Yangquan is a time-honored city and gains its name for the five bubbling springs of former days in the downtown city. Historically, it was always a strategic point that commenced construction as a military fortress as early as in the late Warring States Period (476BC-221BC). In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Yangquan was exalted to a prefecture. By 1905, it had a train station to facilitate the exploitation of the mines, making the city one of the birthplaces of Shanxi's modern industry. It belongs to the warm temperate zone with a semi-humid continental monsoon climate, Yangquan has four clear seasons: windy and rarely rainy spring; hot and wet summer; cool autumn and cold dry winter. Additionally, winter and summer are longer whilst spring and autumn are shorter. As the weather can be rapidly changeable in autumn, temperature difference between the day and night is great. Best time to visit is from April to October.

Scenic Spots: Niangzi Pass: Apart from the sites of old berm, the gate and the wall, this pass of the Great Wall also has a waterfall nearby which counteracts the occasional pervading gloom. Other Scenic Spots: In northeastern Yuxian County, there are a group of karst caves extending for 20 kilometers (12 miles) with the largest one half kilometer (0.3 mile) long. It is one of the largest caves in North China.