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Shijiazhuang

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Shijiazhuang is a very large city in China.

Eastern facade of Shijiazhuang Railway Station (20160615145320)
Eastern facade of Shijiazhuang Railway Station (20160615145320)

It serves as the capital of Hebei Province. The city sits just east of the Taihang Mountains. These mountains stretch from the north down to the south. Shijiazhuang is a major center for many people. In 2020, the city had a population of over 11 million people.

Shijiazhuang Metro
Shijiazhuang Metro

It is actually the twelfth largest city in mainland China. The city is part of a large urban area. This area includes many different districts and counties.

How a city grows can be a very big thing. Shijiazhuang grew fast after 1949. This happened because of new industry and better ways to travel.

CHEU-KIA-TCHOUANG
CHEU-KIA-TCHOUANG

For example, new roads and buildings were made during a three-year plan. Between 2008 and 2011, the city added more green spaces. People also built a new airport and a subway system.

Shijiazhuang Metro
Shijiazhuang Metro

These developments helped the city become a busy hub. The population in the metropolitan area grew four times larger in just thirty years. This growth changed the city from a small place into a huge one.

The history of the name is quite interesting. The name Shijiazhuang first appeared during the Ming dynasty. It literally means "Shi family's village."

CHEU-KIA-TCHOUANG
CHEU-KIA-TCHOUANG

Some people think the name came from an emperor. He may have sent 24 officers to live there. These people split into two small groups of families. Others think the name comes from a high official named Shi. The name became common after a railway station was built in 1907. Before that, the area was a small market town near Zhengding.

石家庄勒泰中心 - panoramio
石家庄勒泰中心 - panoramio

Many old documents still use the name Shijiazhuang today.

Many different industries work in the city now.

石家庄国际会展中心(正定)
石家庄国际会展中心(正定)

Some factories make glass or process tobacco. Other plants make cloth by spinning and weaving cotton. Shijiazhuang is also a base for engineering. It has a plant that makes parts for tractors. Nearby, there are important coal deposits in the hills.

Mount cangyan 2007
Mount cangyan 2007

These mines are in the foothills of the Taihang Mountains. The coal provides power for the local factories. The city also has a large textile industry. This industry grew a lot during the 1950s.

Shijiazhuang connects many different parts of China. The railway helped it become a center for trade.

Eastern facade of Shijiazhuang Railway Station (20160615145320)
Eastern facade of Shijiazhuang Railway Station (20160615145320)

It connects places like Beijing and Tianjin to the west. Because it is so busy, people have funny nicknames for it. Some call it "Sky Home Town." Others call it "Rocksville" based on how the name sounds in English.

石家庄勒泰中心 - panoramio
石家庄勒泰中心 - panoramio

The city is also known as an "international village." It remains a very important political and industrial place. You can see its importance in its large subway and many roads.

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🖼️ Images & Media (14)
File:Shijiazhuang_Metro.svg
Shijiazhuang_Metro.svg
File:CHEU-KIA-TCHOUANG.jpg
CHEU-KIA-TCHOUANG.jpg
File:日占时期石门市市徽.JPG
日占时期石门市市徽.JPG
File:Txu-oclc-10552568-nj50-5.jpg
Txu-oclc-10552568-nj50-5.jpg
File:公园 - panoramio (7).jpg
公园 - panoramio (7).jpg
File:Danghui.svg
Danghui.svg
File:National Emblem of the People's Republic of China (2).svg
National Emblem of the People's Republic...
File:Charter of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) logo.svg
Charter of the Chinese People's Political...
File:Eastern facade of Shijiazhuang Railway Station (20160615145320).jpg
Eastern facade of Shijiazhuang Railway...
File:石家庄勒泰中心 - panoramio.jpg
石家庄勒泰中心 - panoramio.jpg
File:Nantianmen, Baodu Zhai.jpg
Nantianmen, Baodu Zhai.jpg
File:Mount cangyan 2007.jpg
Mount cangyan 2007.jpg

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