Jiangxi 江西

小桥流水人家

小桥流水人家 By 无忌 王伟. Sourced via Flickr under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.

Jiāngxī (江西) province is located is south central China. It was here that the Chinese Communist Party established some of its earliest bases. For many years, the Party centred its operation in the mountains of Jiangxi, with the Kuomindang repeatedly trying unsuccessfully to encircle and eradicate them. It was from here that the Communists set out on their famous Long March that took them via the west of China, to their base in Henan.

Tourist Attractions

Below is a list of tourist attractions in Jiangxi:

by EAJ. Sourced via Flickr.

(九江市庐山风景旅游区; jiǔ jiāng shì lú shān fēng jǐng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale.

吉安市井冈山风景旅游区. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(景德镇陶瓷历史博览区; jǐngdézhèn táocí lìshǐ bólǎn qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(三爪仑国家森林公园; sān zhǎo lún guójiā sēnlín gōngyuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(明月山天沐温泉度假村; míng yuè shān tiān mù wēnquán dùjiàcūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(新余市仙女湖风景旅游区; xīnyú shì xiānnǚ hú fēngjǐng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(婺源江湾景区; wùyuán jiāngwān jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(婺源县大鄣山卧龙谷旅游区; wùyuán xiàn dà zhāng shān wò lóng gǔ lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(庐山龙湾温泉度假村; lúshānLóng Wān wēnquán dùjiàcūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜春明月山温泉风景名胜区; yíchūn míng yuè shān wēnquán fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(龙虎山风景旅游区; Lóng Hǔshān fēngjǐng lǚyóuqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(井岗山风景区; jǐng gǎng shān fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(赣州通天岩景区; gànzhōu tōng tiān yán jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(景德镇市高岭·瑶里风景名胜区; jǐngdézhèn shì gāolǐng- yáo lǐ fēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(上饶弋阳龟峰景区; shàngráo yìyáng guī fēng jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(南昌市天香园景区; nánchāngshì tiān xiāng yuán jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(滕王阁; Téng Wánggé): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(庐山风景名胜区; lúshānfēngjǐngmíngshèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(景德镇市浮梁古县衙景区; jǐngdézhèn shì fúliáng gǔxiàn yá jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

Sanqingshan, Jiangsu by Patrick Boehler. Sourced via Flickr.

(三清山风景区; sān qīng shān fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is listed as a UNESCO World Herritage Site. This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(庐山天沐温泉度假村; lúshāntiān mù wēnquán dùjiàcūn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(虞山－尚湖风景区; Yú Shān- Shàng Hú fēngjǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(集安市高句丽文物古迹旅游景区; jíānshì gāogōulí wénwù gǔjī lǚyóu jǐngqū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAAA on China's national tourism scale.

(集安市云峰湖景区; zhǎng chūn shì jiè fēng jǐng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(宜春三爪仑生态旅游区; yí chūn sān zhǎo yuè shēng tài lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(九江龙宫洞风景区; jiǔ jiāng lóng gōng dòng fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(九江石钟山; jiǔ jiāng shí zhōng shān): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(赣州阳岭森林公园; gàn zhōu yáng lǐng sēn lín gōng yuán): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(景德镇陶瓷博物馆; jǐng dé zhèn táo cí bó wù guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(婺源文化与生态旅游区; wù yuán wén huà yǔ shēng tài lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AAA on China's national tourism scale.

(集安市五女峰国家级森林公园; qīng shān hú shěng jí fēng jǐng míng shèng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(集安市云峰湖旅游度假区; jí ān shì yún fēng hú lǚ yóu dù jià qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(抚州南丰紫霄观漂流风景区; fǔ zhōu nán fēng zǐ xiāo guān piāo liú fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(抚州汤显祖纪念馆; fǔ zhōu tāng xiǎn zǔ jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(上饶铅山葛仙山风景区; shàng ráo qiān shān gé xiān shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(吉安安福武功山温泉山庄; jí ān ān fú wǔ gōng shān wēn quán shān zhuāng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(吉安文天祥纪念馆; jí ān wén tiān xiáng jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(上饶大坳枫泽湖风景区; shàng ráo dà ào fēng zé hú fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(抚州汤显祖纪念馆; fǔ zhōu tāng xiǎn zǔ jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(抚州南丰紫霄观漂流风景区; fǔ zhōu nán fēng zǐ xiāo guān piāo liú fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(吉安文天祥纪念馆; jí ān wén tiān xiáng jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(南丰县潭湖旅游风景区; nán fēng xiàn tán;dǎn hú lǚ yóu fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(吉安安福武功山温泉山庄; jí ān ān fú wǔ gōng shān wēn quán shān zhuāng): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(吉安毛泽东祖籍游览苑; jí ān máo zé dōng zǔ jí yóu lǎn yuàn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(上饶铅山葛仙山风景区; shàng ráo qiān shān gé xiān shān fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(上饶大坳枫泽湖风景区; shàng ráo dà ào fēng zé hú fēng jǐng qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(吉安青原山风景旅游区; jí ān qīng yuán shān fēng jǐng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(萍乡义龙洞风景旅游区; píng xiāng yì lóng dòng fēng jǐng lǚ yóu qū): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(江西省国际体育健身运动中心; jiāng xī shěng;xǐng guó jì tǐ yù jiàn shēn yùn dòng zhōng xīn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

(莲花县一枝枪纪念馆; lián huā xiàn yī zhī qiāng jì niàn guǎn): This tourist attraction is rates as AA on China's national tourism scale.

History

Jiangxi is centered on the Gan River valley, which historically provided the main north-south transport route of south China. The corridor along the Gan River is one of the few easily traveled routes through the otherwise mountainous and rugged terrain of the south-eastern mountains. This open corridor was the primary route for trade and communication between the North China Plain and the Yangtze River valley in the north and the territory of modern Guangdong province in the south. As a result Jiangxi has been strategically important throughout much of China's history.

Jiangxi was outside the sphere of influence of early Chinese civilization during the Shang Dynasty (16th to 11th centuries BC). It is likely that peoples collectively known as the Yue inhabited the region. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the northern part of modern Jiangxi formed the western frontier of the state of Wu. After Wu was conquered by the state of Yue (a power based in modern northern Zhejiang) in 473 BC, the state of Chu (based in modern Hubei) took over northern Jiangxi and there may have been some Yue influence in the south. Chu subjugated Yue in 333 BC, and was in turn subjugated by the state of Qin in 221 BC. Qin established the Qin Dynasty in that same year, the first unified Chinese state.

The unification of China by the Qin Dynasty saw the incorporation of Jiangxi into the Qin empire. The Qin Dynasty established a two-tier administration system in China, with commanderies on top and counties below. Seven counties were established in what is now Jiangxi, all of them administered from Jiujiang commandery, located north of the Yangzi in modern Anhui, not the modern city of Jiujiang in Jiangxi. Qin colonisation formed the earliest settlement structure in Jiangxi and which for the most part, has survived to the present day.

Yuzhang commandery (豫章) was established in northern Jiangxi at the beginning of the Han Dynasty, possibly before the death of Xiang Yu in 202 BC. It was named after the Yuzhang River (豫章江), the original name of Gan River (贛江). "Gan" has become the abbreviation of the province. In 201, eight counties were added to the original seven of Qin, and three more were established in later years. Throughout most of the Han Dynasty the commandery's eighteen counties covered most of the modern province of Jiangxi. The county seats of Nanchang, Gan, Yudu, Luling among others were located at the sites of modern major cities. Other counties, however, have been moved or abolished in later centuries.

Under the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Yuzhang Commandery was assigned to Yangzhou Province, as part of a trend to establish provinces (zhou) all across China. In 291 AD, during the Western Jin Dynasty, Jiangxi became its own Zhou called Jiangzhou (江州). During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Jiangxi was under the control of the southern dynasties, and the number of zhou slowly grew.

During the Sui Dynasty, there were seven commanderies and twenty-four counties in Jiangxi. During the Tang Dynasty, another commandery and fourteen counties were added. Commanderies were then abolished, becoming zhou (henceforth translated as "prefectures" rather than "provinces").

Circuits were established during the Tang Dynasty as a new top-level administrative division. At first Jiangxi was part of the Jiangnan Circuit (lit. "Circuit south of the Yangtze"). In 733, this circuit was divided into western and eastern halves. Jiangxi was found in the western half, which was called Jiangnanxi Circuit (lit. "Western circuits south of the Yangtze"). This is the source of the modern name "Jiangxi".

The Tang Dynasty collapsed in 907, heralding the division of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Jiangxi first belonged to Wu (吳), then to Southern Tang (南唐). Both states were based in modern-day Nanjing, further down the Yangtze River.

During the Song Dynasty, Jiangnanxi Circuit was reestablished with nine prefectures and four army districts (with sixty-eight districts).

During the Yuan Dynasty, the circuit was divided into thirteen different circuits, and Jiangxi Province was established for the first time. This province also included the majority of modern Guangdong. Jiangxi acquired (more or less) its modern borders during the Ming Dynasty after Guangdong was separated out. There has been little change to the borders of Jiangxi since.

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Jiangxi became one of the earliest bases for the Communists and many peasants were recruited to join the growing people's revolution. The Nanchang Uprising took place in Jiangxi on August 1, 1927, during the Chinese Civil War. Later the Communist leadership hid in the mountains of southern and western Jiangxi, hiding from the Kuomindang's attempts to eradicate them. In 1931, the Chinese Soviet Republic's government was established in Ruijin (瑞金), which is sometimes called the "Former Red Capital" (红色故都), or just the "Red Capital". In 1935, after complete encirclement by the Nationalist forces, the Communists broke through and began the Long March to Yan'an. 

People and Culture

The population of Jiangxi is approximately 39.66 million. 99% of that is Han Chinese. Minorities include Hui and Zhuang. The Hakka, a Han Chinese people with their own distinctive identity, inhabit the southern parts of the province.

Jiangxi is the main area of concentration of the Gan varieties of Chinese, spoken over most of the northern two-thirds of the province. Examples include the Nanchang dialect, Yichun dialect and Ji'an dialect. The southern one-third of the province speaks Hakka. There are also Mandarin, Huizhou, and Wu dialects spoken along the northern border.

Ganju (Jiangxi opera) is the type of Chinese opera performed in Jiangxi.

Although little known outside of the province, Jiangxi cuisine is rich and distinctive. Flavors are some of the strongest in China, with heavy use of chile peppers and especially pickled and fermented products.

Jingdezhen is widely regarded as the producer of the best porcelain in China.

Jiangxi also was a historical center of Chan Buddhism.

Prominent examples of Hakka architecture can be found in Jiangxi.

Industry

Rice is the dominant crop in Jiangxi. Cash crops commonly grown include cotton and rapeseed.

Jiangxi is rich in mineral resources, leading the provinces of China in deposits of copper, tungsten, gold, silver, uranium, thorium, tantalum, niobium, among others. Noted centers of mining include Dexing (copper) and Dayu County (tungsten).

Jiangxi is a rather poor province when compared to its neighboring provinces. It is located in extreme proximity to some of the richest provinces of China (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian), which are sometimes blamed for taking away talent and capital from Jiangxi.

Jiangxi's nominal GDP for 2008 was 648 billion yuan (93.3 billion USD) and a per capita of 15,033 RMB (2,164 USD).

Geography

Mountains surround Jiangxi on three sides, with the Mufu Mountains, Jiuling Mountains, and Luoxiao Mountains on the west; Huaiyu Mountains and Wuyi Mountains on the east; and the Jiulian Mountains and Dayu Mountains in the south. The southern half of the province is hilly with ranges and valleys interspersed; while the northern half is flatter and lower in altitude. The highest point in Jiangxi is Mount Huanggang in the Wuyi Mountains, on the border with Fujian. It has an altitude of 2157 m.

The Gan River dominates the province, flowing through the entire length of the province from south to north. It enters Lake Poyang in the north, the largest freshwater lake of China; that lake in turn empties into the Yangtze River, which forms part of the northern border of Jiangxi. Important reservoirs include the Xiushui Tuolin Reservoir in the northwest of the province on the Xiushui River, and the Wan'an Reservoir in the upper section of the Gan.

Jiangxi's climate is subtropical. Average temperatures are about 3 to 9°C in January and 27 to 31°C in July. Annual precipitation is 1200 to 1900 mm.

Jiangxi is divided into eleven prefecture-level divisions, all prefecture-level cities:

Map # Name Hanzi Hanyu Pinyin Type
Map of Jiangxi province in China 1 Nanchang 南昌 Nánchāng Prefecture-level city
2 Fuzhou 抚州 Fǔzhōu Prefecture-level city
3 Ganzhou 赣州 Gànzhōu Prefecture-level city
4 Ji'an 吉安 Jí'ān Prefecture-level city
5 Jingdezhen 景德镇 Jǐngdézhèn Prefecture-level city
6 Jiujiang 九江 Jiǔjiāng Prefecture-level city
7 Pingxiang 萍乡 Píngxiāng Prefecture-level city
8 Shangrao 上饶 Shàngráo Prefecture-level city
9 Xinyu 新余 Xīnyú Prefecture-level city
10 Yichun 宜春 Yíchūn Prefecture-level city
11 Yingtan 鹰潭 Yīngtán Prefecture-level city

The mountainous terrain and large forest coverage of Jiangxi has made it historically one of the more wild places of central China. South China Tigers have been seen as recently as fifteen or twenty years ago and projects are underway to document evidence of existing tigers, if there are any. Several mountain areas along the northern border with Hunan and Hubei are potential sites for "wilderness" preserves specifically for protecting or even reintroducing tigers.

Other wildlife, though not plentiful, are more numerous in Jiangxi than in many other developed areas of China. Numerous species of birds are common, especially around the marshes of Lake Poyang in the north. Though protected, mammals such as muntjak, wild boar, civet cats, and pangolins, are still common enough that they'll even occasionally be seen in markets for sale as game meat, or possibly even in a forest.

The late Paleocene mesonychid, Jiangxia chaotoensis was found in the province, and named after it.

News About Jiangxi

Baosteel acquires 51 percent stake in Shaoguan Steel Group
Beijing-based China Minmetals Co. has acquired an additional 35 percent stake in its Jiangxi Province-based subsidiary China Minmetals Rare Earth Co., as reported by China Business News. China Minmetals Rare Earth Co. is the core rare earth production ... »

China's Stocks Decline Most in Three Weeks on Concern Slowdown Will Worsen
Jiangxi Copper Co. slumped 1.6 percent as metal prices fell on concerns about receding demand from China. “The market is pessimistic about China's growth,” said Wang Zheng, Shanghai-based chief investment officer at Jingxi Investment Management Co., ... »

China's Stocks Decline Most in Eight Weeks on Concern Slowdown Will Worsen
Jiangxi Copper Co. retreated 2.7 percent, leading declines for commodity stocks, as metal prices dropped and the government said industrial production is likely to slow. SAIC Motor Corp., the biggest Chinese automaker, slid 1.3 percent after sales ... »

China's Stocks Decline Most in Eight Weeks on Concern Slowdown Will Worsen
Jiangxi Copper Co. retreated 2.4 percent, leading declines for commodity stocks, as metal prices dropped and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said industrial production is likely to slow. SAIC Motor Corp., the biggest Chinese ... »

Death verdict on 'miracle' official
Tang Chengqi, former vice mayor of Jiangxi Province's capital city of Nanchang, pictured in court last August. Tang has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve. A ONCE rising bureaucrat, praised for his contributions to an "economic miracle" ... »EastDay.com

China's Stocks Decline from 2-Month High on Concern Slowdown Will Worsen
Jiangxi Copper Co. led declines for commodity producers as Greece struggled to reach a deal with its international creditors. “China is seeking steady growth this year, not high growth,” said Wei Wei, an analyst at West China Securities Co. in Shanghai ... »

Death verdict on 'miracle' official
By Li Xinran | 2012-2-7 | NEWSPAPER EDITION Tang Chengqi, former vice mayor of Jiangxi Province's capital city of Nanchang, pictured in court last August. Tang has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve. A ONCE rising bureaucrat, ... »

Tips to Anti-friction Material Development
Once Jiangxi Yadong Cement Company Limited chose hammer from other manufacturers, but it always malfunctioned and was easily wear and tear; later the company was introduced to the massive crusher hammer produced by Henan Hongxing Mining Machinery Co. »

Environment: All Dried Up: China's Largest Freshwater Lake
Environment – If you're deciding to take a relaxing trip to Poyang Lake in the Jiangxi Province in China, well you might be out of luck. Poyang, China's largest freshwater lake, which normally stretches over 3500 square km (1351 square miles), ... »

Lu Xinshe elected governor of Jiangxi province
NANCHANG - Lu Xinshe was elected governor of East China's Jiangxi province at the local parliamentary session on Sunday. The decision was made at the fifth session of the 11th Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress, the local legislative body. »

China Alters Controversial Poyang Dam Plan
But officials with the eastern province of Jiangxi, where Poyang, China's largest freshwater lake, is located, said they would still search for other water control facilities to halt water levels of Poyang declining, as the lake is a key water supply ... »

Changan attempts to appease Changhe, as Changan Mazda's production fate is ...
comFebruary 03, 2012 Gasgoo.com (Shanghai February 3) - In order to patch up the recent rift with Changhe Automobile, Changan has promised to increase funding for the Jiangxi-based manufacturer and help it introduce more models, the Beijing Times ... »

China Stocks Drop, Head for Weekly Decline, After Services Growth Slows
Jiangxi Copper Co. (600362) dropped 1.1 percent after copper fell in New York amid signs that demand may ease in China. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China paced a retreat for lenders as the Hong Kong Economic Journal reported Goldman Sachs Group ... »

On high ground
For fans of these works of art who also want to experience the beauty of nature for themselves, East China's Jiangxi province offers a range of mountains, rivers and waterways that bring an important part of the Chinese aesthetic to life. »China Daily

Thursday in the Grain Markets
From what I am hearing a lingering drought has caused a severe water shortage in East China's Jiangxi Province, affecting the lives of over one million people, and leaving China's largest fresh-water lake bone dry. The fact of the matter is rainfall ... »AgWeb (blog)

Consul General visit to build trade links with South China
Alastair Morgan covers the South China regions of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi and his visit follows a trade mission last autumn by Liverpool Cllr Nick Small and Mike Taylor, deputy chief executive of regeneration agency Liverpool ... »

China's gold output ranks 1st in world for 5 consecutive years
The largest gold output province is Shandong, followed by Henan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Inner Mongolia. The gold output in the five above-mentioned provinces accounts for 59.9 percent of the country's total. China's gold output was only 4 tons in 1949 and ... »

Angry Protestors Storm Police Station in China's Jiangxi Province
In China's Jiangxi Province, more than five thousand people flocked to the Qiaotou Township police station, blocking the highway in their protest. The crowd of angry protestors overturned two police cars. The thousands were there to protest what they ... »

China Gold Output Up 5.9% In 2011
Shandong, Henan, Jiangxi, Fujian and Inner Mongolia contributed 59.0 percent of the total output. The 10 largest gold producers, such as China National Gold Group Corporation, Zijin Mining (601899,2899.HK) and Shandong Gold Mining (600547) produced ... »

Updated