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Cities | Attractions | Hotels
27.0 million
157,000 sq km
Warm summers, long, cold winters
Muslim, Mongolian and Manchurian
 

Shanxi is situated in northern China south of Inner Mongolia. Much of the province is upland plateau that rises to 1,500 meters (4,900ft) above sea level and harbors 1/3 of the country's coal reserves.

The rugged mountains of Shanxi have long been bound up in military history. During the Qin and Han dynasties (221BC-220AD), the Great Wall in the north formed a barrier to keep out the hostile northern tribes. More recently, in the 30s, communist guerillas hid there to fight the Japanese invaders.

Although the proximity of the Gobi desert makes much of the land inhospitable and difficult to farm, efforts are being made to combat soil erosion and the advancement of the desert. Shanxi also holds rich natural treasures beyond the industrial centers of Taiyuan and Datong.

The Yungang Caves and a temple and monastery complex at Wutaishan, one of China's sacred Buddhist mountains, are both situated in the north. Pingyao is an ancient town that boasts impressive Qing and Ming architecture and has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 
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