The two counties became sister counties in November, 2005.

Rock Island County was located in northwestern Illinois, in the northern America, isolated with Iowa by Mississippi River. The county was established in February, 9th 1831, covering an area of 1,168 km2. According the national census in 2000, the population here was 149,374. The seat of Rock Island lies on Rock Island (the biggest island on Mississippi River) which is the junction of Rock River and Mississippi River. The population was 47,000 (1980). Its leading industry is munitions production. The county established friendship with Zixing in 2005.