Anhui, also Anhwei, province in eastern China, comprising the broad alluvial lowland of the flood-prone Huai River in the north, the intensively cultivated alluvial lowlands along the Yangtze River in the south, and a rugged, hilly area in the extreme south.The capital is Ho-fei.

Anhwei was the first part of southern China to be settled by the Chinese (Han) people. It was the hub of an early water-transportation system developed to carry grain. Anhwei was long regarded as the most backward province of eastern China.

Chief crops are wheat and cotton in the north, rice and silk in the Yangtze lowlands, and tea in the southern upland areas. Fish culture is important. Rich iron-ore deposits support a large iron- and steel-manufacturing complex at Ma'anshan. Coal and copper are mined. Major cities are the capital, Hefei; Huainan; Bengbu; Anqing; and Wuhu.

Major industrial towns are Huaibei, Suzhou, Bengbu, Huainan, Lu'an, Anqing, Wuhu and Tongling.

Area 139,900 sq km (about 54,000 sq mi); population 59,860,000.

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