Yan's determination to modernize Shanxi was mostly inspired from his experiences in Japan, but also by his experiences with foreign doctors and personnel who arrived in Shanxi in 1918 in order to help him suppress an epidemic that was ravaging the province.
Determinasi Yan memodernisasi Shanxi sangat terinspirasi dari pengalamannya di Jepang dan oleh pengalamannya dengan dokter dan personil asing yang tiba di Shanxi pada tahun 1918 dalam rangka membantu menekan epidemi yang melanda provinsi itu.