All 17 prefecture-level cities achieved the economic growth of over 11% in 2009, according to statistics from Economy Forecast Bureau of Anhui Economic Information Center.

Nine cities along Wanjiang Urban Belt saw a surge of 14.6% in economic development, with the economic volume exceeded over 660 billion yuan, representing nearly 64% of total volume in the province. Hefei, the capital city countinued its lead in GDP growth, while increasing the proportion in the province from 16% in 2005 to 20% in 2009.

The economic growth rate in Wuhu and Chizhou grabbed the second and third place respectively. And the industrial growth in Chizhou, Lu'an, Bozhou and Hefei surpassed 27%.

Affected by financial crisis, Ma’anshan, Huaibei, Tongling, three resource-oriented cities, ranked lower place in terms of industry added-value this year while the undeveloped northern cities made significant progress in economic growth.

In addition, cities within Hefei Economic Zone reached 372 billion yuan in economic volume accouting for 35.7% of the total volume.

Wanjiang Urban Belt, short for Industrial Transfer Demonstration Zone in Anhui Yangtze River City Belt, includes 9 cities, namely:Ma’anshan, Wuhu, Xuancheng, Chaohu, Tongling, Chizhou, Anqing, Chuzhou and Hefei;

Hefei Economic Circle includes 4 cities which are Hefei, Chaohu, Lu’an and Huainan;