About Baltimore.....
Located only 45 minutes by car from Washington, DC, Baltimore is the 11th largest city in the United States with a population of about 640,000. It is also part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which is the 4th largest in the USA and has a population exceeding 8 million.
Incorporated in 1797 the city has a colorful history. During the War of 1812 Baltimore was the site of a significant defeat of British naval forces and the successful defense of Fort McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner, later to become the country's National Anthem.
The city has a rich cultural heritage which includes the famous American writers Edgar Allan Poe and H.L. Mencken. Sports have always been popular in Baltimore, especially the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and the Baltimore Ravens football team. Baltimore is also famous for its blue crabs that come from the Chesapeake Bay and are served around the world.
Baltimore's leading industries are aerospace, banking and finance, biotechnology, chemicals, food processing, shipbuilding and ship repair. The city's economy also benefits from its proximity to more than 200 federal and academic research and development centers such as the National Institute of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Situated on the southeast coast of China, Xiamen is an island city with a population of slightly over 2 million. Known as the “Most Agreeable City in China” this scenic island boasts temperate weather, beautiful gardens, white sand beaches and a thriving inner harbor similar to Baltimore’s. The Port of Xiamen ranks among China’s top ten. The city also has a modern airport that is one of China’s major aviation hubs. 