Luohe

Where is Luohe located and how is it administered?

Luohe is a prefecture-level city situated in central Henan province, China, located at latitude 33.57424 and longitude 114.03261. Encompassed by Xuchang to the north, Zhoukou to the east, Zhumadian to the south, and Pingdingshan to the west, the municipality spans parts of central and southern Henan Province from 113°27′E to 114°16′E longitude and 33°24′N to 33°59′N latitude near the Funiu Mountains and the Huaibei Plains. According to the 2020 Chinese census, the city recorded a total population of 2,367,490 inhabitants, while the provided database lists a population figure of 1,294,974. Within the built-up metro area consisting of Yancheng, Shaoling, and Yuanhui districts, 1,326,687 people resided. Administratively, the prefecture-level city directly oversees 3 districts and 2 counties, which encompass 7 subdistricts, 49 towns and townships, 1,262 villages, and 78 residential communities.

What defines the geography and economic activities of the region?

The local hydrology features 81 different rivers belonging entirely to the Huai River system, which provide bountiful natural resources including high-grade rock salt suitable for food preparation and specialized sand used in building materials. Economically, the area functions as a commercial center engaging in light industries such as food preparation, textile production, plastic production, and shoe production, alongside heavy industries like cement production. Agricultural output centers on wheat, corn, cotton, peanut oil, vegetables, mushrooms, melons, and fruit, while the ham production industry is particularly famous. Notably, WH Group, recognized as the world's largest pork producer and the owner of Smithfield Foods, maintains its Chinese headquarters in Luohe. Furthermore, the city is home to Nanjie Village, which has achieved widespread fame for its Maoist-styled collective-ownership model.