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Pecs, Hungary

Date of establishment of sister-city relations with Shaoxing: September 2011

Pecs is the fifth largest city of Hungary and the capital of Baranya. Covering 162 square kilometers, it had a population of 145,000 as of January 2016. The Early Christian Necropolis of Pecs was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

Pecs has abundant resources of coal and uranium, and is the production center for renowned Zsolnay Porcelain. Its industries mainly cover machinery, furniture, cigarettes and tobacco, brewing and leather. The oil refining factories in Pecs refine crude oil imported from Russia through piping for domestic demands.

The University of Pecs was founded by Louis I of Hungary in 1367. It is the oldest university in Hungary, and is among the first European universities. Pecs is also a famous art city. Tivadar Csontvary Kosztka, the most reputable painter in Hungary, is rated as "Hungary's Vincent van Gogh".

Pecs enjoys favorable transport conditions and is easily accessible by road and rail links to major cities such as Budapest.

Aix-en-Provence, France

Date of establishment of sister-city relations with Shaoxing: March 2011

Located in the south of France, Aix-en-Provence, or simply Aix, is about 30 kilometers north of Marseille, the second largest city in France. Covering 186 square kilometers, the city had a population of approximately 143,000 in 2016. Being the hometown of the renowned post-impressionist painter Paul Cezanne, Aix is a famous cultural and art city in France. The city's developed industries include tourism, entertainment, education and research, computer software and handicrafts.

Oyama, Japan

Date of establishment of sister-city relations with Shaoxing: October 2009

Oyama is located in the southwest of Tochigi prefecture, Japan. It is less than 60 kilometers from the capital city of Tokyo. Covering 171 square kilometers and having a population of 165,000 as of May 2015, Oyama is the second largest metropolis in Tochigi prefecture.

Industry in the city is prospering. There are many industrial parks housing textile, food, machinery, metal and petrochemical enterprises. Oyama also has numerous high-tech companies engaged in metal processing, precise instruments, plastic and rubber. The city's agriculture is developed, growing corn, rice and barley as well as other vegetables and fruits, and providing food necessities for Tokyo.