Nanjing – the Capital of Jiangsu Province

The skyline of Nanjing, China.
The skyline of Nanjing, China.

Jiangsu is a coastal Chinese province located in the east-central part of the country. With an area of 102,600 square km, it is the 3rd smallest province in the country. Its coastline on the Yellow Sea extends for 1,000 km. The Yangtze River also passes through it. Jiangsu has a total population of 80,400,000 people that makes it the 5th most populous Chinese province. Jiangsu is one of the country’s top regions in tourism, education, technology, and finance. It is also the wealthiest province in the country by GDP per capita and has the highest HDI in the country. It is the largest recipient of foreign investment among the Chinese provinces.

Capital of Jiangsu

Nanjing is the capital city of Jiangsu. It has an administrative area of 6,600 square km. The city proper that is surrounded by the city wall has an area of 55 square km. The Nanjing Metropolitan Region covers more than 60,000 square km and includes many surrounding cities and towns. Nanjing is in the delta region of the Yangtze River. It has an average elevation of 20 m. A humid subtropical climate prevails over Nanjing. It is one of the 15 sub-provincial cities of China and one of the country’s 4 Ancient Great Capitals.

Demographics of Nanjing

As of 2010 census, Nanjing was home to a population of around 8 million people. The Han nationality is the largest ethnic group accounting for 98.56% of the total population of the city. Other minorities include the Hui, Manchu, and Zhuang ethnic communities.

Economy of Nanjing

The service industry dominates the economy of Nanjing and is responsible for 60% of the GDP of the city. Tourism, finance, and culture industries are the most profitable sectors of the city’s service industry. Other industries in Nanjing include environmental protection, information technology, new energy, etc. The city attracts huge foreign investments and many multinational corporations operate in the city. Nanjing is also a transportation hub in eastern China with a 3-D transport network covering land, air, and water. The public transportation network in the city is well-developed and is used heavily by its residents. One of the world’s largest inland ports is also in Nanjing.

History of Nanjing

Nanjing has featured as a prominent place in the history and culture of China for ages. Since the 3rd century, the city has served as the capital of many powerful Chinese kingdoms and dynasties. Its location on the Yangtze River Delta has made it an attractive place for trade and commerce. Despite being the scene of significant wars and disasters, Nanjing has managed to recover every time and retain its prosperity and importance. Since 1949, the city has served as the capital of the Jiangsu province.

Tourism in Nanjing

Nanjing attracts thousands of tourists every year. It has numerous historical and cultural attractions like the Presidential Palace, Ming Palace, Porcelain Tower, Stone City, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, several museums, etc. It also has many green parks, small mountains, and natural lakes.

Share

More in World Facts