Situated in central Ukraine, Cherkasy is the capital of Cherkasy Oblast and has an urban population of 280,000. It is 200 kilometers away from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Standing on the right bank of Dnieper, Cherkasy belongs to the dam area of Kremenchuk Reservoir. Cherkasy is the hometown of Taras Shevchenko, a famous Ukrainian poet. Founded in 1286, the city is the barrier of Kyiv against the invasion of foreign enemies in the south. It was incorporated into Russia in 1654, became the center of the Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine, in 1930, and became its capital from July 1954.
The city features an excellent geographical location and developed and convenient transportation. It is closely connected with other large cities in Ukraine by railways, expressways, and air routes. Cherkasy is widely forested, with fertile land (black soil areas) and various animal and plant species. As one of the industrial centers in Ukraine, the city owns complete industrial categories, mainly including machinery manufacturing, metallurgy, chemical engineering and wood processing, building materials, furniture production, etc. The chemical reagents, mineral fertilizers, ammonia, viscose fibers, and other products produced by two large chemical enterprises there are exported to foreign countries in large quantities and enjoy a high reputation. Besides, the biscuits, macaroni, sugar manufacturing and dairy processing, bread, meat, and canning in the city are also developed, and the production of beer, beverages, silk, and handiwork has a certain development foundation. At present, Germany, Poland, the United States, Latvia, Turkey, the Netherlands, and some other countries have invested and established enterprises in Cherkasy.
Numerous scientific research institutions and universities make the city one of the cultural and technological centers in central Ukraine. There are three theaters, three cultural palaces, 18 clubs, 14 libraries, complete cultural facilities, and many scenic spots and historical sites attracting countless foreign visitors.
In November 2003, Wanzhou District formed sister city relations with Cherkasy.
Exchanges between Wanzhou and Cherkasy
Wanzhou formed sister city relations with Cherkasy in 2003 as it is the hometown of Grigory Akimovich Kulishenko, a martyr who died in Wanzhou during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
Reciprocal visits and exchanges In 1996, former Mayor of Wanxian City (now known as "Wanzhou District") led the first delegation to Cherkasy and signed an agreement of intent for friendly cooperation with the city. In 2003, Wanzhou District Mayor led a delegation to Cherkasy for the celebration of the 717th anniversary of the establishment of the city, and the two sides officially signed an agreement to form sister-city relations. In 2005, the Mayor of Cherkasy led a delegation to Wanzhou District, where the two sides signed the agreement on friendly exchanges for 2005-2006. In 2008, the Mayor of Wanzhou District led a delegation to visit Cherkasy on celebrations of the 722nd anniversary of the establishment of the city and signed an agreement on friendly exchanges between the youth of the two places. In June 2011, the Executive Deputy Mayor of Wanzhou District People's Government led a delegation to visit Cherkasy on celebrations of the 725th anniversary of the establishment of the city. In November of the same year, the Mayor of Cherkasy led a delegation to attend the opening ceremony of the China (Chongqing) International Garden Expo in Chongqing and visited Wanzhou, where the two sides signed the agreement on friendly exchanges for 2011-2015. In 2016, the Director of Wanzhou District People's Congress led a delegation to visit Cherkasy attended the second All-Ukrainian Festival "Day of Employees of Radio, Television, and Communication", and signed the agreement on friendly exchanges for 2016-2020.
Economic and trade exchanges In 2003, Wanzhou District held the widely welcomed exhibition of famous and excellent products from Wanzhou District in Cherkasy. In 2006, in order to implement the exchange agreement signed by the two governments, the Cherkasy Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized enterprises to visit Wanzhou District and signed a cooperation agreement with Wanzhou District Federation of Industry and Commerce. In 2016, Chongqing Wanzhou Lanxiluo Foodstuff Co., Ltd. visited Eurocommerce Ltd. located in Cherkasy, Ukraine, and reached an intention to import live pig by-products.
Cultural exchanges From 2005 to 2008, Wanzhou District donated 10,000 U.S. dollars to Cherkasy No.1 Secondary School for constructing computer classrooms, for which the city held a special ceremony and invited the officials of the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine to attend the ceremony and press conference. In 2011, Cherkasy, Ukraine was invited to participate in China (Chongqing) International Garden Expo and built the Cherkasy Garden, which tells a Ukrainian love story, at Chongqing Garden Expo Park. In 2015, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, August First Film Studio produced A Promise to the Kurichenko's, which tells the story of the Chinese mother and son guarding the tomb of Grigori Akimovich Kurichenko for more than half a century. In 2016, the delegation of Wanzhou District gifted the compact disks of the docudrama to Cherkasy and relevant schools. The delegation of Wanzhou District also paid a special visit to the Cherepin Town School where Kurichenko studied and was warmly welcomed by all teachers, students, and their parents. In honor of the hero, the school has now been renamed as Kurichenko School. Wanzhou District funded 5,000 U.S. dollars to support the school to set up an exhibition hall for Kurichenko's heroic deeds. In 2018, during the 9th China Yangtze River Three Gorges International Tourism Festival, Wanzhou held an achievements exhibition commemorating the 30th anniversary of international friendly exchanges, including photos of Cherkasy's landscape and friendly exchanges between the two sides.
Youth exchanges According to the agreement on friendly exchanges between the youth of the two sides, in 2008, a youth delegation mainly from Cherkasy No. 1 Secondary School came to Wanzhou District for exchange. In 2009, a youth delegation of friendly exchange from Wanzhou No. 2 Senior High School went to Cherkasy for friendly exchanges, visited Kurichenko's hometown, and relatives who extended a warm welcome and were entrusted to bring back the soil from the hero's hometown. The CPC Wanzhou District Committee and Wanzhou District People's Government organized a solemn ceremony for burying the soil into the tomb so that the hero can feel the warmth of his hometown.
Inter-school exchanges In 1996, Cherkasy No. 1 Secondary School and Wanzhou No. 2 Senior High School established sister school relations. In 2006, Cherkasy Medical Academy and Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College signed an inter-school exchange agreement.
Other exchanges In 2020, Wanzhou District and Cherkasy helped and supported each other in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Cherkasy provided Wanzhou with information on Ukrainian suppliers of medical protective materials, and Wanzhou shared experience in pandemic prevention with Cherkasy.