"Kiangsi" (Nanchang). Nieuhof:L'ambassade de la Compagnie Orientale des Provinces Unies vers l'Empereur de la Chine, 1665
Nanchang[a] is the capital ofJiangxi, China. Located in the north-central part of the province and in the hinterland ofPoyang Lake Plain, it is bounded on the west by theJiuling Mountains, and on the east byPoyang Lake. Because of its strategic location connecting the prosperousEast andSouth China, it has become a major railway hub in Southern China in recent decades.
As theNanchang Uprising in 1927 is distinctively recognized by the rulingCommunist Party as "firing the first gunshot against theNationalists",[4] the current government has therefore named the city since 1949 "the place where thePeople's Liberation Army was born", and the most widely known "place where the military banner of the People's Liberation Army was first raised".
The territories encompassing modern-day Jiangxi Province—including Nanchang—was first incorporated into China during theQin dynasty, when it was conquered from theBaiyue peoples and organized as Jiujiang Commandery (Chinese:九江郡).[6] In 201 BC, during theHan dynasty, the city was given the Chinese name Nanchang and became the administrative seat of Yuzhang Commandery (豫章郡), and was governed byGuan Ying, one ofEmperor Gaozu of Han's generals.[6] The name Nanchang means "southern flourishing", derived from a motto of developing what is now southern China that is traditionally attributed to Emperor Gaozu himself.[6]
In AD 589, during theSui dynasty, thiscommandery was changed into a prefecture named Hongzhou (洪州), and after 763 it became the provincial center ofJiangxi, which was then beginning the rapid growth that by the 12th century made it the most populousprovince in China.
In 653 theTengwang Pavilion was constructed, and in 675Wang Bo wrote the classic "Tengwang Ge Xu", a poetic introductory masterpiece celebrating the building, making the building, the city, and the author himself known to literate Chinese-speaking population ever since.[7] The Pavilion has been destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout history.[8] Its present form was reconstructed in the 1980s after being destroyed in 1929 during theChinese Civil War.[9]
In 959, under theSouthern Tang regime, Nanchang was made superior prefecture and the southern capital. After the conquest by theSong regime in 981 it was reverted to the name Hongzhou. In 1164 it was renamed Longxing prefecture, which name it retained until 1368. During the Yuan dynasty it was the capital ofJiangxi Province, an area that includedGuangdong as well. At the end of theYuan (Mongol) period (1279–1368), it became a battleground betweenZhu Yuanzhang, the founder of theMing dynasty (1368–1644), and the rival local warlord,Chen Youliang. At the beginning of the 16th century it was the power base from whichZhu Chenhao, the Prince of Ning, launched a rebellion againstthe emperor.
During theYuan Dynasty, it might have been the centre of porcelain trade.[10]
During the reign of theWanli Emperor of theMing dynasty, it housed relatives of the emperor who had been exiled because they were potential claimants of the imperial throne, members of the imperial family constituting about one quarter of the city's population; as a result of this,Matteo Ricci came here when trying to gain entry to Beijing.[11]
In the 1850s it suffered considerably as a result of theTaiping Rebellion (1850–64), and its importance as a commercial centre declined as the overland routes toCanton were replaced by coastalsteamship services in the latter half of the 19th century. Nanchang has, however, remained the undisputed regional metropolis of Jiangxi.
On August 1, 1927, Nanchang was the site of one of a series of insurrections organized by thecommunists. TheNanchang Uprising, led by pro-communistKuomintang officers underSoviet direction, succeeded in holding the city for only a few days, and provided a core of troops and a method of organization from which thePeople's Liberation Army (PLA) later developed.
By 1949, Nanchang was still essentially an old-style administrative and commercial city, with little industry apart fromfood processing; it had a population of about 275,000. Nanchang first acquired arail connection in 1915, only connecting to the port city ofJiujiang by the Yangtze. Several other rail links have since been opened. AfterWorld War II a line was completed toLinchuan andGongqi in theRu River Valley to the south-southeast.
Since 1949, Nanchang has been extensively industrialized. It is now a large-scale producer ofcottontextiles andcotton yarn.Paper making is also a major industry, as is food processing (especially ricemilling).Heavy industry began to gain prominence in the mid-1950s. A large thermal-power plant was installed and usescoal brought by rail fromFengcheng to the south. Amachinery industry also grew up, at first mainly concentrating on the production ofagricultural equipment anddiesel engines. Nanchang then became a minor centre of theautomotive industry in China, producing trucks and tractors and also accessories such as tires. An iron-smelting plant helping to supply local industry was installed in the later 1950s. There is also a largechemical industry, producing agricultural chemicals and insecticides as well as pharmaceuticals.
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Nanchang Satellite imagery 2005
Nanchang is located in inland southeastern China, 130 km (81 mi) south of theYangtze River and is situated on the right bank of theGan River just below its confluence with the Jin River and some 40 km (25 mi) southwest of its discharge intoPoyang Lake.
Nanchang has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa) with fourdistinct seasons. Winters are short and cool with occasional frosts; it begins somewhat sunny and dry but becomes progressively wetter and more overcast. Spring begins especially gloomy, and from April to June, each month has more than 220 mm (8.7 in) of rainfall. Summer is long and humid, with amongst the highest temperatures of any Chinese provincial capital, and with the sun shining close to 60 percent of the time in July and August, is the sunniest time of year. Autumn is warm to mild with the lowest rainfall levels of the year. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) in January to 29.6 °C (85.3 °F) in July, while the annual mean is 18.5 °C (65.3 °F). Annual precipitation stands at around 1,704 mm (67 in); with monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 27 percent in March to 56 percent in August, the city receives 1,809 hours of sunshine annually in average. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from −9.7 °C (15 °F) on 29 December 1991 to 40.6 °C (105 °F) on 23 July 1961.[15]
Climate data for Nanchang, elevation 47 m (154 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
Source: China Meteorological Administration[16][17][18]
As of the2020 Chinese census, Nanchang had a population of 6,255,007, of which 5,382,162 lived in built-up (urbanized) area consisting of 6 urban districts plus Nanchang County largely being urbanized.[19] 37 ethnic groups were counted amongst its prefecture divisions while 99.2% areHan chinese. The sex ratio in Nanchang is approximately 109 males to 100 females. The aged group (above 60) counts for 14.97% of the entire population.[20]
Nanchang is a regional hub for agricultural production inJiangxi province with its grain yield being 16.146 million tons in 2000. Products such as rice and oranges are economic staples. TheFord Motor Company has a plant in Nanchang, assembling theFord Transit van as part of theJiangling Motorjoint venture.[25] Much of its industry revolves around aircraft manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, metallurgy, electro-mechanics, textile, chemical engineering,traditional Chinese medicine,pharmaceuticals and others.[26] Nanchang has a rapid economic development and ranks 15th among the fastest growing 20 cities in the world. It is one of the cities with the most potential for development in China and the world in the future.
In 2017, the city's gross regional product (GDP) was 500.319 billionyuan (US$80.03 billion), an increase of 9.0% over the previous year. The primary industry's added value was 19.213 billion yuan, an increase of 4.0%; the secondary industry's added value was 266.61 billion yuan, an increase of 8.4%; The added value of the three industries was 214.496 billion yuan, an increase of 10.2%. The per capita GDP of 81,598 yuan was converted to 12,285 US dollars according to the average annual exchange rate, and the total fiscal revenue for the year was 78.282 billion yuan, an increase of 14.3% over the previous year.
Nanchang Greenland Center Square in Honggutan
The GDP of Nanchang in 2008 was 166 billion Yuan (US$24.3 billion). The GDP per capita was 36,105 Yuan (US$5,285). The total value of imports and exports was 3.4 billion US dollars.The total financial revenue was 23 billion Yuan.[27]
Nanchang National Export Expressing Zone is located in Nanchang Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, it was approved by the State Council on May 8, 2006, and passed the national acceptance inspection on Sep 7th, 2007. It has a planning area of 1 km2 and now has built 0.31 km2. It enjoys simple and convenient customs clearances, and special preferential policies both for Nanchang National Export Expressing Zone and NCHDZ.[29]
Nanchang National High-tech Industrial Development Zone
Nanchang National High-tech Industrial Development Zone (NCHDZ for short hereafter) is the only national grade high-tech zoned in Jiangxi, it was established in Mar. 1991. The zone covers an area of 231 km2 (89 sq mi), in which 32 km2 (12 sq mi) have been completed. NCHDZ possesses unique nature condition and sound industry foundation of accepting electronics industry. NCHDZ has brought 25 percent industrial added value and 50 percent industrial benefit and tax to Nanchang city by using only 0.4 percent land area.[30]
Nanchang Economic and Technological Development Zone[31]
Nanchang has an advantageous geographic location and convenient transportation. It is praised as the “three rivers and five lakes, and the control of the finer and better lakes”.[citation needed] It relies on high-speed railways and aviation hubs to connect three important economic circles (Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Inter-provincial traffic corridors in Haixi District). Nanchang is one of the country's comprehensive transportation hubs and one of the most important integrated transportation hubs in Jiangxi.
Nanchang Changbei International Airport (KHN) built in 1996 is the main international airport. It is situated in Lehua Town, 26 kilometres north of the CDB area. Changbei International Airport is the only one in Jiangxi Province which has an international air route. The airport is connected to major mainland cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Haikou, Shanghai and Beijing.[32] There is a military/civilian airport near Liantang, Nanchang County.
Nanchang Changbei International Airport is the largest airport in Jiangxi Province. In 2014, Nanchang Changbei Airport opened up to 10 international destinations. The airport handled 7.25 million passengers in 2014, an increase of 6.3%. Among them, the Nanchang aviation port exceeded 280,000 passengers, an increase of nearly 40%, becoming the airport's traffic volume. The important force of growth, and will continue to maintain rapid development. On December 6, 2017, the annual passenger throughput of Nanchang Airport exceeded 10 million passengers, making it the nation's 31st “million-grade airport”. In 2017, passenger throughput reached 10.93 million, a year-on-year increase of 39.0%, a net increase of passenger throughput of 3.07 million passengers; flights took off and 89,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 35.2%; and cargo and mail throughput of 52,000 tons, an increase of 3.3%. In order to cooperate with the construction of the Beijing-Kowloon high-speed railway and Nanchang North Station airport complex transportation hub, large-scale expansion and upgrades are being carried out recently.
The road transport infrastructure in Nanchang is extensive. A number of national highways cross through the city. They are the National roads No.105 from Beijing to Zhuhai, No.320 from Shanghai to Kunming, and No.316 from Fuzhou to Lanzhou. The major transport companies that operate in Nanchang are the Chang'an Transport Company Limited, the Nanchang Long-distance Bus Station, and the Xufang Bus Station. National Highway G70 crosses through Nanchang. Nanchang also built its round-city highway G70_01 opening in 2007.
The Nanchang Long-distance Bus Station serves long-distance routes to Nanjing, Shenzhen, Hefei and other cities outside Jiangxi Province. The Xufang Bus Station operates routes to cities, towns and counties within Jiangxi Province.[32]
Nanchang Rail Transit is the first rail transportation system in Jiangxi Province, and has been in service since 26 December 2015. Nanchang is the 25th city in mainland China to install a metro. The planning of Nanchang rail transit project started in 1999 and was officially started in 2009. The first phase of the No. 1 and No. 2 lines was 50,996 kilometers (the first line is the underground line). Line 1 was officially opened and operated at the end of 2015, and Line 2 of the “First Section” began trial operation on August 19, 2017.
Nanchang is situated on the Gan River, the Fu River, Elephant Lake, Qingshan Lake, and Aixi Lake. Hence the water routes for Nanchang are critically important for the economy, trade and shipping. Nanchang Port is the biggest port on the Gan River. Passengers can take Nanchang Port and travel by boat to the Jinggang Shan and Tengwang Pavilion. There are passenger ships that also visit Poyang Lake, Stone Bell Hill, Poyang Lake Bird Protection Area, Dagu Hill and other attractions.
Bayi Square and Memorial, at the center of Nanchang, commemorates the founding of thePeople's Liberation Army during theNanchang Uprising of 1 August (Ba Yi in Mandarin) in 1927, which led to the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
^Nanchang's total permanent population at the end of 2023 is 6.5682 million, and at the end of 2024 it is 6.6704 million"zh:2024年南昌市常住人口增加10.22万人" (Press release). Nanchang.gov. February 22, 2025. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2025. Based on this, the mid-year population of Nanchang in 2024 is 6.6193 million. Nanchang's GDP in 2024 is CN¥ 780.037 billion, or US$109.530 billion (average annual exchange rate in 2024 is 1 US dollar to RMB 7.1217)"zh:2024年南昌市经济运行情况" (Press release). nanchang.gov.cn. January 23, 2025. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2025.. Based on this, Nanchang's GDP per capita in 2024 based on the mid-year population is CN¥117,843 (US$16,547).
^Mary Laven, Mission to China: Matteo Ricci and the Jesuit Encounter with the East,ISBN0-571-22517-9, 2011, p. 103
^Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai,History of the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), 2nd Ed., 1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung, Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China. pp. 293-300 Map. 14-15
^Peattie, M., Drea, E. & Ven, H. (2011).The battle for China : essays on the military history of the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press.
^Guy, Nancy (Winter 2002). ""Republic of China National Anthem" on Taiwan: One Anthem, One Performance, Multiple Realities".Ethnomusicology.6 (1):96–119.doi:10.2307/852809.JSTOR852809.
^"WTA".Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved2018-10-03.
Wang, Qiaolin (王巧林 (1996).江南名胜 滕王阁 [Jiangnan Famous Site: The Pavilion of Prince Teng]. Baihuazhou Literary Press (百花洲文艺出版社.ISBN7-80579-797-8.; 247 pages
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