Anyang (114.35E 36.10N) was originally founded as Shang, capital of an ancient regional power as early as the 17th century B.C. Coal was mined in the nearby Liuhokow fields starting in 1900. Though just 3% of China's coal reserves were located in Honan province, by 1941 the mines were relatively well developed and accounted for much of China's coal production (560,000 tons per year.) The coal was of coking quality, making it of particular importance to the Japanese, who had seized the fields early in their war with China.
References
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia (c) 2007 by Kent G. Budge. Index