On February, 10, 1980,Tianjin and Philadelphia became sister cities. Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the fifth-most-populous city in the United States, which is located on the northeast of the United States on the southeast of Pennsylvania, and 160 kilometers from the south of New York City.The area of city is 349.6 square kilometers, and the total population is 1,447,395(2008-7-1). In Greek,Philadelphia means brotherly love. It is a famous city during the Colonial Times and American Revolution, it played an important role in the foundation of the nation. Till the middle of 18th century, it had been the biggest city in British North American colonies. The Declaration of Independence was passed here, the Constitutional Convention was held here, it was the capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800,the federal government has several facilities in it. Now, it is one of the main centers of economy, transportation and culture in the United States. Philadelphia's economic sectors include manufacturing, oil refining, food processing, health care and biotechnology, tourism and financial services. According to a study prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Philadelphia and its surrounding region had the fourth highest GDP among American cities, its heavy industry and petrochemical industry are flourishing. It is the principal center of oil refining, the base of steel and shipbuilding. There are also many sectors of chemistry, electrical machine, electric appliance, machinery, railway locomotive and automobile. Philadelphia is called the Ruhr of America. Some light industries such as textile and clothes are famous. The city is home to the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and several Fortune 500 companies, including cable television and internet provider,insurance companies,energy company, food services company ,chemical makers,pharmaceutical companies,Boeing helicopters division, and automotive parts retailer. Philadelphia is an important center for medicine, it is home to the first hospital in the British North American colonies, Pennsylvania Hospital, and the first medical school in what is now the United States, at the University of Pennsylvania.health care is the largest sector of employment in the city, and several medical professional associations are headquartered in Philadelphia. Tourism is another major industry in Philadelphia, for it is home to many national historical sites that relate to the founding of the United States. The city has a developed transportation,there are three main railway lines, a dense network of roads contact with the port. The portage is convenient. There are subways and aerial trains in the city. The city is well served with public transport. There are 6 bridges across the Delaware River in the city. These bridge connect Philadelphia with the cities of New Jersey. Philadelphia National Airport is located in the southwest of the city center, passenger and shipment capacity are among the top ranks of the whole country. |