HUANG-SHIH

Pinyin Huangshi, city in southeastern Hupeh sheng (province), China. It is situated on the south bank of the Yangtze River about 60 miles (96 km) southeast of Wu-han. The nucleus of the present city was a small market town called Shih-tan-yao, or Shih-hui-yao; Huang-shih was the name of the landing on the Yangtze serving the town. When the nearby Ta-yeh iron mines began to be exploited at the end of the 19th century, a railway line was constructed linking the mining town of Ta-yeh to the river at Shih-tan-yao (Huang-shih), whence the ore was shipped by river to the Han-yang Ironworks. When the ironworks went out of production in the 1920s, much of this iron ore was shipped instead to Japan. Huang-shih was also the seat of a large cement-manufacturing industry, as well as a centre for coal mining. During World War II, however, most of the area's industrial equipment was either evacuated to the southwest or destroyed, as also were the port installations. After the beginning of communist rule in 1949, Huang-shih and Ta-yeh were combined in 1950 to form a single municipality. The ports were repaired, and the coal mines and cement works were restored and enlarged. In addition, Huang-shih has itself become an iron- and steel-producing centre, specializing in the manufacture of high-grade steel. Huang-shih is connected by railway with Wu-han. Pop. (1990 est.) 457,601.