Taiyuan (People’s Republic of China)

Taiyuan is the capital of Shanxi Province and hence the region’s political, economic and cultural centre.

It provides the chemical and energy base for the province, has rich natural resources (50% of China’s entire coal production) and is one of the most important industrial cities in China.

Significant industrial sectors include the steel industry, mechanical engineering, the textiles industry and light industry, the food industry, pharmaceuticals and precision measurement technology. Taiyuan Airport is one of the most modern in China.

Taiyuan’s history goes back over 2500 years. It was founded under the name Jìnyáng in 497 BC by the Fen River, and it is bordered by mountains on three sides. The Jinci temple complex, located in Taiyuan, has been on the list of monuments of the People’s Republic of China since 1961. The Shuangta si, one of the twin pagoda temples, has become the symbol of Taiyuan thanks to its unique architecture. Another key attraction is the grottos in Tianlong Mountain, where magnificent sculptures from the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907) can be seen.

The city partnership between Chemnitz and Taiyuan was first initiated by economic contacts and the exchange of official delegations. From 2000 to 2001, a Chinese economic bureau worked in Chemnitz.
The highlight of the collaboration so far has been the Days of Chinese Culture at Klaffenbach Castle in 2001.