What is a sister city? Well, a sister city (AKA a twin town) is a location that has been tied to another on the grounds of securing cultural and commercial ties.
It all started back in the 40’s, after the Second World War. Whether it be cities, states, regions, or even countries, the idea of a “sister” location exists worldwide. Once peace was achieved, this concept came about to create sister cities to encourage and perpetuate friendships between historical foes. Upon the solidification of said cities, different cultures could better understand each other, and could rely on one another for support. It is not unlikely to see strong business and commercial trade bonds between sister cities.
In Victoria BC, we are lucky! We have not only 1, but 4 sister cities worldwide! From Russia to Japan, we are a well connected group!
photo: brodyaga.com
1) Kharbarovsk, Russia: Located along the East coast of Russia, Kharbarovsk is the second largest city in Russia’s East side with 577,000 people. The many marketplaces and squares constantly abuzz with energy are a must-see if you find yourself out that way!
photo: trover.com
2) Napier, New Zealand: Napier is located on the North Island, and hosts a modest population of 62,100. As the largest wool centre in the Southern Hemisphere and also the primary export seaport for New Zealand, you may be snuggling up in some of our sister city’s finest wool garments! Napier is also known for it’s apples, pears and stone fruit.
photo: japan-guide.com
3) Morioka, Japan: With a population of 299,000, Morioka is the capital of Iwate Prefecture. There are a number of incredible ruins and temples to see in this area, and the climate is much like ours in Vic (think rain, sleet, humid).
photo: beautifulplacestovisit.com
4) Suzhou, People’s Republic of China: 4.33 million is the booming population of this sister city! As one of the major economic hubs in the country, and known as the focal point for trade and commerce, Suzhou is a very cool city to have as a twin. Suzhou has hundreds of years of history, and that is evident in its incredible tourist attractions. If you ever do visit, be sure to check out one of the many beautiful gardens!
And you thought you didn’t have enough fun facts for your next dinner party….
Featured Image: beautifulplacestovisit.com