Shānyīn

Shanyin lies on the northern Shanxi plateau, between the mountains and the Sanggan River. The county received its name under the Jin in 1167 and was absorbed into neighbouring Jincheng in 1265. It was later restored at a new seat and placed under Yingzhou. Under the Ming and Qing, the county belonged to Datong prefecture, whose northern frontier faced the grasslands beyond the mountains.