Córdoba

Córdoba is the capital city of Córdoba Province, surrounded by the Primero River and lying in the east of the Córdoba Hills, which has an average height of 425 meters. The average temperature in winter is 8℃, and in summer 25℃. The city covers an area of 562 square kilometers, with a total population of 1.78 million.

Córdoba is a famous historical city of Argentina. Founded in 1573, the city was originally a post on the long routes that linking Buenos Aires to Lima, Peru. The point of origin of the city is the San Martin Square, which holds the Jesuit Block, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. After the 19th century, with the construction of railways and fast completion of the large Primero River Hydro-power Plant, Córdoba quickly become an industrial center and the second largest city of Argentina, as well as a major transportation hub in the central part, with its airport ranking the third largest in Argentina.

Córdoba has developed a variety of industries, including aircraft construction, textile, car manufacturing, agricultural machinery, glass, tanning, making shoes, chemistry, food production, etc. Car manufacturing is one of the pillar industries of Córdoba, with Fiat, Renault, General Motors, Chrysler, and Volkswagen all based their factories in the city. The production of metal and car parts ranks the second in the whole country. Fertile areas around Córdoba produce vast amounts of agricultural products, turning out beans and corn ranking the first in Argentina. The processing of farming products and pasture products are very thriving. The city also has a service-based economy accounting for 60% of the total output. There are over 300 banks and insurance companies in the city.

Córdoba is a national cultural center, being known traditionally as “the learned one” and “the center of free thinking”, housing the oldest university of Argentina----the National University of Córdoba which was founded in 1613.

Association football, basketball and rugby union are the most popular sports in Córdoba.

The current mayor of Córdoba is Ramón Javier Mestre and the city became a sister city of Xi’an on December 19, 2006. They other sister cities of Córdoba include: Belo Horizonte, Campinas, Curitiba, Florianopolis and Natal ， Brazil; Ciutadella and Marin ， Spain；Santa Cruz and Cochabamba ， Bolivia; Izevsk ， Russia; Izmir ， Turkey; Lodz ， Poland; Morelia ， Mexico; Tampa ， America; Tiberias ， Israel; Turin ，Italy; Valparaiso ， Chile; Chongqing ， China.