Shanxi Province Map Album

Author: Du Xiurong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2008-01-01
Features: Shanxi is located in the western part of North China, on the eastern wing of the Loess Plateau, with a boundary outline roughlying a parallelogram slanted from northeast to southwest. To the east, the majestic Taihang Mountains serve as a natural barrier, bordering Hebei Province. To the west and south, the mighty Yellow River forms a natural boundary, overlooking Shaanxi and Henan provinces. To the north, it spans the winding Inner Great Wall, connecting with Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Shanxi is one of the earliest cradles of the Chinese nation. The Xihewan culture in Ruiqing and the Yuanmou Ape Man in Yunnan belong to the same period, indicating that as early as 2.5 million years ago, Shanxi already had the earliest primitive humans. There are over 200 Paleolithic sites and more than 500 Neolithic sites in Shanxi, archaeological evidence shows that about 100,000 years ago, relatively concentrated primitive communities and villages had appeared along the Fen River and in areas now known as Datong and Shuozhou. Around 28,000 years ago, matrilineal clan communities with primitive communal economies had been established. Ancient Chinese literature contains many legends about primitive communities, and Yao, Shun, and Yu, who were part of tribal alliances, all established their capitals in Shanxi. "Yao's capital was Pingyang (now Linfen City), Shun's capital was Pusban (now Yongji County), and Yu's capital was Anyi (now Xiaxian County)." Today, there is the Yao Temple in the south of Linfen City, Yao's Tomb in the east, and Shunwang in the south of Qinshui. The "Book of Documents" states that Emperor Yu of the Xia Dynasty "guided the Yellow River to accumulate stones up to Longmen," which is also known as Yu's Gate. It is located in the northwest of Hejin County, Shanxi and the northeast of Hancheng County, Shaanxi. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the main feudal states in Shanxi were the "State of Jin." In 453 BC, the Battle of Jin'an occurred, where the three families of Zhao, Wei, and HanZhi, dividing the State of Jin into three parts, known as the "Division of Jin into Three States," hence Shanxi is also called "Three Jin." In the late Sui Dynasty, Li Yuan, who served as the Military Commissioner of the Eastern Hedong Circuit of the Sui Dynasty and the Governor of Taiyuan, rebelled against the Sui Dynasty with 30,000 troops from Taiyuan, with the planning of his son Li Shimin and Liu Wenjing, establishing the Tang Dynasty and designating Jin'an as the northern capital. Shanxi is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization, known as "Jin" during the Spring and Autumn Period. Its long history has left behind numerous cultural heritages, combined with its complex topography, rivers, and mountains, forming rich natural landscapes. Shanxi has the most ancient buildings in China, with 50 listed as national key protected sites and over 400 at the provincial level. Wutai Mountain, one of the four major Buddhist sacred sites, is home to a cluster of temples that have thrived for millennia. Among them, the Nanzen Temple is the oldest wooden-structured building in China. Foguang Temple and Xiantong Temple, which combine architectural styles from the Northern Wei to the Qing Dynasty, are famous for their Pagodas of the Treasury. The Hanging Temple in Hengshan, built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, hangs precariously on cliffs and is renowned for its danger and uniqueness. The Jin Temple in Taiyuan is a tourist destination featuring a variety of ancient buildings. Pingyao Ancient City, one of the three remaining ancient cities in China, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Yongle Palace in Ruiqing is a typical Yuan Dynasty Taoist temple complex, with murals inside that are treasures of Chinese painting art. The Pujiao Temple in Yongji is the setting for the story of "The Western Chamber" and "The Legend of Yingying." The Guandi Temple in Jiezhou is the largest martial temple in China. The Yungang Grottoes, one of the three major Buddhist grottoes in China, are magnificent and intricately carved. The Yixian Wooden Pagoda, built during the Ming Dynasty, stands at 67.31 meters tall, making it the tallest ancient wooden-structured building in China. The Qiao Family Courtyard in Qixian, famous for the film "Raise the Red Lantern," along with the Qu Family Courtyard, the Wang Family Courtyard in Lingshi, and the Sanduo Hall in Taigu, together form the folk culture of large courtyards in Jinzhong, Shanxi. Shanxi is rich in famous mountains and rivers, with beautiful and abundant natural scenery. Hengshan, one of the Five Great Mountains, is a national famous scenic area. Mianshan, with its pleasant climate, has been a summer resort since ancient times, where the famous Jin state official Jie Tui and his mother were burned to death. Beidang Mountain, Lingkong Mountain, and Guanceng Mountain each have their own unique features. The Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River, the second-largest waterfall in China after Huangguoshu Waterfall, is a national famous scenic area. Shanxi has also established nature reserves such as Pangquan Valley, Luba Mountain, Lishan, and Mang River, with beautiful scenery and diverse landscapes, home to ancient trees, rare animals, and the brown eared pheasant, a nationally protected species. Shanxi is an old revolutionary base, with revolutionary sites and artifacts scattered throughout the province. Famous sites include the former headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, the Huangyadong Arms Factory of the Eighth Route Army in Licheng, and the Liu Hulan Memorial Hall in Wenxian. Shanxi has a variety of local specialties. Fenjiu from Xinghua Village is an ancient famous liquor with crystal-clear color, pure fragrance, and exquisite taste, popular both domestically and internationally. Shanxi's Lao Chen Cao vinegar is sweet, mellow, and fragrant, not only excellent for seasoning but also aids digestion, beauty, and sterilization. Qinzhou yellow millet, shaped like pearls, was once a tribute to the imperial court. Pingyao beef is renowned for its color, aroma, and flavor. Qingxu grapes, Fenyang walnuts, Liulin jujubes, Tongchuan pears, and Taiyuan's "Taiyuan Head" are also local delicacies with unique flavors and unforgettable tastes.
Abbreviation: Jin
Capital: Taiyuan
Location: Shanxi Province is located on the western side of the North China Plain, in the Loess Plateau. The province is mostly surrounded by mountains and rivers, with the Taihang Mountains to the east and southeast, bordering Hebei and Henan provinces. To the west and southwest, it borders Shaanxi and Henan provinces across the Yellow River. To the north, it is connected to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region by the Great Wall. The province's shape resembles a parallelogram slanted from northeast to southwest. It spans from 34°34.8′ to 40°43.4′ north latitude, about 550 kilometers long, with the greatest distance being 615 kilometers. From east to west, it ranges from 110°14.6′ to 114°33.4′ east longitude.
Climate: Shanxi is located on the eastern coast of the continent, surrounded by mountains, making it less affected by sea breezes, resulting in a relatively strong continental climate. Additionally, due to the influence of cold air masses from Inner Mongolia in winter, the northern part of Shanxi is quite cold. This gives Shanxi its climate characteristics: long and cold, dry winters; short and hot, rainy summers; large diurnal temperature differences with sandstorms in spring; and brief, mild autumns. Shanxi Province belongs to the temperate and warm temperate monsoon climate zone, also known as the temperate continental climate. The average highest temperature in the province is between 12 and 20 degrees Celsius, while the average lowest temperature is between -4 and -7 degrees Celsius. The frost-free period ranges from four to seven months from north to south. Most areas receive an average annual precipitation of 400 to 650 millimeters.
Best Travel Time: May to October
Area: The total area of the province is 156,300 square miles.
Population: The total population of the province is over 30 million.
Administrative Divisions: The province currently administers 5 prefectures, 17 cities, and 89 counties.
Scenery: Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River, Wutai Mountain, Hengshan, Jin Temple in Taiyuan, Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Yixian Wooden Pagoda, Hanging Temple in Hengshan, Pingyao Ancient City, Wang Family Courtyard, Qiao Family Courtyard, etc.