Yangquan City Shanxi Province Population 1,289,500

Yangquan lies at the western foot of the middle Taihang Mountains, it is the political, economic and cultural center of the eastern Shanxi Province, and is adjacent to Hebei Province in the east, located midway between Shijiazhuang and Taiyuan and about 400 kilometers (249 miles) from Beijing and Tianjin.

Physical Features: The city is situated on the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau in the mountainous area of eastern Shanxi. The terrain of the city slopes downward from the west to the east with the mountains as its main part of the land.

Guguan Pass, Yangquan, Shanxi

Guguan Pass, Great Wall

Yangquan is a time-honored city and gains its name for the five bubbling springs of former days in the downtown city. Historically, it was always a strategic point that commenced construction as a military fortress as early as in the late Warring States Period (476BC-221BC). In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Yangquan was exalted to a prefecture. By 1905, it had a train station to facilitate the exploitation of the mines, making the city one of the birthplaces of Shanxi’s modern industry.

Scenic Spots:

Niangziguan Pass, Great Wall

Niangzi Pass: Apart from the sites of old berm, the gate and the wall, this pass of the Great Wall also has a waterfall nearby which counteracts the occasional pervading gloom.

Nanshan Park: It is a comprehensive hilly park that assembles imitations of ancient buildings, fountains, pavilions, and children’s playground. It is a perfect place for people to relax.

Other Scenic Spots: In northeastern Yuxian County, there are a group of karst caves extending for 20 kilometers (12 miles) with the largest one half kilometer (0.3 mile) long. It is one of the largest caves in North China.

Local Products: vinegar, walnuts