Heyuan

Heyuan is a prefecture-level city in the eastern part of Guangdong Province, China. It sits in the northeastern corner of the province and is part of the Dongjiang River basin, with proximity to the Jiangxi border. The city administers an urban core and several surrounding counties.

Geography and climate: The terrain comprises hills, rivers, and reservoirs typical of eastern Guangdong. The area experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and mild winters, and plentiful rainfall, especially during the summer months.

Economy and infrastructure: Heyuan’s economy blends agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Traditional sectors include agriculture-based processing and light industry, while recent years have seen growth in tourism and small-to-mid-sized high-tech manufacturing. The city is linked to other parts of Guangdong and neighboring provinces by road and rail networks that traverse the Dongjiang basin.

Tourism and culture: Heyuan is internationally known for the Heyuan Dinosaur Fossil Park, established after major fossil discoveries in the 1990s. The park exhibits dinosaur fossils, eggs, and related displays and is a significant regional tourist site. The surrounding area also features historic towns and local cultural traditions, contributing to the region’s Chinese cultural diversity.

Education and demographics: The city serves as an administrative and economic center for surrounding rural areas and hosts a range of educational institutions to support regional development. The population includes Han and minority communities, with various local languages and dialects reflected in daily life.