Taiyuan (太原)

1. Introduction

Taiyuan City (Taiyuan dialect: /tʰai˦˥ ye˩˩ sɿ˦˥/), abbreviated as Bing (pinyin: bīng, Zhuyin: ㄅㄧㄥ, Middle Chinese reconstructed pronunciation: pjeng), historically known as Jinyang, and also called Bingzhou or Dragon City, is the capital of Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the central part of Shanxi Province, in the northern area of the Jinzhong Basin. The city borders Yangquan City to the northeast, Jinzhong City to the southeast, Lüliang City to the west, and Xinzhou City to the north. Situated in the northern part of the Taiyuan Basin, it is surrounded by mountains on three sides: the Taihang Mountains to the east, the Lüliang Mountains to the west, and the Xizhou and Yunzhong Mountains to the north. The Fen River enters from the northwest, flows through the urban area, and exits in the south. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 69 Xinjian Road, Xinghualing District.

Taiyuan is an important central city in North China, a significant national base for new materials and advanced manufacturing, and the political, economic, cultural, and international exchange center of Shanxi Province. It is also the decision-making and management center for Shanxi's economy and finance, and the core area of the Taiyuan Metropolitan Circle.

Taiyuan is a historic ancient capital with over 2,500 years of city-building history. The ancient city of Jinyang in the southwestern corner of the city served as the capital for several dynasties in Chinese history, earning Taiyuan the nickname "Dragon City." It is one of the cities in China with the highest number of cultural heritage sites and holds a certain degree of international influence. It is also recognized as an Excellent Tourism City of China, a National Garden City, and a National Historical and Cultural City. Taiyuan has successfully hosted major events such as the Second Youth Games, the Central China Investment and Trade Exposition, and the China TV Drama Awards (Huading Awards).

Taiyuan has a warm temperate continental monsoon climate, characterized by long, dry, and cold winters, hot, humid, and rainy summers, and short, windy spring and autumn seasons, with distinct wet and dry seasons. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and traversed by the Fen River, the second-largest tributary of the Yellow River, flowing from north to south, Taiyuan has long been praised as the "Splendid Taiyuan City."

2. Origin of the Name

The name "Taiyuan" first appeared during the Spring and Autumn period. According to Zuo Zhuan: The First Year of Duke Zhao, "Taiyi appeased the Fen and Tao rivers, controlled the great marsh, and settled in Taiyuan." After Taiyi subdued the black dragon of the Fen River, the floodwaters receded, revealing flat land. The local people named this fertile land "Taiyuan." Later, as a city was built on this "dragon" land, Taiyuan came to be known as the "Dragon City."

In the first year of Duke Zhao of Lu (the 17th year of Duke Ping of Jin, 541 BCE), Xun Wu of the State of Jin led a northern expedition and defeated the Wuzhong and the Qidi tribe of Qiangjiuru, who occupied the area of present-day Taiyuan. From then on, the Taiyuan region was incorporated into the territory of the State of Jin.

In the 15th year of Duke Ding of Jin (497 BCE), Dong Anyu, a retainer of the Jin minister Zhao Jianzi, built a city at the northern end of the Taiyuan Basin, on the north bank of the Jin River and east of Mount Xuanweng. Because it was constructed north of the Jin River, it was named "Jinyang." In the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (979 CE), Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, set fire to Jinyang City and diverted the waters of the Fen and Jin rivers to raze it to ruins. Three years later (982 CE), a new Taiyuan city was built at the Tangmingjian, forty li north of the original Jinyang City.

Another alternative name for Taiyuan is "Bingzhou," which was originally one of the legendary Nine Provinces and Twelve Provinces. Administrative divisions named after it were established for a long time, with most of them governed from Taiyuan. As a result, "Bing" was adopted as the abbreviated name for Taiyuan.

3. History

Taiyuan is an ancient city with a history of over 2,500 years and one of China's famous historical capitals. It served as the capital for the State of Zhao, Former Qin, Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Li Keyong, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Northern Han. This established it as a significant political, military, economic, and cultural center in ancient northern China.

3.1 Pre-Qin Dynasty

During the Spring and Autumn period, in the first year of Duke Zhao of Lu (541 BC), Xun Wu of the State of Jin led a northern expedition, decisively defeating the Wuzhong and Chidi tribes who occupied the area of present-day Taiyuan. The Taiyuan region was thus incorporated into the territory of the Central Plains state of Jin. In 497 BC, Dong Anyu, a retainer of the Zhao family, began constructing a city wall, establishing Jinyang City, with a perimeter of four li and a height of four zhang. In 455 BC, Zhi Bo allied with Han and Wei Yao to attack the Zhao clan, flooding Jinyang City with water from the Fen River. Later, Zhao Xiangzi persuaded the Han and Wei families to switch sides, redirecting the water to flood Zhi Bo's camp, crushing his army, capturing and killing Zhi Bo Yao. This event is historically known as the Battle of Jinyang. In the early Warring States period, the ancient city of Jinyang served as the capital of the State of Zhao for seventy-two years, and Zhao became one of the seven powerful states of the era. In 425 BC, Zhao Xianzi moved the capital from Jinyang to Zhongmou (west of present-day Hebi City, Henan).

3.2 Qin, Han, Northern and Southern Dynasties Period

During the Qin Dynasty, it was one of the thirty-six commanderies of the nation. The Han Dynasty established Bingzhou as one of the thirteen provinces, and Taiyuan thus became known as "Bingzhou." In the early Western Han, Bingzhou and Yanmen Commandery were merged to establish the Dai Kingdom, with its capital at Jinyang. Both Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing of Han were enfeoffed in the Dai Kingdom before ascending the throne. From then on, Jinyang remained the prefectural seat of Bingzhou. During the Western Jin Dynasty, Liu Yuan of the Xiongnu established the Han state at Zuoguocheng (present-day Lishi District, Lüliang City), targeting Jinyang. To defend against this formidable enemy, Liu Kun, the Governor of Bingzhou, expanded Jinyang City to a perimeter of twenty-seven li, known as the Prefectural City. After the Former Qin, the most powerful state during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, was defeated at the Battle of Feishui, the regime led by Fu Pi used this city as its capital before moving to Chang'an.

In the late Northern Wei Dynasty of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Erzhu Rong and Gao Huan successively controlled the Northern Wei court, constructing a Grand Chancellor's residence within Jinyang City. Jinyang replaced Luoyang as the de facto political center of Northern Wei. Subsequently, Jinyang served as the secondary capital of Eastern Wei and Northern Qi, consistently maintaining its status as the "Hegemonic Headquarters," its practical importance even surpassing the primary capital, Yecheng. In the fourth year of Heqing during Northern Qi (565 AD), Jinyang County was renamed Longshan County, and the seat of Jinyang County was moved east of the Fen River. During the reign of Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei, the powerful minister Gao Huan constructed the magnificent Jinyang Palace in Jinyang, began carving grottoes at Tianlong Mountain, and built a summer palace.

3.3 Sui and Tang Dynasties

During the Sui Dynasty, Taiyuan City became the nation's third-largest city, after Chang'an and Luoyang. In the ninth year of the Kaihuang era (590 AD), Prince Yang Guang of Jin expanded the Jinyang Palace and built a palace wall around it, seven li in perimeter and four zhang high, initially called the "Palace City." Later, Emperor Wen of Sui renamed it the "New City," corresponding to the original Daming City. In the sixteenth year of Kaihuang (596 AD), Prince Yang Guang of Jin ordered the construction of the Granary City, connecting its eastern wall to the western wall of the New City, with a perimeter of eight li and a height of four zhang. Emperor Yang of Sui also built the Daxingguo Taoist Temple on Qianqiu Hill south of Jinyang City.

"Among the three capitals of the Heavenly King, the Northern Capital holds one place. Its customs are distant, are they not the people of Emperor Yao? It holds the strategic pass of the four barriers, controlling the metropolis of the five plains. A mighty bulwark and powerful garrison, none but the worthy may dwell here." — (Tang) Li Bai, Preface to a Farewell Banquet at the Southern Stockade in Taiyuan for Yangqu's Wang Zangong, Jia Shaogong, and Shi'ai's Yin Shaogong on Their Departure for the Capital Examination

The Tang Dynasty originated from Taiyuan; therefore, several early Tang emperors expanded Jinyang City multiple times. Alongside the capital Chang'an and the eastern capital Luoyang, it was called one of the "Three Capitals" or "Three Metropolises." In the eleventh year of the Zhenguan era (637 AD), Li Ji, the Duke of Ying and Chief Administrator of Bingzhou, expanded east of the Fen River to build the "East City," approximately eight and a half li north-south and five to six li east-west. As the prefectural city was west of the Fen River, it was also called the "West City." During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, in the first year of Tianshou (690 AD), Taiyuan Prefecture was elevated to "Northern Capital." The West City was designated as Jinyang County, and the East City as Taiyuan County. She also ordered Cui Shenqing, the Chief Administrator of Bingzhou, to build a "Central City" between the East and West Cities using a method "spanning the water and connecting the battlements," which straddled the Fen River. Consequently, the West City was also called the "Capital City." In the first year of the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (742 AD), Taiyuan was further elevated to "Northern Metropolis," designating Jinyang and Taiyuan counties as capital counties, with all other counties under Taiyuan Prefecture as metropolitan counties. All regulations were made identical to those of the two capital prefectures, Chang'an and Luoyang. By this time, Taiyuan City reached its largest scale in ancient history, formed by the interconnected Central, East, and West Cities: it had 24 city gates, walls 3.5 zhang high—1.5 zhang taller than Chang'an's walls. Within the West City were also the Daming City (Daming Palace), the New City (Jinyang Palace), and the Granary City. Northwest of the city was the Luocheng, used for flood control and military defense. During the An Lushan Rebellion, Li Guangbi led fewer than ten thousand troops to successfully resist the siege by Shi Siming's hundred-thousand-strong army, achieving victory in the Battle of Taiyuan.

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Taiyuan successively served as the place of origin and secondary capital for Later Tang, Later Jin, and Later Han, still called the "Northern Metropolis." It later became the capital of Northern Han, hence also earning the title "Dragon City."

3.4 Song and Yuan Dynasties

In the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (979 AD), Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, attacked the Northern Han regime based in Jinyang, ultimately unifying the country. Due to the unexpectedly fierce nature of the conflict, an enraged Zhao Guangyi ordered the relocation of the Bingzhou administrative seat to Yuci, then set fire to Jinyang City and diverted the waters of the Fen and Jin rivers to raze Jinyang to ruins. Three years later, Zhao Guangyi, considering Yuci "not a crucial junction," ordered Pan Mei to build a new Taiyuan City on the basis of the ancient town of Tangmingzhen, forty li north of the original Jinyang City, and stationed generals Pan Mei and Yang Ye there for defense. After Emperor Renzong of Song ascended the throne in 1023, further construction was undertaken on Taiyuan. To prevent flooding from the Fen River, Prefect Chen Yaozuo built a long embankment along the eastern bank and impounded water to form a lake. He planted many willow trees along the lake embankment, naming it "Willow Stream" (Liuxi). He also extensively planted pines, cypresses, locusts, apricots, and peach trees on the eastern and western mountains, which consequently became known as "Broidered Ridges" (Jinxiuling). In the fourth year of the Jiayou era (1059 AD), Taiyuan Prefecture was re-established, with its seat within Taiyuan City. Subsequently, the Shengmu Hall of the Jin Temple and Fanglin Temple were completed. During the Song Dynasty, Taiyuan's handicraft industry was relatively strong, with the official kilns at Mengjiajing and Yeyu producing "wood-grain patterned porcelain" renowned nationwide, leading to the saying, "Splendid Zhengding Prefecture, Broidered Taiyuan City." During the Chongning era of the Song Dynasty, Taiyuan was established as a Grand Governor's Prefecture, administering ten counties.

In 1125, Jin Dynasty troops launched a large-scale southern invasion in two routes. The western route, led by Nianhan, reached the walls of Taiyuan. The Hedong Pacification Commissioner, Tong Guan, fled. Prefect Zhang Xiaochun led the people in fierce resistance. After being besieged for over 250 days, the city finally fell due to starvation and exhaustion. In 1126, Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, issued an edict ceding the three cities of Zhongshan, Hejian, and Taiyuan to the Jin Dynasty. During the subsequent Jin and Yuan periods, Taiyuan City, located on the frontier, suffered severe damage from warfare, leading to significant urban decline. During the Yuan Dynasty, Taiyuan was changed to Jining Route, directly under the Central Secretariat, and the Hedong Shanxi Circuit Surveillance Commission was established, one of the eight internal circuits directly under the Yuan Censorate.

3.5 Ming and Qing Dynasties

In the early Ming Dynasty, Taiyuan was designated as one of the nine important frontier garrisons. Zhu Yuanzhang enfeoffed his third son, Zhu Gang, as the Prince of Jin and ordered Xie Cheng to expand Taiyuan City. Xie Cheng expanded the original city to the east, south, and north, constructing a city wall approximately 14 kilometers in circumference and about 18 meters high. The moat outside the city was ten meters deep. Four corner towers, eight gate towers, ninety-two smaller towers, and thirty-two watchtowers were built on the city walls, making it an important military defensive area. Prince of Jin Zhu Gang also constructed a princely palace within the city, the largest among all Ming princely establishments. The Prince of Jin also built the grand Chongshan Temple for his mother, Empress Ma, which remains one of Taiyuan's most important Buddhist temples to this day. Besides handicrafts, Taiyuan's weapons manufacturing industry was highly developed during the Ming period.

By the mid-Qing Dynasty, Taiyuan's handicraft industry had further developed, and its iron smelting, sulfur, and coal industries were also prosperous. In commerce, guilds, money exchanges, and pawnshops emerged. With the rise of the Shanxi merchants, Taiyuan also became a commercial and handicraft center in northern China, an early industrial city in the country. Pingyao, Taigu, and Qi County under Taiyuan Prefecture became national financial centers.

3.6 Republican Era

After the Xinhai Revolution, Yan Xishan long ruled Shanxi with Taiyuan as his center. The history of the Shanxi clique spanned the Beiyang Government, the Central Plains War, and the War of Resistance Against Japan, making it one of China's most significant local warlord factions. Taiyuan was also an extremely important industrial base in northern China at the time; the Taiyuan Arsenal was the largest arsenal south of the Great Wall. In the early stages of the War of Resistance, Yan Xishan and Communist Party member Bo Yibo, among others, established organizations like the Sacrifice League and the Shanxi New Army in Taiyuan, forming an anti-Japanese alliance within Shanxi between Yan Xishan's forces and the Eighth Route Army. In November 1937, the final battle of the Taiyuan Campaign—the Defense of Taiyuan—concluded with the occupation of Taiyuan City by the Japanese invading forces. After the war, Yan Xishan led the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army to take over Taiyuan and began constructing an extensive, deep-ring defensive system, establishing a "Blockhouse Construction Bureau" to build and reinforce numerous blockhouses. During the Second Chinese Civil War, over 300,000 troops of the People's Liberation Army under the command of Xu Xiangqian fought fiercely for half a year before capturing the provincial capital, Taiyuan, in what is historically known as the Taiyuan Campaign.

3.7 People's Republic Era

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Taiyuan continued to be regarded as an important industrial city. From 1949 to the end of the First Five-Year Plan in 1956, Taiyuan City constructed 28 large-scale backbone enterprises, including the Taiyuan Chemical Plant, Taiyuan Fertilizer Plant, Taiyuan No.1 Thermal Power Plant, Taiyuan Phosphate Fertilizer Plant, Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Plant, Shanxi Textile Mill, Taiyuan No.2 Thermal Power Plant, Dazhong Machinery Plant, and Taiyuan Mineral Wool Products Plant.

Due to geographical reasons and reliance on a single heavy industry and coal resources, Taiyuan once faced the predicament of slow economic development and severe pollution. With adjustments to the economic structure and increased government emphasis on environmental protection, the pace of urban economic development and infrastructure construction has accelerated, and the environment has continuously improved.

4. Geography

4.1 Topography

Taiyuan City is located in the eastern part of the Loess Plateau, at the northern end of the Taiyuan Basin. Its geographic coordinates are between 37°27′ and 38°25′ north latitude, and 111°30′ and 113°09′ east longitude. The city is surrounded by mountains on the north, west, and east sides, with an open Fen River valley plain in the central and southern parts. The overall terrain is high in the north and low in the south, resembling a dustpan shape. The highest elevation point is 2,670 meters, the lowest is 760 meters, and the average elevation is around 800 meters. It borders Xinzhou City, Lüliang City, Jinzhong City, and Yangquan City.

The Fen River, the largest river in Shanxi, enters from Jingle, flows from west to east, turns south at Shanglancun, and runs through the urban area of Taiyuan City. It traverses the entire city from north to south for approximately 100 kilometers. The area is predominantly hilly and mountainous, with plains accounting for about one-fifth of the land. Other tributaries include the Xiao River, Tunlan River, Dachuan River, Liulin River, Lingjing River, and Yangxing River. The foothill areas are relatively rich in springs, with the Jin Temple and Lancun springs having the largest flow rates. There are six larger lakes within the city, with Jinyang Lake being the largest. The banks of the Fen River are crisscrossed with canals and ditches, providing great convenience for industrial and agricultural water use.

4.2 Climate

Taiyuan City is situated inland and has a temperate continental monsoon climate. The four seasons are distinct, with ample sunshine and rich solar energy resources. Spring sees rapid temperature increases, with frequent strong winds and dusty weather.

Taiyuan's location in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and its geographical setting on the Shanxi Plateau allow it to receive strong solar radiation, resulting in relatively abundant light and heat energy. Simultaneously, influenced by the westerly circulation and high solar radiation, the climate is dry with relatively low rainfall, significant diurnal temperature variations, and pronounced continental characteristics. In winter, it is controlled by cold air from Siberia, while in summer, it is influenced by warm, humid air masses from the southeastern ocean. This results in a climate characterized by a long, dry, and cold winter; a hot, humid, and rainy summer; a sharply warming spring; a rapidly cooling autumn; short, windy spring and autumn seasons; and distinct dry and wet seasons.

Compared to other areas on the same latitude in the North China Plain, summers in Taiyuan are relatively cool, with temperatures rarely exceeding 35°C. Autumns are clear and dry. Winters are relatively cold. The coldest month (January) has an average temperature of -5.5°C, with an extreme minimum of -25.5°C (January 16, 1958). The hottest month (July) has an average temperature of 23.4°C, with an extreme maximum of 39.4°C (July 24, 1955). The annual average temperature is 10.0°C. The frost-free period lasts 140–190 days, and the freezing period is about 120 days. The average annual precipitation is 425.5 mm.

Meteorological Data for Taiyuan City (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Record high °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) | 19.8 (67.6) | 28.3 (82.9) | 37.5 (99.5) | 37.7 (99.9) | 38.7 (101.7) | 39.4 (102.9) | 36.6 (97.9) | 34.9 (94.8) | 28.7 (83.7) | 23.2 (73.8) | 16.0 (60.8) | 39.4 (102.9) | | Average high °C (°F) | 8.4 (47.1) | 13.8 (56.8) | 22.0 (71.6) | 29.3 (84.7) | 32.4 (90.3) | 34.6 (94.3) | 34.7 (94.5) | 33.3 (91.9) | 29.9 (85.8) | 24.8 (76.6) | 18.1 (64.6) | 10.0 (50.0) | 35.7 (96.3) | | Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) | 6.1 (43.0) | 12.1 (53.8) | 20.2 (68.4) | 25.6 (78.1) | 28.9 (84.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 28.2 (82.8) | 23.9 (75.0) | 17.9 (64.2) | 9.7 (49.5) | 3.2 (37.8) | 17.3 (63.2) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -5.0 (23.0) | -1.1 (30.0) | 4.9 (40.8) | 12.7 (54.9) | 18.4 (65.1) | 22.2 (72.0) | 24.0 (75.2) | 22.2 (72.0) | 17.0 (62.6) | 10.4 (50.7) | 2.7 (36.9) | -3.4 (25.9) | 10.4 (50.8) | | Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | -10.8 (12.6) | -7.0 (19.4) | -1.4 (29.5) | 5.5 (41.9) | 11.2 (52.2) | 15.7 (60.3) | 18.7 (65.7) | 17.2 (63.0) | 11.5 (52.7) | 4.5 (40.1) | -2.6 (27.3) | -8.6 (16.5) | 4.5 (40.1) | | Average low °C (°F) | -17.4 (0.7) | -14.6 (5.7) | -9.4 (15.1) | -2.0 (28.4) | 4.4 (39.9) | 10.0 (50.0) | 14.1 (57.4) | 11.8 (53.2) | 4.3 (39.7) | -2.9 (26.8) | -9.6 (14.7) | -15.8 (3.6) | -18.4 (-1.1) | | Record low °C (°F) | -25.5 (-13.9) | -24.6 (-12.3) | -18.0 (-0.4) | -9.7 (14.5) | -0.7 (30.7) | 4.4 (39.9) | 7.2 (45.0) | 7.4 (45.3) | -2.0 (28.4) | -13.9 (7.0) | -21.2 (-6.2) | -23.3 (-9.9) | -25.5 (-13.9) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 3.0 (0.12) | 4.8 (0.19) | 12.5 (0.49) | 19.4 (0.76) | 38.2 (1.50) | 54.0 (2.13) | 93.5 (3.68) | 99.6 (3.92) | 58.3 (2.30) | 25.8 (1.02) | 11.6 (0.46) | 2.6 (0.10) | 423.3 (16.67) | | Average precipitation days (≥0.1 mm) | 1.9 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 9.3 | 12.4 | 11.2 | 8.1 | 5.4 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 70.3 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 51 | 47 | 47 | 45 | 50 | 60 | 71 | 74 | 73 | 67 | 60 | 54 | 58 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 173.4 | 174.0 | 202.3 | 229.8 | 265.1 | 250.9 | 228.6 | 223.8 | 209.6 | 206.9 | 174.6 | 162.6 | 2,501.6 | | Percent possible sunshine | 57 | 58 | 55 | 59 | 61 | 57 | 51 | 53 | 56 | 60 | 57 | 55 | 57 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Taiyuan City administers 6 municipal districts, 3 counties, and oversees 1 county-level city on behalf of a higher authority.

• Municipal Districts: Xiaodian District, Yingze District, Xinghualing District, Jiancaoping District, Wanbailin District, Jinyuan District
• County-level City: Gujiao City
• Counties: Qingxu County, Yangqu County, Loufan County

Taiyuan City has approximately several dozen economic management zones, among which the most important national-level economic management zones are the Taiyuan Economic and Technological Development Zone, the Taiyuan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, and the Taiyuan Wusu Comprehensive Bonded Zone.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 140100 | Taiyuan City | Tàiyuán Shì | 6,909.01 | 5,304,061 | Xinghualing District | 030000 | 53 | 21 | 31 | | 140105 | Xiaodian District | Xiǎodiàn Qū | 289.94 | 1,357,242 | Xiaodian Subdistrict | 030000 | 7 | 1 | 2 | | 140106 | Yingze District | Yíngzé Qū | 105.00 | 594,238 | Liuxiang Subdistrict | 030000 | 6 | 1 | | | 140107 | Xinghualing District | Xìnghuālǐng Qū | 146.43 | 779,479 | Julun Subdistrict | 030000 | 10 | | 2 | | 140108 | Jiancaoping District | Jiāncǎopíng Qū | 295.70 | 530,499 | Chaicun Subdistrict | 030000 | 9 | 2 | 3 | | 140109 | Wanbailin District | Wànbǎilín Qū | 289.03 | 951,238 | Qianfeng Subdistrict | 030000 | 14 | 1 | | | 140110 | Jinyuan District | Jìnyuán Qū | 289.95 | 316,445 | Jinyuan Subdistrict | 030000 | 3 | 3 | | | 140121 | Qingxu County | Qīngxú Xiàn | 607.58 | 344,472 | Qingyuan Town | 030400 | | 4 | 5 | | 140122 | Yangqu County | Yángqū Xiàn | 2,084.06 | 128,483 | Huangzhai Town | 030100 | | 4 | 6 | | 140123 | Loufan County | Lóufán Xiàn | 1,289.34 | 91,208 | Loufan Town | 030300 | | 3 | 5 | | 140181 | Gujiao City | Gǔjiāo Shì | 1,511.99 | 210,757 | Dongqu Subdistrict | 030200 | 4 | 3 | 7 |

6. Economy

Taiyuan is one of China's important industrial bases, with a relatively comprehensive industrial system supported by pillars such as energy, metallurgy, machinery, and chemicals, and encompassing sectors like textiles, light industry, pharmaceuticals, electronics, food, building materials, and precision instruments. Leveraging its concentration of research institutions, universities and colleges, and its advantage as a commercial and material supply center, it has gradually developed in recent years into a base for stainless steel production and processing, new-type equipment manufacturing, and magnesium-aluminum alloy processing and manufacturing. Representative enterprises include the world's largest stainless steel production base: Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co., Ltd.; the magnesium-aluminum alloy processing and R&D base Taiyuan Science and Technology Industrial Park; China's largest prime coking coal production base Shanxi Coking Coal Group; and Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Co., Ltd., which manufactured the aerospace launch device that lifted the Shenzhou VII spacecraft and the 1200-ton bridge crane for the Three Gorges Hydropower Station.

Liuxiang is one of the most bustling and oldest shopping streets in downtown Taiyuan, having emerged during the Ming Dynasty. It became a gathering place for merchants after floods destroyed the commercial streets in the southern part of the city during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty. Its development accelerated especially after the Xinhai Revolution, and it grew into the commercial center of Taiyuan within two decades. Besides Liuxiang, Chaoyang Street and Yingze Avenue near Liuxiang are also densely packed with shops.

In 2022, the Taiyuan municipal government announced that the city's regional GDP exceeded 500 billion yuan, with its actual growth rate ranking third among provincial capital cities nationwide.

6.1 Tertiary Industry

6.1.1 Investment Promotion

In 2023, Taiyuan City newly established 38 foreign-invested enterprises. The actual utilized foreign direct investment amounted to 40.2053 million USD, an increase of 290.7%.

6.1.2 Postal and Telecommunications Services

In 2023, the annual business volume of the postal industry reached 5.848 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 30.0%. This includes: express delivery service enterprise business volume of 438 million items, an increase of 40.5%; telecommunications business volume of 8.247 billion yuan, an increase of 15.2%. The number of mobile phone subscribers was 8.0645 million, including: 3.5591 million 4G mobile phone subscribers and 4.1501 million 5G mobile phone subscribers. The number of computer internet broadband subscribers was 3.1475 million.

6.1.3 Tourism

In 2019, Taiyuan City received 96.5539 million domestic and international tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of 18.8%. This includes: 96.2959 million domestic tourist visits, an increase of 18.9%; and 258,000 overseas tourist visits, an increase of 8.0%. Among overseas tourists: 180,100 were foreigners, 44,000 were compatriots from Hong Kong, 10,200 were compatriots from Macao, and 23,700 were compatriots from Taiwan. The total tourism revenue for the year was 117.183 billion yuan, an increase of 17.7%. This includes: domestic tourism revenue of 116.341 billion yuan, an increase of 18.1%; and tourism foreign exchange income of 119 million USD, an increase of 11.4%.

6.1.4 Finance

In 2022, the balance of deposits in local and foreign currencies of financial institutions citywide was 1828.801 billion yuan, an increase of 14.9% from the beginning of the year.

The balance of loans in local and foreign currencies was 1816.214 billion yuan, an increase of 9.5%. The balance of RMB deposits was 1798.206 billion yuan, an increase of 15.9%, of which: household deposit balance was 776.193 billion yuan, an increase of 18.2%; the balance of RMB loans was 1794.770 billion yuan, an increase of 10.1%. Among RMB loans, the balance of medium and long-term loans was 1279.335 billion yuan, an increase of 8.8%; the balance of short-term loans was 315.253 billion yuan, an increase of 2.4%.

By year-end, there were 18 listed companies, all on the main board. There were 46 enterprises listed on the "New Third Board".

Foreign banks include HSBC Taiyuan Branch and Standard Chartered Bank Taiyuan Branch.

6.1.5 Insurance

In 2022, the original insurance premium income was 30.758 billion yuan, an increase of 6.01%. This includes: life insurance premium income of 17.889 billion yuan, an increase of 3.94%; health insurance premium income of 5.062 billion yuan, an increase of 13.58%; accident insurance premium income of 713 million yuan, a decrease of 8.57%; property insurance premium income of 7.095 billion yuan, an increase of 8.04%.

Payments for various claims and benefits amounted to 10.290 billion yuan, a decrease of 10.48%. This includes: life insurance benefits of 3.559 billion yuan, a decrease of 30.61%; health insurance claim payments and benefits of 2.131 billion yuan, an increase of 23.30%; accident insurance claim payments of 226 million yuan, a decrease of 6.50%; property insurance claim payments of 4.374 billion yuan, a decrease of 0.48%.

6.2 Science and Technology

In 2022, the technology market registered a total of 2,628 technology contracts, with a transaction value of 26.565 billion yuan. The city possesses 17 national-level technology centers and 140 provincial-level technology centers. By the end of the year, a cumulative total of 107 provincial-level and above key laboratories, 101 provincial-level engineering technology research centers, 33 provincial-level and above technology business incubators, and 112 provincial-level and above maker spaces had been established. There were 75 academician workstations. By year-end, a cumulative total of 2,220 high-tech enterprises had been recognized. The city won 165 provincial science and technology awards, accounting for 79.3% of the total awards in the province. The annual number of invention patents granted was 3,761, and the number of valid invention patents held was 16,381.

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center is China's second satellite launch base. It successfully launched a liquid medium-range carrier rocket for the first time on December 18, 1968. The North China Missile Test Base was established in 1976. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center is capable of launching various types of satellites and has successfully launched all of China's sun-synchronous orbit meteorological satellites and 12 American Iridium satellites.

7. Transportation

7.1 Highways

Taiyuan City is a transportation hub in Shanxi Province. The urban road network is primarily grid-based, with the outermost ring being the Taiyuan Ring Expressway and the southern Taiyuan Second Ring Expressway. The total length of highways within its jurisdiction reaches 7,517 kilometers (4,671 miles), with expressways spanning 292.21 kilometers (181.57 miles). However, the number of bridges is relatively low. Around 2012, the total bridge length in Taiyuan was only 17 kilometers (11 miles). After subsequent expansions, as of October 20, 2014, the bridge length reached approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles), with 177 bridges under the jurisdiction of municipal authorities.

Correspondingly, Taiyuan has numerous long-distance bus stations connecting to surrounding cities. The largest among them is the Taiyuan New West Bus Station, which is also the largest bus station in North China. Taiyuan's public bus service, provided by Taiyuan Public Transport Holding (Group) Co., Ltd., is one of the more important means of transportation for residents. The number of taxis has remained around 8,000 for many years without change, gradually becoming insufficient as the city expands. Taiyuan is the first city in the world to achieve full electrification of its taxi fleet. Additionally, the number of civilian vehicles in Taiyuan continues to increase. By the end of 2022, the number of civilian vehicles in Taiyuan had reached 2.0551 million, of which 1.8055 million were privately owned.

The G5 Beijing–Kunming Expressway, G55 Erenhot–Guangzhou Expressway, National Highway 108, National Highway 208, and National Highway 307 pass through the city.

7.2 Railway

In addition to highways, multiple major railway lines converge here, including the Taiyuan–Zhongwei–Yinchuan Railway and the Datong–Puzhou Railway. Transportation hubs include Taiyuan Railway Station and Taiyuan South Railway Station as the main passenger stations. Taiyuan South Railway Station is set to become the second-largest comprehensive transportation hub in North China. Furthermore, the Taiyuan New West Railway Station is planned. Taiyuan East Railway Station is the largest freight hub in Shanxi, Taiyuan North Railway Station is the largest freight hub in North China, and Fenhe Station, Jinci Station, Taiyuan West Station, etc., serve as hubs for the city's ring railway.

7.3 Airport

Taiyuan Wusu International Airport is the largest international airport in Shanxi Province. Its flight zone is rated 4E, capable of handling B747 aircraft and meeting the diversion needs of F-class aircraft like the A380. Before the pandemic, it had regular civil aviation routes covering most cities in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, the United States, Russia, and other countries and regions. Based airlines include: China Eastern Airlines Shanxi Branch, Shanxi Airlines (Hainan Airlines Shanxi Branch), and Kunming Airlines. In 2019, passenger throughput reached 14.0026 million. Since the pandemic, Taiyuan Wusu International Airport has successively received international inbound flights such as Air China's Warsaw, Tokyo, Moscow, Copenhagen; Hainan Airlines' Toronto; and China Eastern Airlines' Paris.

Taiyuan Yaocheng General Airport is located in Mengfeng Town, Qingxu County, Taiyuan City, covering an area of 1,200 mu. It plans to apply for a Class A3 general airport operating license. The airport's flight zone is rated 3C, with a runway 1,800 meters long and 45 meters wide, equipped with two perpendicular taxiways. Short-haul transport routes centered on Taiyuan include Taiyuan–Datong, Taiyuan–Lüliang, Taiyuan–Yuncheng, and Taiyuan–Changzhi. The public bus department has also opened bus routes 910 and 911 from the Foxconn Park and Jinci New Town to Yaocheng Airport.

7.4 Rail Transit

Taiyuan is the 39th city in mainland China to open a metro system, the 5th in North China, and the first in Shanxi Province.

Taiyuan Metro Line 2, from Jiancaoping Station to Xiqiao Station, began operation on December 26, 2020. Huazhang West Street Station is currently under construction.

7.5 Public Bicycles

By the end of 2023, the public bicycle system had cumulatively opened 1,285 service points, installed 58,970 locking piles, and deployed 41,000 bicycles. The system covers 220 square kilometers of Taiyuan's built-up area, extending east to the East Ring Expressway, west to the West Ring Expressway, south to Jinci Park, and north to Jiangyang Community, with an average distance between stations not exceeding 500 meters.

In 2023, the total number of rides was 38.8675 million, with a daily average of 106,400 rides and a peak of 154,200 rides. The daily average bicycle turnover was 2.60 rides per bicycle, with a peak of 3.76 rides per bicycle. The daily average free rental rate was 99.27%, with a peak of 99.59%.

Since the project's launch, the public transport company has consistently adhered to the principle of public welfare first: free rentals within the first hour, 24/7 operation, which has received positive feedback and high enthusiasm from the public. The efficient operation of the public bicycle system has made it one of the main transportation tools for Taiyuan residents. Its construction speed, daily rental volume, bicycle turnover rate, free usage rate, and other indicators all rank among the leading positions in cities across the country.

7.6 Motorcycle Restrictions (Ban/Limits)

Since September 2001, when Taiyuan implemented policies to "restrict motorcycle development," including "motorcycle prohibition zones and restrictions on motorcycle registration in the main urban area," it has achieved good social management results in reducing road traffic accidents and ensuring public travel safety.

The "Taiyuan Public Security Bureau Notice on Restricting Motorcycle Traffic" issued on October 1, 2009 (valid for 5 years) expired on October 1, 2014. To date, Taiyuan has not issued new management policies.

The mileage of urban expressways in Taiyuan has grown rapidly, and the number of motorcycles has increased significantly, especially after the promulgation and implementation of the "Taiyuan Electric Bicycle Management Regulations" in 2018, leading to a noticeable rise in motorcycle registrations. However, due to the characteristics of motorcycles—high speed, high mobility, and poor protection—the associated risks to road traffic safety have become increasingly prominent.

From January to August 2019 alone, Taiyuan recorded 9 fatal accidents involving motorcycles, resulting in 8 deaths and 6 injuries. These three indices (number of accidents, deaths, injuries) accounted for 5.14%, 4.39%, and 13.95% of the total fatal accidents that year, respectively.

In light of this situation, the Municipal Traffic Police Detachment submitted the "Notice on Further Strengthening Motorcycle Management" (currently under review), proposing to restrict motorcycle traffic on "Yingze Street, Changfeng Street, and certain urban expressways (including East Binhe Road, West Binhe Road, Middle Ring Road), as well as all elevated roads and underpass tunnels (excluding service roads)."

8. Education

In the fourth year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, Wang Qiong built a private villa named Jinxi Garden at the Jin Temple. After his death, his eldest son converted "Jinxi Garden" into "Jinxi Academy," which became a place of learning for the Wang family's descendants. In 1902, the Qing Dynasty used the Boxer Indemnity funds to establish Shanxi Grand School in Taiyuan, Shanxi, which later became National Shanxi University. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, its College of Arts and Sciences formed the foundation of today's Shanxi University, its College of Engineering became the basis of Taiyuan University of Technology, and its Medical College laid the groundwork for Shanxi Medical University. The Shanxi warlord Yan Xishan established the Shanxi Provincial National Normal School in modern times, from which Xu Xiangqian, Bo Yibo, Cheng Zihua, and Wang Shiying graduated.

In addition to Shanxi University and Taiyuan University of Technology, which are part of the Double First-Class initiative, Taiyuan is also home to North University of China, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan Normal University, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan Institute of Technology, and Taiyuan University. Among these, Shanxi University and North University of China are jointly supported by the provincial and central governments, while Taiyuan University of Technology is the only university in Shanxi designated as a key institution under the 211 Project. Several provincial key high schools, such as Shanxi Experimental High School, Taiyuan Chengcheng High School, Taiyuan No. 5 High School, and the Affiliated High School of Shanxi University, are also located in Taiyuan. Some of these institutions have already relocated to the Taiyuan Education Park.

Libraries in Taiyuan include the Shanxi Provincial Library, Taiyuan City Library, the Ancient Books Library of Shanxi Museum, Shanxi University Library, and Taiyuan University of Technology Library. The Taiyuan City Library is classified as a National First-Class Library in China. Major stadiums in Taiyuan include the Shanxi Sports Center, Binhe Sports Center, and the Shanxi Provincial Gymnasium, which have hosted numerous international and domestic sporting events.

9. Population

During the Western Han Dynasty, the population of Bingzhou was over 3.3 million, which sharply decreased to 690,000 by the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the early years of the Jin Dynasty, the number of households remaining in the Taiyuan area after widespread flight was less than 20,000. During the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, Taiyuan Prefecture "governed thirteen counties, with 128,905 households and a population of 778,278," marking its peak period. In the Chongning era of the Song Dynasty, Taiyuan had "155,583 households and a population of 1,241,768." During the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, the population of Taiyuan city was 73,438. After the Jingnan Campaign, a large number of people emigrated from Taiyuan, and combined with natural disasters, by 1900, the Taiyuan area had only 30,000 people. During the Republican era, the natural population growth rate in the Taiyuan region was relatively low. Between 1951 and 1959, Taiyuan city experienced a baby boom, leading to a younger age structure of the population.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 5,304,061. Compared with the 4,201,592 people from the Sixth National Population Census, this is an increase of 1,102,469 people over ten years, a growth of 26.24%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.36%. Among them, the male population was 2,722,001, accounting for 51.32% of the total population; the female population was 2,582,060, accounting for 48.68% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 105.42. The population aged 0–14 was 824,735, accounting for 15.55% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 3,624,825, accounting for 68.34% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 854,501, accounting for 16.11% of the total population, of which those aged 65 and above numbered 564,480, accounting for 10.64% of the total population. The urban population was 4,723,657, accounting for 89.06% of the total population; the rural population was 580,404, accounting for 10.94% of the total population.

By the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 5.435 million.

9.1 Ethnic Groups

In the 2020 citywide permanent resident population, the Han Chinese population was 5,268,245, accounting for 99.32%; the combined population of various ethnic minorities was 35,816, accounting for 0.68%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han Chinese population increased by 1,090,717 people, a growth of 26.11%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.1 percentage points; the combined population of ethnic minorities increased by 11,752 people, a growth of 48.84%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.1 percentage points.

9.2 Dialects

The Chinese dialects within Taiyuan territory basically belong to the Bingzhou cluster of Jin Chinese. Taiyuan dialect refers to the common dialect used by urban residents in present-day Taiyuan city proper, Shanxi Province, China (mainly in Yingze District, Xinghualing District, and parts of Xiaodian District, Jiancaoping District, and Wanbailin District). It formed gradually after the 20th century, evolving from the local vernacular of Taiyuan under the influence of factors such as immigration and the promotion of Mandarin. Compared to other areas of the Bingzhou cluster, Taiyuan dialect differs much less from Mandarin, making it easier for non-locals to understand. In a broader sense, Taiyuan dialect can also include the dialects of urban villages within the city proper, suburban areas, and outlying districts such as Jinyuan District, Gujiao City, Yangqu County, and Qingxu County.

10. Religion

Taiyuan initially centered around Buddhism. By the late Qing Dynasty, Catholicism and Christianity were extensively introduced to Taiyuan, with foreign missionaries belonging to the Roman Catholic Church, China Inland Mission, English Baptist Missionary Society, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and Shouyang Mission. In the 1930s, the Catholic Church established the Archdiocese of Taiyuan in the city, which includes churches such as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Taiyuan, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Church (Franciscan), Liuhe Village Cathedral, and the nationally renowned Banquan Mountain Shrine of Our Lady of the Angels of Portiuncula. Currently, the largest Christian church in Taiyuan is the Qiaotou Street Christian Church in Yingze District, located in the city center, which can accommodate 1,300 people for gatherings. It was founded by the English Baptist Missionary Society in 1878.

11. Culture

11.1 Cultural Relics Protection Units

Taiyuan has thirty-three National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units: Jin Temple, Longshan Taoist Grottoes, Jinyang Ancient City Site, Dou Daifu Temple, Tianlong Mountain Grottoes, Wangjiafeng Tombs, Hutuo Temple, Jingyin Temple, Qingyuan Confucian Temple, Bu'er Temple, Mingxiu Temple, Duofu Temple, Yongzuo Temple, Loufan Ancient City Site, Gujiao Site, Gujiao Thousand-Buddha Temple, Yangqu Timur Pagoda, Qianfuke Xuanquan Temple, Xinzhuang Kaihua Temple, Main Hall of Yangqu Dawang Temple, Chongshan Temple, Taiyuan Prefecture Confucian Temple, Taiyuan Great Guan Yu Temple, Taiyuan Chunyang Palace, Taiyuan Catholic Church, Taiyuan Changjing Tower, Taiyuan Ancient Mosque, Site of the Taiyuan Branch of the Communist Party of China (Site of the Former Shanxi Provincial No.1 Middle School), Site of Shanxi University Hall, Jinyuan Ashoka Pagoda, Tai Mountain Longquan Temple, Jinyuan Confucian Temple, Qingxu Yao Temple.

Jin Temple is one of the first batch of national AAAA-level tourist attractions. It was originally built to commemorate Shu Yu, the younger brother of King Cheng of Zhou. Shu Yu's son, Xie, changed the name of the state to Jin because of the Jin River within its territory. Later generations built a temple at the source of the Jin River to worship Shu Yu, called Tang Shu Yu Temple, later renamed Jin Temple. The "Zhou Cypress and Sui Pagoda Tree," "Attendant Statues in the Sage Mother Hall," and "Never Aging Spring" are known as the "Three Wonders of Jin Temple." The Sage Mother Hall, Offering Hall, Fish Pond Flying Bridge, Sarira Pagoda, and Water Mirror Stage are national treasure-level buildings.

The Twin Pagoda Temple, symbolizing "water bestows blessings and descendants," was initially built in the mid-Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, it only had the Wenfeng Pagoda and was called "Yongming Temple." Zhu Minchun invited Master Fu Deng from Xiantong Temple on Mount Wutai to preside over the expansion in Taiyuan, forming the "Soaring Twin Pagodas," which became one of the "Eight Scenes of Taiyuan" and a symbol of the city.

Chongshan Temple was built in the early Ming Dynasty by Prince of Jin Zhu Gang to commemorate his birth mother, Empress Ma. Its original scale covered 120,000 square meters with six courtyards. Most of it was destroyed by fire in the early Qing Dynasty, leaving only the Dabei Hall and its auxiliary buildings, which constitute one-sixtieth of the original temple's area. The temple houses national treasure-level cultural relics such as the Thousand-Hand and Thousand-Eye Guanyin statue and is now the location of the Shanxi Buddhist Association.

Mount Juewei is located within the territories of Huyan Village and Lan Village in northwest Taiyuan. It is a national-level scenic area under construction, featuring national-level cultural relics protection units such as Duofu Temple, Dou Daifu Temple, and Jingyin Temple. It connects with the Fenhe Erku-Liulin River scenic area, possessing high historical and aesthetic value.

Tianlong Mountain is located in Jinyuan District, southwest of Taiyuan, adjacent to the Jin Temple scenic area. It is a national forest park, preserving large areas of natural forests and numerous cultural relics from various dynasties. During the Northern Qi Dynasty, Gao Huan's Summer Palace was built there. The most important attraction of Tianlong Mountain is the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes, which were initially constructed during the Eastern Wei Dynasty and completed through the Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang Dynasties. They contain a large number of exquisite sculptures and are hailed as the "Treasure House of Eastern Sculpture Art."

The Mengshan Giant Buddha is located in Jinyuan District, southwest of Taiyuan, adjacent to the Tianlong Mountain scenic area. "Moon over Mengshan at Dawn" is one of the "Eight Scenes of Jinyang." The Mengshan Giant Buddha was first built during the reign of Emperor Wenxuan of the Northern Qi Dynasty, standing 63 meters tall, second only to the Leshan Giant Buddha but constructed 160 years earlier. It is the earliest existing giant Buddha in China. Additionally, the mountain contains precious cultural relics such as the Kaihua Temple Twin Pagodas and Kaihua Temple.

The Longshan Grottoes are located in Jinyuan District, southwest of Taiyuan. They are the only existing Taoist grottoes in China, initially carved during the Yuan Dynasty under the supervision of Song Defang.

11.2 City Emblem

On April 15, 1985, Taiyuan officially announced its city emblem, pioneering the practice nationwide. Taiyuan is the first city in the People's Republic of China to have its own city emblem. The emblem's design consists of twin pagodas (representing Yongzuo Temple), the character "并" (Bing), a coal seam, and flames, symbolizing Taiyuan as a central city with a long history, rich coal resources, serving as an energy and heavy chemical industry base, and embodying the thriving new atmosphere of modernization.

However, on November 18, 1997, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Notice of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council on Prohibiting the Independent Production and Use of Local Flags and Emblems," requiring local governments at all levels to prohibit the independent production and use of local flags and emblems. Cities like Guangzhou and Ningbo subsequently abolished their local flags and emblems. Taiyuan privately retained its city emblem, which continued to be displayed on the Hubin Auditorium building until the building was demolished.

11.3 Cuisine

Shanxi cuisine is primarily characterized by savory and fragrant flavors, with many dishes incorporating aged vinegar. Shanxi aged vinegar is also ranked first among China's four major vinegar varieties. Famous vinegar brands from Taiyuan include Ninghuafu Aged Vinegar, Qingxu Donghu Aged Vinegar, and Shuita Aged Vinegar, all well-known throughout China and even exported to Europe and America. During the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasties, the "Meiheju" vinegar workshop in Qingyuan County combined contemporary techniques to invent the fumigation and steaming method, producing vinegar with a reddish-brown color, rich taste, fragrance, acidity, and a pleasant aroma. The local government recommended this vinegar to the Ming Prince of Jin, Ninghuawang, who greatly favored it. This fumigation and steaming method spread among the people, and vinegar makers throughout the Jin region all learned it, greatly enhancing its reputation.

Fu Shan's "Tounao," also known simply as "Tounao," is a unique soup-like food from Taiyuan, Shanxi. This soup was invented by the late Ming and early Qing literary scholar and physician Fu Shan. It is made from mutton, sheep marrow, fermented grains, stewed flour, lotus root, Chinese yam, astragalus, and galangal. When eating, it must be accompanied by pickled leeks, similar to a medicinal guide, for its nourishing effects. Fu Shan gave the recipe to the Qingheyuan Restaurant and wrote "Tounao Zage" on it, meaning "Tounao Zage Qingheyuan," expressing his refusal to cooperate with the Qing Dynasty. Additionally, Taiyuan's "Guancang" (stuffed intestines) is also distinctive, made from steamed buckwheat flour into thin disc-shaped slices.

Guoyou Rou (Stir-fried Pork Slices) is a famous dish from Taiyuan, Shanxi. It is said to have originated during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, originally as an official dish in Pingyang (present-day Linfen), later spreading to the Taiyuan area.

11.4 Museums and Parks

Shanxi Museum is one of the first national first-grade museums in China, with a total collection of over 600,000 items, including about 200,000 precious pieces. Its distinctive collections include artifacts from the Neolithic Taosi site, artifacts from Shang Dynasty regional states, artifacts from the Jin State and the Three Jin States during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn, and Warring States periods, Northern Dynasties stone carvings and statues, and artifacts from Ming and Qing Shanxi merchants. The affiliated library covers an area of over 1,000 square meters, housing more than 160,000 books, including over 110,000 ancient texts, with 888 rare book collections comprising 5,043 volumes. It preserves unique national first-grade cultural relics such as the Nirvana Transformation Stele and the Changyang Taizun Stone Statue.

Furthermore, the mural "Procession of Mounted Horses from the Tomb of Lou Rui" from the Northern Qi Dynasty, housed in the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, is considered a masterpiece in Chinese art history and is also one of the cultural relics prohibited from leaving China (border) for exhibition. Additionally, museums located in Taiyuan include the Jin Temple Museum, China Coal Museum, Shanxi Folk Custom Museum, Shanxi Art Museum, Shanxi Merchant Museum, Taiyuan Museum, Shanxi Bronze Museum, Taiyuan Art Museum, Shanxi Science and Technology Museum, Shanxi Arts and Crafts Museum, and others.

Taiyuan has numerous parks, the oldest of which is Wenying Park, whose history can be traced back to the Haizi Weir from the Ming Dynasty. Yingze Park, located near the central thoroughfare Yingze Street, also often attracts many visitors. The Fenhe Park, initially built along both sides of the Fen River in the late 1990s, now stretches for 40 li (approximately 20 kilometers) and is one of the National Water Conservancy Scenic Areas.

12. Sister Cities

Taiyuan City has established sister city relationships with the following cities:

• Himeji City, Japan (established on May 19, 1987)
• Syktyvkar, Russia (established on September 1, 1994)
• Launceston, Australia (established on November 28, 1995)
• Saratov, Russia (established on December 8, 1995)
• Chemnitz, Germany (established on May 17, 1999)
• Douala, Cameroon (established on October 12, 1999)
• Nashville, USA (established on April 18, 2007)
• Saint-Denis, France (letter of intent signed in June 2008, officially established on March 2, 2012)
• Donetsk, Ukraine (letter of intent for sister city signed in May 1993, officially established on August 25, 2012)
• Khujand, Tajikistan (letter of intent for sister city signed on August 31, 2017, officially established on October 13, 2018)
• Suncheon City, South Korea (established in June 2019)
• Viseu, Portugal (letter of intent for sister city signed on August 17, 2022)

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“The eastern plain is level; the vast and elevated level land is called Taiyuan.” — The Book of Documents

Xinghualing District

Xiaodian District

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