Yan’an is located in the north of Shaanxi Province, middle of Loess Plateau. It faces Yellow River on the east, close to Shaanxi Province, while bounded on the west by Gansu Province. It is with total area of 37,029 square kilometers as one of the 24 historical cultural cities declared first by State Board.
Yan’an is the holy place of Chinese revolution. Since 1935 to 1948, Yan’an is the location of the CPC Central Committee, command centre and strategic rear area of Chinese revolution, where Mao Zedong and the rest of veteran revolutionists had been living and fighting for thirteen years so as to lead War of Resistance against Japan and liberation war all over the country, therefore laid a foundation for New China and establish the guiding role of Maoism in Communist Party of China, also fostered the immortal Yan’an Sprit. More than 140 old revolutionary locations and residences still exists in Yan’an, such as: Wangjiaping old revolutionary location, Zaoyuan old revolutionary location and Fenghang mountain old revolutionary location where Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army headquarters located; Yangjialing old revolutionary location where significant conference i.e Seventh Congress of the CPC and the Symposium on Literature and Art in Yan'an were held; Baota mountain old revolutionary location as important marking and symbol of holy place Yan’an; News media revolution Memorial as first professional news media Memorial in our country; Nanniwan old revolutionary location – root of CPC Army reclamation farm; Wuqi town old revolutionary location as foothold of the famed Long March of Central Red Army when they entering Northern Shaanxi; Wayaobao old revolutionary location; old revolutionary location of Luochuan meeting; “April 8th air crash” Martyrs’Park etc.
Yan’an is one of the cardle of Chinese nation’s 5,000 years of civilization. Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor, Xuanyuan who is regarded as “primogenitor of Chinese descent humanities” is reposed on the top of Qiao mountain. Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor, Xuanyuan is the national shrine for Chinese descent worshipping roots. Qingliang mountain Wan Fo Grotto and Zhong mountain Grotto cutted in Northern Song Dynasty are with high artistic value. Especially Zhong mountain Grotto, which was cutted for thousands years, is fully believed by experts to be compared favourably with Dunhuang.
Yan’an vast in territory, the fruitful in natural and cultural resources, and always is the centre of economic, politics, culture in Northern Shaanxi.
The entire landmass of the city is 55,560,000 mu, per capita is 29 mu. The soil is deep enough and suitable to various crops, both developing prospect of horticulture industry and animal husbandry are good here. In deep of immense extend of loess, there are rich mineral deposits hidden underground. Proven oil reserves is 430 million tons, and coal 7.1 billion tons,, gas 3.3 billion cubic meters, purple sand sydrolite 50 million tonnes, all of these provide industrial economy boom of Yan’an with very favorable condition.
With history and culture accumulation for thousands years, Yan’an gives birth to thick lasting apeal of loess customatic culture. Either straightforward bold and unconstrained waist drum, sonorous and agitated Northern Shaanxi folk song or elegant and primitive folk paper-cut, warm and happy yangko are rested by Yan’an people for hope of good life. In the end of Qing dynasty, Qing government founded Yanchang oil official plant that drilled the first oil well in Chinese mainland.
Hukou Waterfall with spectacular and magnificent scenery symbolizes constant striving and brave advancing national spirit of Chinese nation.
