Luohe
Prefecture-level city in central Henan, China.
Luohe (漯河, Luòhé, formerly romanized as Loho) is a prefecture-level city situated in central Henan province, China. It borders Xuchang to the north, Zhoukou to the east, Zhumadian to the south, and Pingdingshan to the west. According to the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 2,367,490, with 1,326,687 people living in the built-up metropolitan area, which comprises the districts of Yancheng, Shaoling, and Yuanhui.
The city administers three districts and two counties, which are further divided into seven subdistricts, 49 towns and townships, 1,262 villages, and 78 residential communities.
Geographically, Luohe spans parts of central and southern Henan, lying between latitudes 33°24′N and 33°59′N and longitudes 113°27′E and 114°16′E. It sits near the Funiu Mountains and the Huaibei Plains, and all 81 of its rivers belong to the Huai River system.
Luohe’s economy has shown steady GDP growth through the 2010s, in line with China’s broader economic expansion. The city is also known for Nanjie Village, a community famous for its Maoist-style collective ownership.
Agriculture in Luohe focuses on wheat, corn, cotton, peanut oil, vegetables, mushrooms, melons, and fruit. The city is particularly noted for its ham production. WH Group, the world’s largest pork producer and owner of Smithfield Foods, maintains its Chinese headquarters in Luohe.
The city’s natural resources are largely drawn from its rivers, which yield high-grade rock salt suitable for food use and a type of sand used in building materials.
Historically a commercial center, Luohe now hosts light industries such as food processing, textiles, plastics, and shoemaking, as well as heavy industries like cement production.
The tertiary sector has grown faster than the overall economy in recent years. As of 2018, it contributed 38.44 billion yuan, or 31.1% of the city’s total economic output.
In education, 2018 figures show secondary vocational schools (excluding technical schools) enrolled 9,200 students, with a total of 27,800 students and 8,100 graduates. Regular high schools had 15,900 new enrollees, 47,400 total students, and 15,500 graduates. Junior high schools enrolled 35,100 students, with 98,900 total and 30,500 graduates. Primary schools enrolled 35,500, with 205,700 students and 34,800 graduates. Kindergartens served 98,100 children.
Notable figures from Luohe include Xu Shen, a Han-dynasty scholar who compiled the first Chinese character dictionary, the Shuowen Jiezi.
- location
- Central Henan province, China
- administrative_divisions
- 3 districts, 2 counties
- major_river_system
- Huai River system
- known_for
- WH Group headquarters, Nanjie Village, ham production
Lore & Background
Luohe is situated in central Henan Province, bordered by Xuchang to the north, Zhoukou to the east, Zhumadian to the south, and Pingdingshan to the west. The city spans parts of central and southern Henan, lying between 113°27′E and 114°16′E longitude and 33°24′N and 33°59′N latitude. Its terrain is influenced by the nearby Funiu Mountains and the Huaibei Plains. A defining geographical feature is its network of 81 rivers, all of which are part of the Huai River system. These waterways provide significant natural resources, including high-grade rock salt suitable for food use and a specific type of sand used in building materials. The prefecture-level city administers three districts—Yancheng, Shaoling, and Yuanhui—and two counties, which together contain seven subdistricts, 49 towns and townships, 1,262 villages, and 78 residential communities. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 2,367,490, with 1,326,687 people living in the built-up metropolitan area formed by the three districts. Luohe is historically a commercial center and is known for its ham production industry; it hosts the Chinese headquarters of WH Group, the world’s largest pork producer and owner of Smithfield Foods. The city also contains Nanjie Village, noted for its Maoist-styled collective ownership. Its economy includes light industries such as food preparation, textiles, plastics, and shoes, as well as heavy industries like cement production. The tertiary sector has grown faster than the overall economy, contributing 38.44 billion Yuan (31.1% of the city’s total output) in 2018.
Reader's Guide
Luohe's significance stems from its role as a commercial center since ancient times and its modern economic profile. The city is famous for its ham production industry and hosts the Chinese headquarters of WH Group, the world's largest pork producer, which also owns Smithfield Foods. Nanjie Village, located in Luohe, has gained fame for its Maoist-styled collective-ownership model. Natural resources include rock salt from its rivers suitable for food preparation and sand used in building materials. Industries range from food preparation, textiles, plastics, and shoes to heavy industries like cement production. The city is also the birthplace of Xu Shen, the Han dynasty scholar who compiled the first Chinese character dictionary, Shuowen Jiezi.
Did You Know?
- Luohe is the Chinese headquarters of WH Group, the world's largest pork producer.
- The city is home to Nanjie Village, a Maoist-styled collective-ownership community.
- Luohe's 81 rivers are all part of the Huai River system.
- The Han dynasty scholar Xu Shen, who compiled the first Chinese character dictionary, was from Luohe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Luohe?
Luohe is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province, China, bordered by Xuchang to the north, Zhoukou to the east, Zhumadian to the south, and Pingdingshan to the west.
What is Luohe famous for?
The city serves as the Chinese headquarters of WH Group, the world's largest pork producer, and is home to Nanjie Village, a community governed under a Maoist-style collective-ownership system.
What river basin does Luohe belong to?
Luohe sits within the Huai River drainage system in central Henan.
What is Nanjie Village and why is it notable?
Nanjie Village is a community in Luohe that still operates under a Maoist-styled collective-ownership model, making it a rare surviving example of that governance approach in modern China.
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