HO-CH'UAN

also called Ho-yang, Pinyin Hechuan, or Heyang town in eastern Szechwan sheng (province), China. Ho-ch'uan is situated some 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Chungking at the confluence of three major rivers draining the eastern part of the Szechwan Basin, the Ch', Chia-ling, and Fou rivers. It was until comparatively recent times a major port, with goods brought down the tributary streams in small craft being transshipped to larger vessels for expedition to Chungking. The opening of the Ch' River to navigation by small steamers as far as Nan-ch'ung, however, and the completion of highways from Nan-ch'ung to Chungking, Ch'eng-tu, and Wan-hsien took away much of Ho-ch'uan's trade, and its former commercial prosperity has declined. It nonetheless remains an important market in a highly productive area and has developed a variety of small-scale industries, including grain milling, egg processing, and the weaving of textiles. It also produces fertilizer. Pop. (1985 est.) 65,237.