Jiangsu Province in China

The Jiangsu Province, located in East China, has over a thousand kilometers of coastline along the Yellow Sea. The two majors rivers that flow through the entire province of Jiangsu, are Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from north to south and the Yangtze River from west to east. With a population in excess of 73 millionm made up of Han, Hui, Manchu and other ethnic groups, Jiangsu occupies approximately 100,000 square kilometers.

One of the six capitals of China, the city of Nanjing is the administrative centre of Jiangsu, as well as the nucleus of trade in the area. Jiangsu has an abundance of mineral resources throughout the province, including coal, phosphorus and halite (rock salt). Historically Jiangsu has leaned towards light industries, such as the food industry and textiles, but since 1949 there has been development of heavy industries, such as construction materials and the chemical industry. Other important industries include electronics, machinery and automobile manufacture.

With the benefit of an extensive irrigation system, Jiangsu produces a variety of agricultural products, primarily rice and wheat, but also maize, sorghum, cotton, peanuts, soybeans, sesame, ambary hemp and tea. Jiangsu is also well known for producing medicinal herbs. Silkworms play an important role in Jiangsu’s economy with a major centre of silk production based in the Lake Taihu region. Freshwater fish and related aquatic products are among the diverse products coming from Jiangsu.

The transportation system in Jiangsu is well developed and convenient, with road highways as well as waterways that make full use of the Yangtze River and the Great Canal. Rail transport is popular, with Lianyungang in North Jiangsu being the beginning of the eastern end of the railway that passes through the European and Asian continents. Lianyungang also serves as one of the provincial ports for foreign trade along the coast.

Apart from being a prime destination for business people, Jiangsu has many places of beauty and historical value to offer visitors. The Yangtze River Bridge, which was opened on 23 December 1968, is very impressive and is a source of pride to the Chinese people. The city of Suzhou is the trading centre of cotton, wool and silk, as well as the home of the “Lingering Garden”, one of the four most famous gardens in China. The small town of Zhouzhang is delightful, with the layout of the town maintaining the old traditional style and the riverways and boats being very popular with visitors.

With so much to offer, it is clear to see why business travelers and tourists are attracted to the diverse and interesting province of Jiangsu.

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