Changde, city in central China, located on the Yuan River in northern Hunan province. It is encircled by mountains on the northwest, and opens onto a plain on the southeast. Agricultural products of Changde include rice, wheat, edible oils, sesame seeds, peanuts, cotton, and tobacco. Machinery, textiles, chemicals, wood products, and leather goods are the city's principal manufactures. Local mines extract gold, silver, iron ore, and diamonds. Hydroelectric power generators on the Yuan River supply more than 10 percent of Hunan province's electricity. The picturesque mountains and streams surrounding Changde attract many tourists.
Changde is the site of a stele (large stone tablet) commemorating the tomb of Chunshen, a ruler of the ancient state of Chu, who died in 238 BC. Other notable historic sites in Changde include an iron pillar inscribed with Buddhist scripture that dates from the Song dynasty (AD 960-1279), and a Ming dynasty (1368-1644) tomb. There are 276 preserved historic sites within the city.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Changde Information info
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