Taiyuan is an ancient city with a history of more than 2,000 years. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770--476 B.C.), it was Jinyang City; in the Warring States Period (475--221 B.C.) it was made the capital of the state of Zhao; in the years after the Qin (221--207 B.C.) and Han (206 B.C.--A.D. 24), it was called Taiyuan City; the Tang Dynasty named it Beidu or North Metropolis; and in the Song (960--1279), old Jinyang City was destroyed and a new city was built in the present-day Taiyuan.

  Taiyuan is now the capital of Shanxi Province and has a population of 1.43 million.
One of its major scenic sites is Jin Shrine at the foot of Xuanweng Hill southwest of Taiyuan city proper. With water in front and screened by the green hill at its back, the shrine was first constructed in the early years of the Western Zhou (c.11th century--221 B.C.) in honour of Duck Shu Yu of the state of Tang, known as Tang Shu Yu Shrine.
Later the name was changed to Jin Shrine following a change in the name of the state of Tang to Jin. Hall of Sacred Mother in the shrine was built in 1023 in memory of Shu Yu's mother, and the place where people prayed for rain in drought year. The statue of Sacred Mother was sculptured in the Song Dynasty (960--1279).

  Twin Pagoda Temple is an old structure from the Wanli Period of the Ming (1573--1620), with two 50-metre-high pagodas built 60 metres apart. About 180 kilometres north of Taiyuan is Yingcheng where the highest Wooden Pagoda of the country sits. Erected in 1056, Wooden Pagoda houses an 11-metre-high statue of Sakyamuni. North of Taiyuan City lies Mount Wutai with most magnificent and beautiful scenery to make it an ideal summer resort.

  A scenic wonder, Mount Wutai, once had more than 200 ancient temples in history. Mount Hengshan, also known as North Mountain; was originally named by Emperor Shun more than 4,000 years ago. Suspension Temple is a famous midair structure more than 1,400 years old, built on horizontal beams driven into cliff-faces. The temple houses the statues of Sakyamuni, Confucius and Lao Zi.
  Major hotels put into tourist service are the Bingzhou Hotel, Yingze Hotel and Jinshi Hotel in Taiyuan.S

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