Taiyuan 太原

Taiyuan, China


Taiyuan (太原) is the capital and biggest city in Shanxi Province, in northern China. It is a prefecture-level city covering 6,956 sq km (2,685.7 sq mi) with a population of 4.3 million people. As with the rest of China, it observes the China Standard Time, which is eight hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+8). The phone area code is 351.

Taiyuan is located on the banks of the Fen River. Its name means "great plains", in reference to the fertile plain between the river and the mountains. It experiences a semi-arid climate. Summer temperatures rise to 29°C and often above that, especially in July. In winter, temperatures may drop to -12°C in January. Wettest month is August, which receives 107 mm of rainfall. Taiyuan is often visited by dust storms, especially during summer. Heat waves are also no uncommon.

Shanxi Provincial Government Office, Taiyuan


Taiyuan today is a heavily industrialized city. This however makes it the fourth most polluted city in China behind Lanzhou, Jinan and Changsha, according to a National Bureau of Statistics report in 2005.

The level of pollution in Taiyuan is not surprising, as it is the biggest coal mining area in the country. It has a number of heavy industries, including the Taiyuan Iron and Steel Company and the Fenxi Machinery Factory, which produces submarine missiles for the People's Liberation Army. On the other hand, efforts taken by Taiyuan to improve its environmental condition has earned it praise from the United Nations Environmental Programme. This include the construction of urban parks and recreational areas. The projects have been emulated by other cities in China and around the world.

Jin River College, Taiyuan