Hengyang, also Heng-yang, city, southeastern China, Hunan Province, on the Xiang (Hsiang) River near its confluence with the Lei and Zheng (Cheng) rivers. It is a major regional transportation center and the leading manufacturing and commercial city of southern Hunan. Products include mining machinery, refined lead and zinc, chemicals, farm machinery, and irrigation equipment. Mines in the surrounding region produce coal, lead and zinc, sulfur, and tungsten. An ancient city, located on a traditional northern to southern communications route, Hengyang was made a prefecture in the 6th century AD. Modern growth dates from the completion (1936) of a railroad through the city to the port of Guangzhou (Canton). The Japanese captured the city in 1944, inflicting considerable damage. The city was called Hengchou or Hengchow until 1912. Population (1991) 447,944.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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