source of water margins.
 * Fulong Lake Tourism Resort:Located in the southwest of Shanxian County, Heze City, Shandong Province, with a total area of 58.6 square kilometres, Furong Lake Tourism Resort is the second largest plain reservoir in Shandong Province, and is known as the ‘Pearl of the Old Road, the West Lake of the North of the Yangtze River’. Floating Dragon Lake is the site of Mengzhuze, one of the four most famous zones in China.

Foods

 * Shanxian lamb soup: The soup was first made in 1807. The taste is fresh but not mutton, and fragrant but not greasy. After more than 200 years of development and innovation of soup, it can be carried forward and accepted in many years. It is not only refreshing, but also functional in medicinal meal.
 * Peony cake: During a flower festival in which season when peonies are in full bloom, Wu Zetian led a maid to enjoy the flowers in the garden and ordered the maid to pluck a large number of flowers of various colors. After return to the palace, according to her design, she mashed them with rice, steaming them to make a cake known as the "hundred-flower cake" and used this dessert as a gift to officials.
 * Pijia roast chicken: The sauce is in color red, and you can smell the rich roast chicken scent just a few feet away from the pot. Its outstanding characteristics are fresh, fragrant, and tender with consistent taste inside and out.
 * Caozhou sesame cake: Its shape is round as a moon, tender inside with a crispy crust. Its ingredients include wheat essence powder, sesame oil, salt, pepper, fennel powder and other oil-based products.
 * Ju Ye pot of soup: Jar soup is the most representative of Shandong is the most representative characteristics of the south-west of Shandong traditional food. Originating from Daxieji Town, Juno County, Heze City, Shandong Province, it is the most authentic soup in Daxieji Town. Has been registered in the State Administration for Industry and Commerce ‘Xieji authentic jar soup’ trademark. It is one of the most popular soups among the local people, and has been listed as one of the famous foods in Southwest Shandong Province and Shandong Province, and was named as one of the famous Chinese foods in 2004.

Transportation

 * Highway: China National Highway 220; China National Highway 105; China National Highway 106; China National Highway 240; China National Highway 327
 * Heze Mudan Airport opened on April 2, 2021.
 * Conventional rail services call at Heze railway station, high-speed services call at Heze East railway station.

Famous people

 * Ancient times: Fuxi, Yao, Shun, Song Jiang, Wu Yong, Cao Zhi
 * Current: Peng Liyuan, Zhang Jizhong, Fan Shaohuang

Economy
Heze is the largest center in China for the cultivation of the "national flower" peony, after which the Mudan District was named. Over 30% of its GDP comes from the sale of peony.

Sister cities

 * Mobile, Alabama