Overview

Situated in the heart of China, Shanxi covers a total area of 156,700 square kilometers and has a population of about 37 million. The province consists of 11 prefecture-level cities and 117 county-level administrative divisions. The Taihang Mountains stand to the east and the Lvliang Mountains to the west. The Yellow River flows in the south, while the Great Wall stretches across the north. Thanks to its strategic location and natural defenses, Shanxi has long been known for its importance and inaccessibility. As most of the province lies west of the Taihang Mountains and east of the Yellow River, it was aptly named “Shanxi,” meaning “west of the mountains.” In ancient times, it was known as “Hedong.” From 770 BC to 476 BC, the region was under the jurisdiction of the Jin State, which is why Shanxi is still often referred to as “Jin” today. In 403 BC, the Han, Zhao, and Wei families partitioned the Jin State, which led to the province also being known as “Sanjin.”

Shanxi is an important new-type energy and industrial base in China. The province has more than 270 billion tons of available coal reserves, nearly 580 billion cubic meters of proven geological reserves of coalbed methane, and ranks first in China in terms of available resource reserves of bauxite, refractory clay, and magnesium ore. Its advanced coal production capacity accounts for 57% of the total, while coalbed methane production exceeds 5.6 billion cubic meters. The province’s installed power generation capacity stands at about 85 million kilowatts, with new energy power generation accounting for over 30% of the total. Strategic emerging industries such as high-end equipment manufacturing, new-generation information technology, and new energy vehicles are all maintaining double-digit growth momentum.

Shanxi not only preserves some of the most complete imprints of China’s 5,000-year civilization but also played a significant role in its development. A host of historical and cultural celebrities have emerged from the region, and countless ancient buildings and relics are scattered throughout the province. Shanxi is home to six nationally recognized famous historical and cultural cities, 30 nationally recognized historical and cultural towns and villages, more than 31,000 above-ground cultural relics and historical sites, and 452 key cultural relics under national protection — ranking first in China. The province has 120 surviving above-ground wooden structures built prior to the Song Dynasty (960–1279), the Liao Dynasty (907–1125), and the Jin Dynasty (1115–1234), accounting for over 70% of the national total. As a result, Shanxi is known as the “Museum of Chinese Ancient Architectural Art.” Its three world-renowned cultural heritage sites — Mount Wutai, the Ancient City of Pingyao, and the Yungang Grottoes — are widely celebrated. Shanxi also boasts a rich variety of folk culture, with Jin Opera, Paper Cutting, Woodblock Painting, Dough Sculpture, and Lacquer Ware all serving as distinctive cultural symbols of the province. The Pingyao International Photography Festival enjoys high recognition both at home and abroad.

Shanxi is continuously increasing its efforts in environmental protection, as well as ecological conservation and restoration. The pace of ecological restoration in the “Two Mountains and Seven Rivers” regions is accelerating, and groundwater levels across the province continue to rebound. The treatment project for the urban section of the Fenhe River in Taiyuan has won the UN-HABITAT “International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment.” Taiyuan became the first city in the world to achieve full coverage of electric taxis. Shanxi carries out afforestation on more than 4 million mu of land each year. Biodiversity is actively protected, and the populations of various wild animals are seeing steady recovery. Across the province, white swans can often be seen gracefully dancing on the water. Adjacent to the Mu Us Desert, Youyu County has worked tirelessly on sand control and afforestation for 70 years, increasing its forest coverage from less than 0.3% to more than 54%. The county has transformed from barren land into a vibrant oasis.

Shanxi enjoys a distinct four-season climate with pleasant weather. In summer, the average temperature stays below 26°C. The province is renowned as the “Paradise of Chinese Cooked Wheaten Food,” boasting more than 400 preparation methods. It is also known as “China’s Coarse Cereals Production Base,” producing more than 120 varieties of coarse cereals across seven categories, all of which are wholesome and contribute to good health. Shanxi is a major production area for traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, with 1,788 kinds of medicinal plants and 39 types of geo-authentic crude medicines identified. The province is also famous for its liquor and vinegar. Fen Liquor is one of the “Eight Famous Liquors in China,” while Mature Vinegar ranks first among the “Four Famous Vinegars in China.”

Shanxi is opening up to the outside world in an all-round way. The Pingshuo Antaibu Open-Pit Coal Mine, China’s first and largest joint venture cooperation project, was launched in the province. Regular block train services connect Shanxi with Europe and Central Asia. The Wusu Comprehensive Bonded Zone, the air port at Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, and the railway port at Zhongding Logistics Park in central Shanxi, along with Datong International Inland Port in the north and the Fanglue and Lanhua Bonded Logistics Centers in the south, are emerging as key gateways for the province’s opening-up efforts. Shanxi boasts convenient transport links to the rest of the world. Taiyuan Wusu International Airport handles more than 13 million passengers annually. The total length of high-speed railways (operational and under construction) exceeds 1,100 kilometers, and the province has more than 5,000 kilometers of expressways in service.

Shanxi is making continuous efforts to expand its “Circle of Friends.” Its sister cities and international partners can be found around the globe. Foreign economic and trade exchanges, as well as people-to-people cooperation, are steadily advancing. Shanxi is willing to engage with sincerity, foster closer ties, enhance exchanges, make joint progress, share new opportunities for transformation and development, and embrace a new future of opening-up and cooperation!