江苏留学网

Yangzhou formerly known as Yangchow, is a prefecture level city in central Jiangsu province. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across the river to the south. Its population reached 4.6 million in 2014.

Historically it is one of the wealthiest of China's cities, known at various periods for its great merchant families, poets, painters and scholars. Its name (lit. "Rising Prefecture") refers to its former position as the capital of Yangzhou prefecture in imperial China.

Location

Yangzhou is located in the middle of Jiangsu Province and a place where the Yangtze River and the BeijingHangzhou Grand Canal converge. It is within "the Yangtze Delta Region", the most dynamic economic circle in China, and is an important port city prosperous with industries and trade in the Yangtze Delta Region.

Climate

Being in the subtropical humid climate, Yangzhou has four distinct seasons with mild air temperatures. The annual mean temperature is 15.5 degrees centigrade, with a January average of 2.8 degrees centigrade and a July average of 28 degrees centigrade.

Economy

Yangzhou is a broad marketplace, and has been the gate to the North Jiangsu. It is an important node city in the Yangtze Delta Region with direct influence over North Jiangsu, South Shandong and East Anhui. In 2014, Yangzhou's GDP reached 369.79 billion yuan, 11% higher than the previous year with the GDP per capita exceeding 80,000 yuan; the disposable personal income of the urban residents and that of the farmers are 30,380 yuan and 15,255 yuan respectively.

History & Culture

With a long history and rich cultural background, Yangzhou is listed among the first cities of long history and rich cultural heritages. Since 486BC when the King of the State Wu ordered the construction of Hangou River and Hancheng City, Yangzhou, as a city, as experienced a history of almost 2,500 years. In the long process, Yangzhou has experienced splendid prosperity in the East and West Han Dynasties, the Sui Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty and during the reign of the Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, leaving the footprints of a large number of well-known poets and scholars such as Libai, Du Mu, Bai Juyi, Ou Yangxiu, Su Shi, Zhen Banqiao and Zhu Ziqing and boasting over 340 historic sites and relics, which are under protection. Yangzhou are unique and colorful in its cultural characteristics, boasting Yangzhou School of Learning, the Eight Eccentrics, Yangzhou Opera, Yangzhou art crafts, the potted scenery of Yangzhou style, the flat engraving typography, Huaiyang cuisine, etc. Yangzhou opera and storytelling, the singing in Yangzhou style, the paper cutting, the lacquer wares, the jade wares and the flat engraving typography have been listed as the first intangible cultural heritages. The Slender West Lake Park and Yangzhou’s Ancient city area have been listed as candidates of China's world cultural heritages.