a former city in China, in Hupeh Province; since 1956, part of the city of Wuhan. The city was called Hsiak’ou in ancient times and was later known by other names. It was renamed Hank’ou during the rule of the Ch’ing dynasty. In 1858, Hank’ou was opened to foreign trade. In 1861 a concession was granted to Great Britain, and later concessions were granted to France, Japan, Germany, and tsarist Russia.

In the autumn of 1911, during the Hsin-hai revolution, fierce battles were fought near Hank’ou between revolutionaries and government troops. Chinese Communists led the Peking-Hank’ou strike of 1923 from Hank’ou. During the revolution of 1925–27, the revolutionary government was located in the city from December 1926 to July 1927. From December 1937 to October 1938, Hank’ou was the provisional capital of the Chinese Republic. From October 1938 through August 1945 it was occupied by Japanese troops. Hank’ou was liberated from the Kuomintang by the People’s Liberation Army of China in May 1949.