Taiyuan
Encyclopedia
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi
province in North China
. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River leaves the mountains.
.
Taiyuan was an ancient capital, constructed by Zhaojianzi in 497 BC, named Jinyang
(t , s ). It served as the capital of Zhao
. It was renamed Taiyuan following its conquest by the Qin Dynasty
in 221 BC. Under the later Han dynasty, it was the capital of Bing (province)Bingzhou. For a time in the 6th century, the city was a secondary capital of Eastern Wei
and Northern Qi
states, growing into a fairly large city and also becoming a center of Buddhism
. A new city was built in AD 562, which was later linked to the old city during the Tang Dynasty in AD 733. From that time until the middle of the Tang dynasty (618–907), the construction of the cave temples at Tianlong Mountain just southwest of the city, continued. The dynastic founder of the Tang began his conquest of the empire with Taiyuan as a base and using the support of its local aristocracy
. It was periodically designated as the Tang's northern capital and grew into a heavily fortified military base.
The old city was at Taiyuanzhen, a few miles east of the modern city. After the Song
conquest in 960, Emperor Taizong of Song
ordered its destruction. However, a new city was set up on the banks of the Fen River
in 982. The city became a superior prefecture in 1059 and administrative capital of Hedong
(northern Shanxi
) in 1107. It retained this function, with various changes in its name and status, down to the end of the Mongol period. At the beginning of the Ming dynasty
, it was renamed Taiyuan Fu (府, fu, meaning "chief town") and retained this name until 1912. During the Ming Dynasty
, the city wall was reconstructed in 1568. Under the Ming dynasty and in the Qing period
, it was capital of Shanxi. Under the Republic
, its name was changed to Yangqu, a name it retained until its capture in 1947 by Communist forces.
In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion
, seventy-seven unarmed Western missionaries were executed in front of the provincial governor. This incident became known as the Taiyuan Massacre
.
In 1907 the importance of Taiyuan was increased by the construction of a rail link to Shijiazhuang
in Hebei on the Beijing to Wuhan
trunk line. Soon thereafter Taiyuan suffered a serious economic crisis. In the 19th century, the merchants and local banks of Shanxi had been of national importance, but the rise of modern banks led to the rapid decline of this system — with disastrous effects upon Shanxi and its capital.
Several Emperors came from this city, the most famous being Li Shimin
and his father Li Yuan during the Tang Dynasty
. Many ancient Chinese poets were also from Taiyuan. The oldest existing building in the city is the Temple of the Goddess inside the Jin Ci Complex; it was originally built in AD 1023 and reconstructed in 1102.
The city has been deliberately flooded several times, including in 453 BC and AD 969. It was also destroyed by war in AD 1125.
in the north.
After the Japanese invasion in 1937
, Taiyuan's industries continued to develop further. In 1945 the Japanese army in Shanxi surrendered to Yen Xi-shan and continued to fight for him until 1948. Eventually, the Chinese communist armies captured Taiyuan.
center, as it produces cement
, and has a large chemical-industrial complex
. It is also a center of education and research, particularly in technology
and applied science
.
According to “the twelfth five-year planning”, Taiyuan is today making every endeavor to build the city into “the first-rate capital city in China and regional modern metropolis with international influence”. The combination of the urban target and spirit of “compatibility, harmony, honesty and outstanding”makes Taiyuan city with more development potential and attraction. We are looking forward to a still better Taiyuan, and cordially welcome friends from both China and abroad to come and experience Taiyuan and work together for greater developments.
in the north of its fertile upper basin. It commands the north-south route through Shanxi
, as well as important natural lines of communication through the mountains to Hebei
province in the east and (via Fenyang
) to northern Shanxi
province in the west. It is considered to be one of the world's most polluted cities, although factory shutdowns related to global economic downturn may have reduced environmental hazards somewhat.
BSk). Spring is dry, with frequent dust storm
s, followed by early summer heat wave
s. Summer tends to be warm to hot with most of the year's rainfall concentrated in July and August. Winter is long and cold, but dry and sunny. Because of the aridity, there tends be considerable diurnal variation in temperature
, except during the summer. Conditions are much cooler than comparable-latitude cities, such as Shijiazhuang
, due to the moderately high altitude.
Monthly mean temperatures range from −5.5 °C in January to 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) in July, for an annual mean of 10 °C (50 °F).
, Taiyuan scored the fourth worst among China's main cities in air quality, with only 224 days (2004) of ambient air quality equal to or above grade II, after Lanzhou
(worse, 204), Jinan
(210) and Changsha (219), with 0.175 milligrams/m2 of particulate matter (the most/worst of all main cities) and 0.087 milligrams/m2 of sulphur dioxide (4th worst).
- Yuci built up area is home to nearly 4,000,000 inhabitants in 2010.
In 2008, Taiyuan's nominal GDP was 146.8 billion yuan, a growth of 8.1% from the previous year. Taiyuan's primary, secondary, and tertiary industries were worth 2 billion yuan, 63.9 billion yuan, and 59.6 billion yuan respectively in 2007.
Taiyuan is the largest coal mining center in China. It also houses several large corporations in Taiyuan, such as the Taiyuan Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) which is the largest stainless steel producing plant in Asia. Also, the Shanxi Heavy Machinery Factory and Fenxi Machinery Factory are major manufacturers for the People's Liberation Army
and Navy, producing submarine missiles for them.
The largest local bank of Taiyuan is ICBC( Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
).
The city's most expensive housing area currently is the part of Beidajie Avenue between Fen River and Wuyi Road for the CBD (Central Business District) of the metropolis is being built along the street. The Taiyuan area's most luxurious hotels and restaurants have been built along the avenue with some shopping malls and huge supermarkets surrounding. The City Revenue Agency, the City Procurator Fiscal, City Hall, and several telecommunication companies, such as China Telecom and China Mobile are located along the avenue. The housing price has reached 20000 RMB/m, roughly equal to $300/ft.
The Fen River
flows through the city from north to south, dividing the city into two parts: Qiaoxi (West of the Bridge) and Qiaodong (East of the Bridge). As of 2007, there are five bridges across the Fen River within the city limits: the Shengli Bridge (1970), the Yifen Bridge (1990), the Yingze Bridge (1954), the Nanneihuan Bridge (1988), and the Changfeng Bridge (2001). About ten kilometers to the north of the Shengli Bridge, there is the Chaicun Bridge. Two more bridges are being planned: Beizhonghuan Bridge and Nanzhonghuan Bridge.
Air
The primary airport of the city is Taiyuan Wusu Airport
. The airport has been expanded for the landing of Airbus A380.
Highway
Railway
The newly constructed high-speed railway has shortened the transitting time between Taiyuan and Beijing to less than three hours on a distance of 600 km.
Several tourist attractions in and around Taiyuan include the Liu Xiang Lane, which contains ancient Chinese houses of important heritage, and several temples, such as the Chongshan Monastery, the Jinci Temple
, the Twin Pagoda Temple
, and the Shaunglin Monastery Longtan Park
and Yinze Park are also popular tourist destinations.
Taiyuan is also known for its Liuxiang shopping district and the construction of parks and recreational areas that are praised by the UN Environmental Programme for their role in the improvement of the environmental condition of Taiyuan. Taiyuan's environmental improvement project is being copied in many other Chinese cities and urban areas around the world.
with: – Chemnitz
(Germany) – Himeji
(Hyōgo
, Japan) – Launceston, Tasmania
, Australia – Nashville
(Tennessee
, United States) – Newcastle upon Tyne
, United Kingdom – Syktyvkar
, Russia – Saratov
, Russia
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
province in North China
North China
thumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River leaves the mountains.
Pre-1911
From around 859BC the area was held by the Rong people. In 662 they were driven out by the BeidiBeidi
Beidi or Northern Di were groups of people who lived to the north of what was then China during the Zhou Dynasty. By the end of the dynasty they were mostly conquered or absorbed by the Chinese....
.
Taiyuan was an ancient capital, constructed by Zhaojianzi in 497 BC, named Jinyang
Jinyang
Jinyang may refer to:*Jinyang County, a county in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China*Jinyang Lake, a lake in Korea*Jinyang New District, a new urban district of the city of Guiyang, Guizhou, China...
(t , s ). It served as the capital of Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
. It was renamed Taiyuan following its conquest by the Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
in 221 BC. Under the later Han dynasty, it was the capital of Bing (province)Bingzhou. For a time in the 6th century, the city was a secondary capital of Eastern Wei
Eastern Wei
The Eastern Wei Dynasty followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 534 to 550.In 534 Gao Huan, the potentate of the eastern half of what was Northern Wei territory following the disintegration of the Northern Wei dynasty installed Yuan Shanjian a descendant of...
and Northern Qi
Northern Qi
The Northern Qi Dynasty was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577.-History:The Chinese state of Northern Qi was the successor state of the Chinese/Xianbei state of Eastern Wei and was founded by Emperor Wenxuan...
states, growing into a fairly large city and also becoming a center of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. A new city was built in AD 562, which was later linked to the old city during the Tang Dynasty in AD 733. From that time until the middle of the Tang dynasty (618–907), the construction of the cave temples at Tianlong Mountain just southwest of the city, continued. The dynastic founder of the Tang began his conquest of the empire with Taiyuan as a base and using the support of its local aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
. It was periodically designated as the Tang's northern capital and grew into a heavily fortified military base.
The old city was at Taiyuanzhen, a few miles east of the modern city. After the Song
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
conquest in 960, Emperor Taizong of Song
Emperor Taizong of Song
Emperor Taizong , born Zhao Kuangyi, was the second emperor of the Song Dynasty of China from 976 to 997. He was the younger brother of Emperor Taizu. His temple name Taizong means "Grand Ancestor".-Overview:...
ordered its destruction. However, a new city was set up on the banks of the Fen River
Fen River
The Fen River drains the center of Shanxi Province, China. It rises in the Guancen Mountains of Ningwu County in northeast Shanxi, flows southeast into the basin of Taiyuan, and then south through the central valley of Shanxi before turning west to join the Yellow River west of Hejin. The Fen and...
in 982. The city became a superior prefecture in 1059 and administrative capital of Hedong
Hedong Commandery
Hedong Commandery was a historical region in ancient China.During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Hedong Commandery was located in the area to the east of the Yellow River in Shanxi province . In Chapter one of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Guan Yu states that he is from Xieliang County in the...
(northern Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
) in 1107. It retained this function, with various changes in its name and status, down to the end of the Mongol period. At the beginning of the Ming dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, it was renamed Taiyuan Fu (府, fu, meaning "chief town") and retained this name until 1912. During the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, the city wall was reconstructed in 1568. Under the Ming dynasty and in the Qing period
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, it was capital of Shanxi. Under the Republic
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, its name was changed to Yangqu, a name it retained until its capture in 1947 by Communist forces.
In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
, seventy-seven unarmed Western missionaries were executed in front of the provincial governor. This incident became known as the Taiyuan Massacre
Taiyuan Massacre
The Taiyuan Massacre was one of the more bloody and infamous parts of the Boxer Rebellion. It took place on July 9, 1900, in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, North China, when the governor of Shanxi named Yuxian , or Yu-Hsien , ordered the killings of 45 Christian missionaries and of local church members,...
.
In 1907 the importance of Taiyuan was increased by the construction of a rail link to Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
in Hebei on the Beijing to Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
trunk line. Soon thereafter Taiyuan suffered a serious economic crisis. In the 19th century, the merchants and local banks of Shanxi had been of national importance, but the rise of modern banks led to the rapid decline of this system — with disastrous effects upon Shanxi and its capital.
Several Emperors came from this city, the most famous being Li Shimin
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
and his father Li Yuan during the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. Many ancient Chinese poets were also from Taiyuan. The oldest existing building in the city is the Temple of the Goddess inside the Jin Ci Complex; it was originally built in AD 1023 and reconstructed in 1102.
The city has been deliberately flooded several times, including in 453 BC and AD 969. It was also destroyed by war in AD 1125.
1911–1949
After 1911, Shanxi remained under control by warlord Yen Hsi-shan who retained control of the area from 1913 to 1948. Taiyuan consequently flourished as the center of his comparatively progressive province and experienced extensive industrial development. It was also linked by rail both to the far southwest of Shanxi and to DatongDatong
Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province of North China, located a few hundred kilometres west by rail from Beijing with an elevation of...
in the north.
After the Japanese invasion in 1937
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, Taiyuan's industries continued to develop further. In 1945 the Japanese army in Shanxi surrendered to Yen Xi-shan and continued to fight for him until 1948. Eventually, the Chinese communist armies captured Taiyuan.
1949–present
Since 1949, Taiyuan has developed a large industrial base with heavy industry (notably iron and steel) of prime importance; local coal production is considerable. Taiyuan is also an engineeringEngineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
center, as it produces cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
, and has a large chemical-industrial complex
Chemical industry
The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
. It is also a center of education and research, particularly in technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and applied science
Applied science
Applied science is the application of scientific knowledge transferred into a physical environment. Examples include testing a theoretical model through the use of formal science or solving a practical problem through the use of natural science....
.
According to “the twelfth five-year planning”, Taiyuan is today making every endeavor to build the city into “the first-rate capital city in China and regional modern metropolis with international influence”. The combination of the urban target and spirit of “compatibility, harmony, honesty and outstanding”makes Taiyuan city with more development potential and attraction. We are looking forward to a still better Taiyuan, and cordially welcome friends from both China and abroad to come and experience Taiyuan and work together for greater developments.
Geography
Taiyuan is one of the great industrial cities of China and lies on the Fen RiverFen River
The Fen River drains the center of Shanxi Province, China. It rises in the Guancen Mountains of Ningwu County in northeast Shanxi, flows southeast into the basin of Taiyuan, and then south through the central valley of Shanxi before turning west to join the Yellow River west of Hejin. The Fen and...
in the north of its fertile upper basin. It commands the north-south route through Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
, as well as important natural lines of communication through the mountains to Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province in the east and (via Fenyang
Fenyang
Fenyang city , formerly as Fenyang County before 1996, is a county-level city under the administration of Lüliang prefecture-level city, in Shanxi Province, China....
) to northern Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
province in the west. It is considered to be one of the world's most polluted cities, although factory shutdowns related to global economic downturn may have reduced environmental hazards somewhat.
Climate
Taiyuan experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk). Spring is dry, with frequent dust storm
Dust storm
A dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition...
s, followed by early summer heat wave
Heat wave
A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity. There is no universal definition of a heat wave; the term is relative to the usual weather in the area...
s. Summer tends to be warm to hot with most of the year's rainfall concentrated in July and August. Winter is long and cold, but dry and sunny. Because of the aridity, there tends be considerable diurnal variation in temperature
Diurnal temperature variation
Diurnal temperature variation is a meteorological term that relates to the variation in temperature that occurs from the highs of the day to the cool of nights.-Temperature lag:Temperature lag is an important factor in diurnal temperature variation...
, except during the summer. Conditions are much cooler than comparable-latitude cities, such as Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
, due to the moderately high altitude.
Monthly mean temperatures range from −5.5 °C in January to 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) in July, for an annual mean of 10 °C (50 °F).
Environment
According to the 2005 statistical book issued by the National Bureau of StatisticsNational Bureau of Statistics of China
The National Bureau of Statistics is an agency within the State Council of the People's Republic of China charged with the collection and publication of statistics related to the economy, population and society of the People's Republic of China at national and local levels.-List of Directors:*Xue...
, Taiyuan scored the fourth worst among China's main cities in air quality, with only 224 days (2004) of ambient air quality equal to or above grade II, after Lanzhou
Lanzhou
Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. A prefecture-level city, it is a key regional transportation hub, allowing areas further west to maintain railroad connections to the eastern half of the country....
(worse, 204), Jinan
Jinan
Jinan is the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilisation and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub...
(210) and Changsha (219), with 0.175 milligrams/m2 of particulate matter (the most/worst of all main cities) and 0.087 milligrams/m2 of sulphur dioxide (4th worst).
Administrative divisions
| Map | # | Name | Hanzi | Hanyu Pinyin | Population (2003 est.) | Area (km²) | Density (/km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Proper | ||||||
| 1 | Xinghualing District Xinghualing District Xinghualing District is a district of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Taiyuan city.-References:*... |
杏花岭区 | Xìnghuālǐng Qū | 530,000 | 170 | 3,118 |
| 3 | Yingze District Yingze District Yingze District is a district of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Taiyuan city.-References:*... |
迎泽区 | Yíngzé Qū | 490,000 | 117 | 4,188 |
| Suburban | ||||||
| 2 | Xiaodian District Xiaodian District Xiaodian District is a district of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Taiyuan city.-References:*... |
小店区 | Xiǎodiàn Qū | 470,000 | 295 | 1,593 |
| 4 | Jiancaoping District Jiancaoping District Jiancaoping District is a district of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Taiyuan city.-References:*... |
尖草坪区 | Jiāncǎopíng Qū | 330,000 | 286 | 1,154 |
| 5 | Wanbailin District Wanbailin District Wanbailin District is a district of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Taiyuan city.-References:*... |
万柏林区 | Wànbǎilín Qū | 500,000 | 305 | 1,639 |
| 6 | Jinyuan District Jinyuan District Jinyuan District is a district of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Taiyuan city.-References:*... |
晋源区 | Jìnyuán Qū | 180,000 | 287 | 627 |
| Satellite cities | ||||||
| 7 | Gujiao City Gujiao Gujiao is a county-level city in Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. It is administered by the prefecture-level city Taiyuan. Gujiao's population in 1990 stood at 173,022. Its estimated current population is 210,000.-External links:... |
古交市 | Gǔjiāo Shì | 210,000 | 1,540 | 136 |
| Rural | ||||||
| 8 | Qingxu County Qingxu County Qingxu County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Taiyuan city.-References:*... |
清徐县 | Qīngxú Xiàn | 300,000 | 607 | 494 |
| 9 | Yangqu County Yangqu County Yangqu County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Taiyuan city.-History:In 1920, Peder Torjesen, a Norwegian missionary, went to Yangqu County in Shanxi Province and established various social and community services as part of his ministry... |
阳曲县 | Yángqǔ Xiàn | 140,000 | 2,062 | 88 |
| 10 | Loufan County Loufan County Loufan County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Taiyuan city.-References:*... |
娄烦县 | Lóufán Xiàn | 120,000 | 1,290 | 93 |
Demographics
The TaiyuanTaiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
- Yuci built up area is home to nearly 4,000,000 inhabitants in 2010.
Economy
Taiyuan is the largest coal mining center in China. It also houses several large corporations in Taiyuan, such as the Taiyuan Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) which is the largest stainless steel producing plant in Asia. Also, the Shanxi Heavy Machinery Factory and Fenxi Machinery Factory are major manufacturers for the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
and Navy, producing submarine missiles for them.
The largest local bank of Taiyuan is ICBC( Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. is the largest bank in the world by profit and market capitalization. It is one China's 'Big Four' state-owned commercial banks .It was founded as a limited company on January 1, 1984...
).
Residential Area
The most populated area in Taiyuan is Yinze District which is the downtown of Taiyuan City. Wanbailing and Xinhualing Districts are the other major residential districts. Apartments in high rises are the most common residence for the civics. Rare houses occupied by the government officials can be found along part of the Fen River and the suburbs except the northern area of the city for the high density of heavy industry in the north.The city's most expensive housing area currently is the part of Beidajie Avenue between Fen River and Wuyi Road for the CBD (Central Business District) of the metropolis is being built along the street. The Taiyuan area's most luxurious hotels and restaurants have been built along the avenue with some shopping malls and huge supermarkets surrounding. The City Revenue Agency, the City Procurator Fiscal, City Hall, and several telecommunication companies, such as China Telecom and China Mobile are located along the avenue. The housing price has reached 20000 RMB/m, roughly equal to $300/ft.
Transportation
Inner City transportationThe Fen River
Fen River
The Fen River drains the center of Shanxi Province, China. It rises in the Guancen Mountains of Ningwu County in northeast Shanxi, flows southeast into the basin of Taiyuan, and then south through the central valley of Shanxi before turning west to join the Yellow River west of Hejin. The Fen and...
flows through the city from north to south, dividing the city into two parts: Qiaoxi (West of the Bridge) and Qiaodong (East of the Bridge). As of 2007, there are five bridges across the Fen River within the city limits: the Shengli Bridge (1970), the Yifen Bridge (1990), the Yingze Bridge (1954), the Nanneihuan Bridge (1988), and the Changfeng Bridge (2001). About ten kilometers to the north of the Shengli Bridge, there is the Chaicun Bridge. Two more bridges are being planned: Beizhonghuan Bridge and Nanzhonghuan Bridge.
Air
The primary airport of the city is Taiyuan Wusu Airport
Taiyuan Wusu Airport
-See also:*List of airports in the People's Republic of China*China's busiest airports by passenger traffic-References:* *...
. The airport has been expanded for the landing of Airbus A380.
Highway
- A highway circling the metropolis of City of Taiyuan has been built.
- China National Highway 208China National Highway 208China National Highway 208 runs from Erenhot, Inner Mongolia to Changzhi, Shanxi province. It is 990 kilometres in length and runs south from Erenhot towards Shanxi province.-Route and distance:-External links:*...
Railway
The newly constructed high-speed railway has shortened the transitting time between Taiyuan and Beijing to less than three hours on a distance of 600 km.
Food
Taiyuan's local specialties include:- Wheat-made Food: Liang FenLiangfenLiangfen is a Chinese dish consisting of starch jelly that is usually served cold, with a savory sauce, often in the summer. It is most popular in northern China, including Beijing, Gansu, and Shaanxi, but may also be found in Sichuan and Qinghai.Liangfen is generally white or off-white in color,...
(see Grass jellyGrass jellyGrass jelly, or Leaf jelly, is a jelly-like dessert found in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. It is sold in cans or packets in Asian supermarkets.-Preparation:...
), Mian PiLiang piLiang pi or Liangpi is a noodle-like Chinese dish made from wheat or rice flour. It is a specialty dish originating from the Chinese province of Shaanxi, but has now spread to many other places in China, in particular the northern and central regions....
(面皮) - Noodles: Dalu Mian, Dao Xiao Mian (刀削面, Knife-Cut Noodles), LamianLamianLamian is a type of hand-made or hand-pulled Chinese noodle. It is also the name of the dishes that use these noodles.-Etymology and preparation:...
, Mao Er Duo (猫耳朵, Cat Ear Noodle), Xi Hong Shi Chao Ji Dan Mian (西红柿炒鸡蛋面), Noodles with Tomato and Scrambled Eggs), Ti Mian (剔面, Scraped Noodles) - Soup:
- Tou Nao (头脑, "Brain" Soup): Contains mutton, rice wineRice wineRice wine is an alcoholic beverage made from rice. Unlike wine, which is made by fermentation of naturally sweet grapes and other fruit, rice "wine" results from the fermentation of rice starch converted to sugars...
and vegetables in the soup. This dish was first created by Chinese polymath Fu Shan, who was proficient in medicine, for his old and illness-ridden mother as a food substitute for the ancient medicine Bazhen Tang (literally "Soup of Eight Treasures") using only locally available food materials that have similar effects as the original medicine. - Yang Za Ge,Yang Rou tang (羊肉汤): a kind of soup which is made of mutton. Served during the wintertime
- Wan Zi Tang (丸子汤): meatball soup
- Tou Nao (头脑, "Brain" Soup): Contains mutton, rice wine
- Vinegar: Taiyuan is known for its vinegar, Lao Chen Cu (老陈醋, "Long-preserved Vinegar").
Tourism
Jinci Temple
Jinci Temple is Shanxi’s most famous temple complex. It is located 16 miles southwest of Taiyuan at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain at the Jin Springs. It was founded about 1,400 years ago and expanded during the following centuries, resulting in a diverse collection of more than 100 sculptures,...
, the Twin Pagoda Temple
Twin Pagoda Temple
The Twin Pagoda Temple of Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China, is a temple containing two pagodas dating from the Ming dynasty.-History:...
, and the Shaunglin Monastery Longtan Park
Longtan Park
The Longtan Park -Location:Located at the center of the park is a large lake called the "Dragon Lake" which features many moon bridges, rock gardens, dragon boats, tea houses and restaurants.-External links:*...
and Yinze Park are also popular tourist destinations.
Taiyuan is also known for its Liuxiang shopping district and the construction of parks and recreational areas that are praised by the UN Environmental Programme for their role in the improvement of the environmental condition of Taiyuan. Taiyuan's environmental improvement project is being copied in many other Chinese cities and urban areas around the world.
Major schools
- Taiyuan No.5 Middle School (太原第五中学)
- The Affiliated High School of Shanxi University (山西大学附中)
- Shanxi Experimental Secondary SchoolShanxi Experimental Secondary SchoolShanxi Experimental Secondary School is a public, co-educational day school in Taiyuan, Shanxi province.-History:It was founded in 1882 by Zhang Zhidong, a famous scholar, reformer, and official in the late Qing Dynasty...
(山西省实验中学) - Taiyuan Foreign Language SchoolTaiyuan Foreign Language SchoolTaiyuan Foreign Language School is one of the first national foreign language schools inChina, the only key school with enhanced foreign language courses in Shanxi Province that is registered in the National...
(太原外国语学校) - Taiyuan Chengcheng Middle School (太原成成中学)
- Taiyuan 15 middle school (太原市第十五中学）
Colleges and universities
- Shanxi College of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanxi College of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a university in Shanxi, China under the authority of the provincial government....
(山西中医学院) - Shanxi Medical UniversityShanxi Medical UniversityShanxi Medical University is one of very good university in Shanxi, People's Republic of China under the authority of the provincial government.-External links:*...
(山西医科大学) - Shanxi UniversityShanxi UniversityShanxi University is a university located in Shanxi province, China. The University was founded in 1902 and is one of the three earliest established national universities in China...
(山西大学) - Shanxi University of Finance and EconomicsShanxi University of Finance and EconomicsShanxi University of Finance and Economics ), founded in 1951, is one of the earliest financial universities in China...
(山西财经大学) - Taiyuan Normal UniversityTaiyuan Normal UniversityTaiyuan Normal University is a university in Shanxi, China under the authority of the provincial government. Taiyuan Normal University is a teaching University. It provides graduates to fill China's growing need for primary, secondary and tertiary teachers....
(太原师范学院) - Taiyuan University of Science and TechnologyTaiyuan University of Science and TechnologyTaiyuan University of Science and Technology is a university in Shanxi, People's Republic of China under the authority of the provincial government...
(太原科技大学) - Taiyuan University of TechnologyTaiyuan University of TechnologyTaiyuan University of Technology is a university in Shanxi, People's Republic of China, under the authority of the provincial government. In 2002 it celebrated its 100th anniversary, although it was originally part of Shanxi University, and didn't become an independent university until much later...
(太原理工大学) - North University of ChinaNorth University of ChinaNorth University of China is a university based in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China，which was once called North China Institute of Technology.It was formerly known as Taihang Industrial School,which was founded in Sep. 8th,1941, and renamed Taiyuan Institute of Machinery in 1958...
(中北大学)
Twin towns — Sister cities
Taiyuan is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: – Chemnitz
Chemnitz
Chemnitz is the third-largest city of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Chemnitz is an independent city which is not part of any county and seat of the government region Direktionsbezirk Chemnitz. Located in the northern foothills of the Ore Mountains, it is a part of the Saxon triangle...
(Germany) – Himeji
Himeji, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 535,945, with 206,409 households. The total area is 534.43 km².- History :...
(Hyōgo
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, Japan) – Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, Australia – Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
(Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States) – Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, United Kingdom – Syktyvkar
Syktyvkar
-Twin towns/sister cities:Syktyvkar is twinned with the following sister cities: Cullera, Spain Debrecen, Hungary Los Altos, United States Lovech, Bulgaria Taiyuan, China-External links:* * * *...
, Russia – Saratov
Saratov
-Modern Saratov:The Saratov region is highly industrialized, due in part to the rich in natural and industrial resources of the area. The region is also one of the more important and largest cultural and scientific centres in Russia...
, Russia