General Introduction

Jiangsu Province, one of the most densely populated provinces in China, lies in an area of more than 100,000 square kilometers along the middle of the eastern coast in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Some 88 per cent of its 59.38 million people live in the highly cultivated countryside and 12 per cent in the cities. Known as a "land of fish and rice", Jiangsu gets its name from the first character' of its two cities, Jiangning (now Nanjing) and Suzhou.

Scenic Spots

Lianyungang -- Outlet to the Sea
Mudu Old Town
Nanjing -- Ancient Dynastic Capital
Stronghold
Suzhou --'Venice in the Orient'
Tongli -- a Town of Bridges
Wuxi -- Pearl of Taihu Lake
Xuzhou -- Historic Battleground
Yangzhou -- Ancient Cultural
Yixing -- Home of Fine Pottery
Zhenjiang -- Where River Meets Canal

Topography

Jiangsu is the flattest and lowest-lying province in China with most of it below 50 meters in elevation. The only exceptions are the Ningzhen Mountain Area and the Maoshan Hills in the southwest and scattered hills in the areas around Xuzhou and Haizhou in the north. The vast plains are dotted with lakes and crisscrossed by rivers, which cover 18 per cent of the province's total land mass. With three major river systems from north to south -- the Yishu, the Huaihe and the Yangtze River, Jiangsu has well-developed irrigation systems and shipping. The Grand Canal is an artery between north and south. Of the more than 200 lakes, the larger ones are Hongze, Taihu and Gaoyou. The Yangtze River Delta is known as "Water Country".

Climate

Situated in the climatic transition zone of warm-temperate and sub-tropical zones, Jiangsu has mild weather, moderate rainfall and clear-cut seasonal changes. The climate differs between north and south: The mean annual temperature is 13ºC in the north and 16ºC in the south while the mean annual precipitation is 800 mm. in the northwest and 1,200 mm. in the southeast. There are frequent "plum rains" between spring and summer, and typhoon rains between late summer and early autumn.
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Communications

Jiangsu is an east China communication center. Nanjing and Xuzhou are two rail clearing- houses. Passing through the province are the Longhai (Lanzhou-Lianyungang), Beijing-Shanghai and Nanjing-Wuhu railways. The completion in 1968 of the Yangtze River Bridge at Nanjing has helped improve transportation between north and south. Maritime shipping and inland navigation along the Yangtze River are well- developed. Lianyungang is the principal seaport, and Nanjing and Zhenjiang are large river ports. The length of highways in use is 14,000 kilometers.