Taiyuan is one of China's key heavy industry centres and capital of landlocked Shanxi Province in North China. It has drafted an ambitious plan to make full use of its tourist attractions under construction. Encompassing 6,959 square kilometres, Taiyuan has a population of 3 million.

Taiyuan has existed for 2,500 years and a large number of cultural relics and ancient buildings in and around it. Despite being a heavy, energy and chemical industry centre, Taiyuan is home to many ancient buildings, such as the Ming Double Tower and the Tianlongshan Grottoes. Taiyuan also has an abundance of folk culture and is reputed for its noodles. With the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy, there has been a significant improvement in Taiyuan's infrastructure, such as railways, roads and telecommunications. There are currently 43 air routes linking the city with other parts of the country. Taiyuan has paid much attention to the development of the tourist industry since the establishment of the Tourism Bureau by the end of 1996. It now has about 30 tourist hotels catering to overseas visitors. Construction of Fenhe River Tourism Zone began in 1997. It was completed in 1999 at a cost of 400 million yuan (US $ 48 million). Another tourist wne in Shentang Gully, costing 1.2 billion yuan (US$ 144 million), opened to the public in 2000.

Jin Memorial Temple

The Jin Memorial Temple is located at the foot of Mount Xuanweng, 25 kilometres from Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi Province. After the Duke of Zhou's eastern expedition, King Cheng made his brother Shuyu Prince of Tang, but, after the latter's death, his son Xie renamed his principality Jin, because the Jin River ran through his territory, gradually his principality became a strong country. Later a memorial was built on his behalf. It was first constructed before the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) and, after renovations and extensions in succeeding dynasties, has attained its present scale.

Built in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the Sacred Lady Hall is still as magnificent and grandiose as before. It is one of the famous ancient Chinese architectures. In the hall are preserved intact forty-three statues of human size that resemble real human beings. On entering the hall, the tourist feels as if a sumptuous palace. The gorgeous Sacred Lady Yijiang sits in the centre with maid servants waiting on each side, their dresses, postures, and manners being different. From these the tourist can differentiate their respective ages and stations. For example, the ones with slender bodies and in elegant dresses are dancing girls. Those having seals on their left palms and holding them their right hands while their bodies bend slightly forward are the servants in charge of seals. There are innocent and graceful young maids of honour and prudent and gloomy looking old maids. Some maids hold broomsticks, others carry jugs of water, still others are bringing in dishes and ready to serve, and still other maids are in charge of the stationary. Each of them is so vivid and exquisite in every detail that they constitute masters of Chinese sculptural art in excellence.

Beside the Hall of the Sacred Lady is an everlasting spring under an octagonal roof with a pointed top. It is here that the tourist can see his or her reflection on the water just as in a mirror, while bubbles come out from the bottom of the spring like pearls. This spot is the essence of Jin Memorial Temple. The water here is so clear like green jade that the place seems to be in springtime all the year round.

After intensive renovations and extensions, this ancient Jin Memorial Temple has taken on a completely new look.

The precious halls, pavilions, terraces, bridges, and archways are interspersed amongst the gardens according to the landform so as to enhance the beauty of the place.

Zhou Dynasty Cypress

Legend has it that the cypress was planted in the Western Zhou Dynasty 0046-771 BC). Nine hundred years ago, the Song-dynasty writer Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072) wrote the following couplet: "As the propitious place enriches the plants. The old green cypress is luxuriant in the mist." The cypress, together with the ever-bubbling Nanlao Spring, and the exquisite Song-dynasty figures of maid-servants are reputed as the "the Three Wonders of the Jin Memorial Temple ."

Iron Statues

There were four iron statues on a pedestal, cast in 1097 (the Northern Song Dynasty). They have witnessed all kinds of weather for over 900 years and are still bright and do not form any rust.

Tang-Dynasty Tablet

The Chinese characters on the tablet were written by Emperor Taizhong (599649, reigned 626-649) of the Tang Dynasty in 646, called "inscriptions and introduction to Jin Memorial Temple." Altogether, there are 1 ,203 characters in a style free and easy and yet vigorous. It is the oldest tablet in running hand now still in existence.

Memorial Temple of Tang Shuyu

In the central shrine is the figure of Tang Shuyu with 12 Ming-dynasty female figures, some holding bamboo flutes (first used by the minority nationalities in Northwest China. It is believed to have been introduced to Chang' an, today's Xi'an, the then capital of China, during the reign of Emperor Wudi (140-87 BC) of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 23), and gradually spread throughout China to become one of the most popular musical instruments of the Chinese people. The loud, clear, and melodious tone of the flute gives it considerable powers of expression. Regarded as an important wind instrument, it is used for music of different styles and moods, and as a solo instrument as well as in combination with other instruments), others holding pipa (a 4stringed guitar-like plucked instrument. After the 7'h century, it became popular and was regarded as the main musical instrument. During the Tang Dynasty (618-916) it often served as the leading instrument in sophisticated court music. The PiPa can be used for solos as well as accompaniments with other instruments. Its expressive power permits the playing of impassioned, powerful, solemn and stirring passages as well as gentle, and lyrical melodies) and still others holding string instruments. They all look like a rather comprehensive ancient band.

Mermaids in Shuimulou (Medusa Building)

Shuimulou, also called Crystal Palace, was built in 1563 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is a two-storey building and on the ground floor is a statue of

Shuimu cast in bronze which on the upper storey is a shrine in the centre for Shuimu with eight figures of mermaids (maid-servants with fish-like backs) waiting on both sides. The figures are graceful, and their shapes unconventional.

Jin Memorial Temple Park

East of the temple is a garden where green pines, and cypresses form shades and flowers blossom all the year round.