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Yangquan

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Yangquan is a prefecture-level city located in eastern Shanxi province, China.

Yuxian, Yangquan, Shanxi, China - panoramio
Yuxian, Yangquan, Shanxi, China - panoramio

It sits on the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau. The city also rests on the western side of the Taihang Mountains. This position creates a varied landscape of mountains, hills, and plains. The city borders Hebei province to the east. It is about 106 kilometers long from north to south. It is also about 42 kilometers wide from east to west. The total area covers 4,559 square kilometers.

The climate in Yangquan follows a monsoon-influenced pattern. This is known as a warm temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate. Scientists use the Köppen-Geiger classification system to describe this weather. The region experiences cold and very dry winters. It also has hot and somewhat humid summers. Most of the annual rainfall occurs between June and September. This period accounts for more than 70% of the yearly rain. The city receives between 2,700 and 2,900 hours of sunshine every year. The frost-free period lasts between 130 and 180 days.

Water is a vital resource for the people living in Yangquan. The city has more than 60 rivers. Seven of these rivers are quite large. They have drainage areas over 300 square kilometers. They also have lengths exceeding 30 kilometers. All these rivers belong to the Hai River system. The Hutuo River and the Mian River are the most important. The total water resources are 1.48 billion cubic meters per year. The Niangziguan Spring in the east provides water for homes and industry. However, the per capita water resource is only 562 cubic meters per year. This is much lower than the national average of 2,400 cubic meters.

Yangquan has a rich history of changing administrative roles. The city was founded on May 4, 1947. It began as part of the original Pingding County. Later, it was known as the Yangquan Industrial and Mining Zone. It was managed by several different regional governments over time. In 1952, the city regained its status as a municipality. A major change happened in September 1983. During this time, Pingding County and Yu County were transferred to Yangquan. This made Yangquan a city directly under the jurisdiction of Shanxi Province.

保晋文化园南门
保晋文化园南门

The city is a major center for mineral resources in China. People often call it the "hometown of coal and iron." There are 52 proven mineral deposits in the area. These include anthracite, pyrite, and bauxite. These minerals are famous for their high quality and large reserves. The geological reserves of coal reach 10.4 billion tonnes. Pyrite reserves are 250 million tonnes. Bauxite reserves are 227 million tonnes. This industrial strength defines the local economy. In 2023, the regional GDP reached 100.27 billion yuan.

Agriculture and nature also play a role in the region. There are 93 families of common plants in Yangquan. This includes 437 different species. Many of these, about 160 species, are used for medicinal purposes. The city has 941,000 mu of forest land. This covers about 13.74% of the total area. There are also 1.821 million mu of pasture land. Most of this pasture land is usable. The city produces many goods like grain, meat, and vegetables. It is also well known for its walnuts and walnut oil.

北山公园
北山公园

Transportation connects Yangquan to the rest of the country. The Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan railway runs through the downtown area. A high-speed railway station opened in Yu County in 2009. A new station, Yangquan East, opened in 2020. This station connects to Yangquan North via the Yangquan–Dazhai railway. Travelers can also use airport shuttles to reach nearby international airports. These include the Taiyuan Wusu and Shijiazhuang Zhengding airports. Several major highways and expressways also pass through the city. This makes moving goods and people very efficient.

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File:北山公园.JPG
北山公园.JPG
File:保晋文化园南门.jpg
保晋文化园南门.jpg
File:Yuxian, Yangquan, Shanxi, China - panoramio.jpg
Yuxian, Yangquan, Shanxi, China - panoramio.jpg
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