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Marion is the county seat of Williamson County in the U.S. state of Illinois, and is located in the southern part of the state, about 160 kilometers from the state capital, Springfield. The city covers an area of about 44 square kilometers and has a population of about 17,000 (2020 data), making it an important commercial and medical center in the Southern Illinois region.
Founded in 1839, Marion takes its name from the American Revolutionary War general Francis Marion. The city's economy is anchored by retail, healthcare services, and manufacturing, and is home to the Illinois Center Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in Southern Illinois. In recent years, the logistics and technology industries have also emerged as new growth areas.
Conveniently located at the intersection of Interstate 57 and U.S. Route 13, the city is known as the "Crossroads of Illinois". Surrounded by natural parks and reservoirs, such as Clarinda Lake and the Shawnee National Forest, the city offers a wealth of resources for outdoor recreation.
Known for its annual Midwest Summerfest and Williamson County Fair, Marion has an excellent education system and a regional medical center, Heartland Regional Medical Center, and is one of the most livable cities in Southern Illinois, combining a small town atmosphere with modern amenities. The city's small town atmosphere and modern amenities make it one of the most livable cities in Southern Illinois.
Pingding County is part of Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, China, and is located in the Taihang Mountains in eastern Shanxi Province, with a total area of 1,394 square kilometers. As an important gateway to eastern Jin, Pingding is connected to Yu County in the north, Xiyang in the south, and Jingfu County in Hebei Province in the east, and has been a major transportation hub connecting Jin and Hebei provinces since ancient times.
Pingding has a long history, as early as in the Qin and Han Dynasties, the county has been set up, so far there have been more than 2,200 years of establishment history. It is the ancestral home of Wang Wei, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty, and there are national key cultural relics protection units such as the Great Wall of Gu Guan and Niangziguan, of which Niangziguan is known as the "Ninth Pass in the World".
Pingding County is rich in mineral resources, coal reserves of 2.6 billion tons, is an important coal production base in Shanxi. In recent years, Pingding County has been actively developing ceramics, calcium-based new materials and other industries, as well as utilizing the natural scenery of the Taihang Mountains and red tourism resources to vigorously develop the eco-tourism industry.
Pingding retains a rich folk culture, such as Yazhou Drums, Wu Yazhou Drums and other traditional performing arts are listed in the national intangible cultural heritage. Pingding Sandware is the most famous specialty product, with a history of more than 1,300 years, and a reputation as the "best sandware in the world".