Linyi

Linyi is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong Province of China. The largest prefecture-level city in Shandong, Linyi borders Rizhao to the east, Weifang to the northeast, Zibo to the north, Tai'an to the northwest, Jining to the west, Zaozhuang to the southwest, and the province of Jiangsu to the south. It is twinned with Patras, Greece.

History
Linyi is about 2400 years old. In the 1970s Sun Tzu's Art of War was unearthed here. In the spring of 1938, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the city was the scene of fierce fighting between Chinese and Japanese troops. The Chinese, encouraged by the success of their military in the nearby Battle of Tai'erzhuang, defended Linyi fiercely, but Japanese soldiers breached the walls on April 19, 1938. The defenders withdrew the next day to another contested area 30 miles away. After the People's Republic of China was founded in October 1949, the administrative division was adjusted.

Geography
Linyi enjoys a temperate climate and high precipitation. The lie of the land varies, with mountains, hills, and plains accounting for approximately equal parts of the total area. The entire jurisdiction covers 17,184 km² and the total population is close to 10 million, making this the largest administrative division in the province in both geographic and demographic terms.

Cultural Attractions
Linyi's focal point is the People's Square (Renmin Guangchang). It was built in the early 1990's on the site of an old army barracks. It is about 500 metres east-west, and about 300 metres north-south. Underneath it is a shopping centre and entertainment facilities.

Just north of the city centre is a park dedicated to Wang Xizhi. For a small entrance fee tourists can enjoy a pleasant walk and try Chinese calligraphy. Near the centre of Linyi city is a museum which houses some original bamboo strips from the Sun Tzu era.