Sister city since: May 3, 1995

Overview

Ludwigsburg is in the center of Baden-Württemberg, the most economically developed region in Germany, about 12 km from downtown Stuttgart. With an area of 687 square kilometers and a population of 545,000, it has jurisdiction over 39 districts. The city has strong industrial, business and service sectors. The four major economic pillars are auto parts, machinery manufacturing, financial services, and news media. Its main industries include construction and installation, metal processing, medical equipment, clothing, textiles, leather, food, chemicals, glass, paper, and painted pottery.

Relations with Yichang

Yichang and Ludwigsburg came into contact in 1989 when Dr. Walter Killion, Minister of Labor, Health, Family and Social Affairs of Bavaria, Germany, led a delegation to Yichang. He encouraged friendly exchanges between Yichang and Ludwigsburg and forwarded a letter from Mayor of Ludwigsburg, expressing the willingness to develop friendly ties.

Over the past 30 years, the two cities have had frequent high-level exchanges and seen productive outcomes in medical and health care, culture and education, personnel exchanges, and economic development.

Healthcare.Ludwigsburg County Hospital and the First People’s Hospital of Yichang became sister hospitals in October 1992 and have sent medical staff for exchanges and study on a regular basis.

Economy and trade.Yichang Resin Factory went to Ludwigsburg to talk with DLW Company about joint production of floor decoration materials in 1995. In 1997, German Zeman Beer Equipment Co., Ltd. came to Yichang to discuss with Monkey King Group about brewery expansion. From 2001 to 2003, Yichang sent a number of people to do a two-year business management program (EMBA) sponsored by the Baden-Württemberg Steinbeis foundation in Germany.

Culture and education.A group of Yichang artists went to Germany to participate in the Second Neckar River Art Festival in 2006. In 2009, The Baden-Württemberg Sports Dance Association delegation came to Yichang to participate in the World Youth Latin Dance Championships and achieved good results. From 2008 to 2019, 11 Confucius Classroom summer camps in Yichang have been organized by Schiller Middle School and Yiling Middle School, involving more than 100 teachers and students from Ludwigsburg.

In recent years, Yichang still maintains close contact with Ludwigsburg. Shortly after the onset of COVID-19, Ludwigsburg sent a letter of sympathy and commended Yichang’s epidemic prevention and control efforts. The First People’s Hospital of Yichang donated 3,000 surgical masks to the Ludwigsburg County Hospital after the virus started to rage in Germany.