Shanxi ChinaShanxi China expands over 60,370 square miles (156,300 sq km), ranking as the nation’s 19th largest province. The population and population density rank 19th as well with over 33,350,000 people and 213 p/sq km respectively. The capital and largest city, Taiyuan, is located in the center of the province. The province gains its name from its position around and west of the Taihang Mountains. Shanxi literally means mountain west, appropriately translated to mean west of the Taihang Mountains. Shanxi China GeographyShanxi province is mostly mountainous with a portion lying on a loess plateau. The eastern base of the Taihang Mountains form the border with Hebei to the east. The southern end of the Taihang Mountains and the west-east running Zhongtiao Mountains are near the southern border with Henan. The Yellow River (Huang He) formally makes the southern border where it flows on the southern side of the Zhongtiao Mountains. In the west, the Yellow River runs southward along the Lüliang Mountains and, in the south, a small part of the Zhongtiao Mountains, forming the border with Shaanxi. The majority of the northern border with Inner Mongolia is delineated by part of The Great Wall of China. The Fen River runs from north to south between the Taihang and Lüliang Mountains until it contributes its waters to the Yellow River in the south. Shanxi China IndustryShanxi China has vast coal reserves and two thirds of its counties have coal fields, making it an important contributor to the nation’s energy. It is also a leading producer of heavy machinery and light industry and textiles have been expanding at a rapid rate. Shanxi province is poorly situated for land cultivation due to its mostly mountainous terrain and shy water resources. Its forests are small and of low quality causing the province to import much of its lumber. Shanxi China HistoryShanxi province was home to the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period (722 BC – 481 BC). At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period the state of Jin split into the Han, Zhao, and Wei states, which is generally considered the beginning of the Warring States Period (5th century, or 403, BC – 221 BC). The Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC) defeated all the three former states and established the first unified state in 221 BC. The subsequent Han Dynasty (206 BC – 221 AD) also ruled modern Shanxi China. The northern Wei Kingdom (386 BC – 534 BC) was based early on in modern Datong of Shanxi. Shanxi played an important role in much of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdom’s Period (907 AD – 960 AD) with three of the five dynasties and the only northern kingdom being based there. Shanxi province’s history is studded with invasions from the north (hence the Great Wall) and, later, the northeast. The Southern Song Dynasty (1127 AD – 1279 AD) ceded the territory to the Jurchen Jin Dynasty (1115 AD – 1234 AD) in 1127. The Ming Dynasty (1368 AD – 1644 AD) gave Shanxi its present name and roughly its current borders. Later, during the China’s final dynasty, the Qing Dynasty (1644 AD – 1911 AD), the border was extended northward into modern Inner Mongolia and even included Hohhot, Inner Mongolia’s current capital. Shanxi China DemographicsShanxi province, like most Chinese provinces, is primarily inhabited
by Han. Here, they make up 99.7% of the population. Hui follow with
0.2%. Also present are Mongolian and Manchu. Back to Top View a list of all Chinese Provinces:
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