HO-PI

also spelled Hao-pi, also called Hao-pi-chi, Pinyin Hebi, Haobi, or Haobiji, town in northern Honan Province (sheng), China. It is a county (hsien) seat in An-yang Prefecture (ti-ch'). Ho-pi is situated in the foothills of the southern T'ai-hang Shan (mountains), some 16 mi (25 km) southwest of An-yang. Under the First Five-Year Plan (195357) a branch railway line was built connecting the former local market town with T'ang-yin on the PekingHan-k'ou railway. The area had long been known to have rich coal deposits, and the town has grown rapidly as a centre of coal mining. Pop. (1989 est.) 199,000.