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Jiangsu: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Jiangsu
Jiangsu is the most vulnerable region on Earth to climate change, a flat province where the land rises no more than 100 meters above sea level and water covers 18 percent of its total area. This coastal province in East China, home to 84.75 million people, is a land of waterways where the Yangtze River cuts through the south and the Grand Canal threads the entire region from north to south. The terrain is so flat that Mount Huaguo, the highest point in the province, reaches only 625 meters above sea level, making it a place where the horizon is always defined by water rather than mountains. The province has earned the moniker of shuixiang, or land of water, due to its extensive irrigation systems and the fact that most of its population lives in a landscape where rivers, lakes, and canals are the primary features of daily life. Suzhou, a city with so many canals that it has been dubbed the Venice of the East, exemplifies this unique geography. The province's vulnerability to rising sea levels is compounded by its dense population and extensive industrial development, making it a focal point for global climate research and adaptation strategies. The history of Jiangsu is inextricably linked to its water, from the ancient Huai barbarians who inhabited the region to the modern cities that rely on the Yangtze and the Grand Canal for their economic survival.
The Wu and Yue Wars
In 484 BC, the state of Wu, under the command of King Helu, defeated the powerful state of Qi, a major power in the north, in a battle that would define the early history of the region. This victory established Wu as a great power, but its dominance was short-lived. In 473 BC, the state of Wu was subjugated by the state of Yue, which had emerged to the south in what is now Zhejiang province. The state of Yue was in turn subjugated by the powerful state of Chu from the west in 333 BC, and eventually, the state of Qin swept away all other states, unifying China in 221 BC. During the Han dynasty, the area that is now Jiangsu was removed from the centers of civilization in the North China Plain, and was administered under two zhou, or provinces: Xu Province in the north and Yang Province in the south. The region's strategic importance grew during the Three Kingdoms period, when southern Jiangsu became the base of the Eastern Wu, whose capital, Jianye, later renamed Jiankang, is modern Nanjing. When nomadic invasions overran northern China in the 4th century, the imperial court of the Jin dynasty moved to Jiankang, and cities in southern and central Jiangsu swelled with the influx of migrants from the north. Jiankang remained as the capital for four successive Southern dynasties and became the largest commercial and cultural center in China, a status it would hold for centuries.
The Canal and the Silk
Common questions
What is the population of Jiangsu province in East China?
Jiangsu is home to 84.75 million people. This coastal province in East China has a dense population that contributes to its vulnerability to rising sea levels and extensive industrial development.
When was the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge completed?
The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge was completed in 1968 during the Cultural Revolution. It was the first bridge across the Yangtze River in Jiangsu, and the second bridge crossing, Jiangyin Bridge, opened 30 years later at Jiangyin.
Which city in Jiangsu is known as the Venice of the East?
Suzhou is a city in Jiangsu that has been dubbed the Venice of the East due to its many canals. The city is renowned for its classical gardens, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its history as a center of culture and art for centuries.
What was the GDP per capita of Jiangsu in 2021?
Jiangsu's 2021 nominal GDP per capita reached CN¥137,300, or US$21,287. This figure made it the first province in China to reach the $20,000 mark and established it as one of China's most developed provinces by Human Development Index.
When did the state of Wu defeat the state of Qi in the region now known as Jiangsu?
In 484 BC, the state of Wu under the command of King Helu defeated the powerful state of Qi. This battle defined the early history of the region and established Wu as a great power before it was subjugated by the state of Yue in 473 BC.
How many institutions of higher education are in Jiangsu province?
Jiangsu hosts 168 institutions of higher education, ranking first of all Chinese provinces. This strong educational system has bolstered the province's economy and supported its development as a focal point for economic growth since 1990.
The Grand Canal, built during the Sui dynasty in 581, linked the Central Plains with the prosperous Yangtze Delta, transforming Jiangsu into a national economic and commercial center. The Tang dynasty relied on southern Jiangsu for annual deliveries of grain, and during the Song dynasty, which saw the development of a wealthy mercantile class and emergent market economy in China, Jiangnan emerged as a center of trade. From then onwards, major cities like Suzhou and Yangzhou became synonymous with opulence and luxury in China. The province's economy was historically oriented toward light industries such as textiles and food, and the Lake Tai region to the south became a major base of silk production in China. The province's agriculture, based primarily on rice and wheat, was supported by an extensive irrigation system, and the province became an important producer of freshwater fish and other aquatic products. The silk industry, in particular, became a cornerstone of the region's economy, with Suzhou and other cities producing some of the finest silk in the world. The province's economy continued to grow, and by the late Ming dynasty, some historians see in the flourishing textiles industry incipient industrialization and capitalism, a trend that was however aborted by the political upheavals of the time.
The Capital of Heaven
In 1853, the Taiping Rebellion, a massive and deadly rebellion that attempted to set up a Christian theocracy in China, established Nanjing as its capital, renaming it Tianjing, or Heavenly Capital. The rebellion, which started far to the south in Guangdong province, swept through much of South China, and by 1853, had established Nanjing as its capital. The rebellion was eventually suppressed, but the damage was done, and the region was left in ruins. The Republic of China was established in 1912, and China was soon torn apart by warlords. Jiangsu changed hands several times, but in April 1927, Chiang Kai-shek established a government at Nanjing, and he was soon able to bring most of China under his control. This was however interrupted by the second Sino-Japanese War, which began full-scale in 1937. On the 13th of December 1937, Nanjing fell, and the combined atrocities of the occupying Japanese for the next three months would come to be known as the Rape of Nanjing, after which it became the seat of the collaborationist government of East China under Wang Jingwei. Most of Jiangsu remained under Japanese occupation until the end of the war in 1945, and the region was left to rebuild from the devastation of war.
The Economic Miracle
Since the initiation of economic reforms in 1990, Jiangsu has become a focal point for economic development, and it is widely regarded as one of China's most developed provinces, when measured by its Human Development Index. The province's 2021 nominal GDP per capita reached CN¥137,300, or US$21,287, becoming the first province in China to reach the $20,000 mark. In 2022, its GDP was more than 12.29 trillion US dollars, which is the sixth-highest of all administrative divisions. If it were a country, it would be the twelfth-largest economy as of 2022 as well as the 19th most populous. The province has the highest GDP per capita and second-highest GDP of Chinese provinces, after Guangdong. Jiangsu is home to many of the world's leading exporters of electronic equipment, chemicals and textiles, and it has been China's largest recipient of foreign direct investment since 2006. The province's economy has been driven by its extensive industrial zones, including the Suzhou Industrial Park, a flagship of Sino-Singaporean cooperation and the only industrial park in China that is in its entirety the investment of a single foreign country. The province's economy has also been bolstered by its strong educational system, which hosts 168 institutions of higher education, ranking first of all Chinese provinces.
The City of Gardens
Suzhou is renowned for its classical gardens, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city has been a center of culture and art for centuries. The Humble Administrator's Garden, one of the classical gardens of Suzhou, is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape design, and the city is also known for its stone bridges, pagodas, and classical gardens. The city's economy has been driven by its silk industry, and the province's agriculture, based primarily on rice and wheat, has been supported by an extensive irrigation system. The city's culture is rich in traditions, including Kunqu, one of the most renowned and prestigious forms of Chinese opera, and Pingtan, a form of storytelling accompanied by music. The city's economy has also been bolstered by its strong educational system, which hosts 168 institutions of higher education, ranking first of all Chinese provinces. The city's culture is also reflected in its cuisine, which is one of the eight great traditions of the cuisine of China, and its art, which includes Chinese embroidery, jasmine tea, and jade ware. The city's economy has been driven by its silk industry, and the province's agriculture, based primarily on rice and wheat, has been supported by an extensive irrigation system.
The Bridge to the Future
The first bridge across the Yangtze River in Jiangsu, the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, was completed in 1968 during the Cultural Revolution, and the second bridge crossing, Jiangyin Bridge, opened 30 years later at Jiangyin. As of October 2014, there were 11 cross-Yangtze bridges in the province, including the five in Nanjing, which also has two cross-river tunnels. The Jiangyin Bridge, Runyang Bridge, and Fourth Nanjing Bridge all rank among the ten longest suspension bridges in the world. The Sutong Bridge, opened in 2008, connecting Nantong and Changshu, has one of the longest cable-stayed bridge spans in the world, at 1,088 meters. The province's transportation network is one of the most developed in the country, with high-speed rail lines connecting all major cities, and the province has six cities that have operational subway systems. The Nanjing Metro was opened in September 2005, and the Suzhou Metro was opened in April 2012. The province's transportation network has been a key factor in its economic development, and the province's economy has been driven by its extensive industrial zones, including the Suzhou Industrial Park, a flagship of Sino-Singaporean cooperation and the only industrial park in China that is in its entirety the investment of a single foreign country.