Shanxi Province's Historic Capital Continues As Center Of Development

Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi, is the province's center of politics, economy, science and technology, culture, education, transportation and information. It covers an area of 6,988 square kilometers and administers six districts, three counties, one county-level city, two national-level development zones and two provincial-level development zones.

The city dates back more than 2,500 years and boasts rich cultural heritage. It is home to the Longshan Grottoes, China's largest such Taoist site.

It is a manufacturing center and has advantages in equipment manufacturing. In recent years, its advantaged sectors - stainless steel, new-type equipment production and magnalium processing and manufacturing - have developed rapidly.

The city has established an industrial system where energy, metallurgy, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering are pillars and textiles, pharmaceuticals, electronics, food, building materials and precise instrument manufacturing also thrive.

The Taiyuan government said the city is also profoundly integrated into the Belt and Road Initiative. Taiyuan and the city of Khujand in Tajikistan became international sister cities on Aug 31, 2017.

Last year, the city reformed and innovated its investment attraction policies and saw 31 projects, each worth more than 3 billion yuan ($437.8 million), were signed.

The Shanxi Transformation and Comprehensive Reform Demonstration Zone, which was set up on Feb 25, 2017, comprises four national-level development zones, three provincial-level development zones and the Shanxi university town. It aims to set an example in Shanxi in aspects such as industrial upgrading, innovative development and environmental improvement, and become a new economic engine for the province.

Some parts of the zone are located in urban Taiyuan, which itself has five national-level key laboratories, more than 60 percent of the provincial-level key laboratories and 44 higher learning institutions.

The zone has industrial scale in fields such as new materials, auto manufacturing, electronic information, scientific and technological research and development, food processing and biological medicine.

Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, boasts beautiful scenery. [Photo by Ma Qinghai/For China Daily]

A bridge stretches across the Fenhe River. [Photo by Ma Qinghai/For China Daily]