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The dynastic cycle, with long periods of prosperity followed by periods of decline,
rebellion & bloodshed, has long been considered the model for China"s past. This cycle
is no better highlighted than in the history of the Shanxi capital, Taiyuan, whose swings
have affected the town/city since its inception. The original town of Taiyuan was first settled over 2,500 years ago. Lying in the heart
of Shanxi Province, this area was strategically vital, separating the troublesome north
and northwest from the prosperous, stable lands to the south and southeast. As the town
grew it was here that frequent battles were fought, and this is indicated by the 27
temples that were dedicated to the god of war. The first proper invasion of the area was
in 200 BC by the Mongols, and the town was in and out of war until the Northern
Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD) was established. The town at this time entered a period of stability for a number of years. The Tang
Dynasty (618-907 AD) saw the golden years in the city, as prosperity soared and
infrastructure was vastly improved. Trade in silk and numerous other commodities hit an
all time high and the town was well known as a stable post on the edges of Han Chinese
control. The most interesting new product at this time was the imported grapes, that have
been grown in this area ever since. The following Five Dynasty Period (907-960 AD) saw some of the most
turbulent times that the city has experienced, as various factions attempted to extend
their influence of power. It was in 976AD that the city suffered its worst fate, being
burnt to the ground by unhappy Song Dynasty forces. Prosperity returned from the eleventh century, as the city became a great center
for trade and industry. It was in this area, especially around the town of Pingyao,
that the great financial institutions of China were founded. Basic stability
continued up until the nineteenth century, towards the end of which the city
emerged as a major economic powerhouse. The Boxer Rebellion
(1898-1900), a Chinese faction"s war against foreign oppression and the Qing
Dynastic system, particularly affected the city, however. It was here that all
the resident foreigners were killed, possibly in part because of their role
in the extraction of the mineral resources in the province. The Republic of China (1912-1949) that followed, saw the region"s most
warlike warlord, Yan Xishan, take Taiyuan as his capital. Although only
mildly Republican at heart, the warlord carried on with the economic and industrial growth
that had continued (with foreign help despite the Boxer massacre). This growth and
industrial concentration was a theme that continued after the Communist succession
(est.1950), and this has changed the face of Taiyuan. The city nowadays, perched in the heart of Shanxi Province, is generally considered
just a stopover for those heading south to the ancient imperial capital, Xi"an, or those trecking
north to the grottoes/hanging monastery near Datong and the sacred
Buddhist mountain of Wutaishan.
Like much of the cities and towns in this region, Taiyuan is heavily polluted, by coal
particles, from the abundant coal reserves, and the smog from various factories and homes.
The ancient architecture and temples that once filled the town are now hard to come
across, although there are a few sights out of town were
these can still be found. |
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