Jiangsu (江苏), abbreviated as “Su” (苏), derives its name from the first Chinese characters of two ancient prefectures—Jiangning (江宁) and Suzhou (苏州). Located in the central coastal region of China, Jiangsu lies in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River. It borders the Yellow Sea to the east, Shandong Province to the north, Anhui Province to the west, and Shanghai City and Zhejiang Province to the southeast. The Yangtze River traverses the province from west to east, while the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (hereinafter referred to as the “Grand Canal”) runs north to south across the province. Jiangsu features a landscape of mountains, plains, rivers, and lakes, with a mild climate, fertile soil, and abundant resources, earning it the reputation of “a land of fish and rice”.
Archaeological findings, such as the Homo erectus fossils discovered in Tangshan, Nanjing in 1993, indicate human activity here as early as 350,000 years ago. The 8,000-year-old Sihong Shunshanji Site predates previous archaeological evidence, extending the timeline of ancient civilization in Jiangsu by 1,500 years. The rice fields of the Majiabang Culture found at the Caoxie Mountain Site represent the earliest known rice fields equipped with irrigation systems in China. The carbonized textile fragments discovered in the cultural layers of this site are the oldest known textile artifacts in China.
During the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), Taibo and Zhongyong, brothers of the royal family, migrated to Meili south of the Yangtze River, and established the State of Wu. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), the Wu State’s bronze smelting and forging techniques gained profound fame. During the late Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), Xiang Yu and Liu Bang led a rebellion against the Qin. After Liu Bang unified the country and founded the Han Dynasty (202 BC - AD 220), his nephew Liu Bi was enfeoffed as King of Wu, with his capital in Guangling (present-day Yangzhou). The Eastern Wu (AD 222-280), the Eastern Jin (AD 317-420), and Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen of the Southern Dynasties (AD 420-589) successively established their capitals in present-day Nanjing, making Jiangsu the political, economic, and cultural hub of southern China.
During the Sui (AD 581-618) and Tang (AD 618-907) dynasties, the excavation of the Grand Canal led to the prosperity of many cities and towns in Jiangsu. Yangzhou became a critical hub for national transport, economy, and culture, earning the title “Yang Yi Yi Er” (扬一益二), meaning Yangzhou ranked first and Yizhou (present-day Chengdu) second. After the Anshi Rebellion (AD 755-763) in the Tang Dynasty, the economic center of China shifted southward, and the Jianghuai region (the Yangtze River-Huaihe River basin) became the mainstay of national governance. During the Northern Song (AD 960-1127) and Southern Song (AD 1127-1279) dynasties, Jiangsu became a major grain-producing region. In the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1271-1368), the Taihu Lake area became the national center for cotton cultivation and textile production. In the early Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644), Yingtianfu (present-day Nanjing) was designated as the capital, re-establishing its role as the national political and cultural center. During the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644-1912), Suzhou City and Nanjing City in Jiangsu Province as well as Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province were renowned as the three major silk textile centers. Jiangsu’s grain and salt production ranked first nationwide, with Yangzhou serving as the hub for Huai salt distribution and Wuxi as one of China’s four major grain markets.
In modern times, Jiangsu witnessed the development of defense industry enterprises such as the Suzhou Arsenal and the Jinling Manufacturing Bureau, as the Self-Strengthening Movement gained traction. Concurrently, the province gave rise to national industrial groups including the Nantong Dasheng Group, the Wuxi-based Rong family enterprises, as well as influential industrial magnates such as Zhang Jian and the Rong brothers. In 1912, Dr. Sun Yat-sen was inaugurated as the provisional president of the Republic of China (AD 1912-1949) in Nanjing. In 1927, the Nationalist Government established its capital in Nanjing. During the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (AD 1931-1945) and the War of Liberation (AD 1946-1950), the people of Jiangsu made significant contributions to national independence and the people’s liberation. On April 23, 1949, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army liberated Nanjing, marking a decisive victory in the Chinese revolution.
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Jiangsu has achieved remarkable progress in economic and social development, establishing a relatively complete industrial system and national economic system. During the period of Socialist Revolution and Construction (AD 1949-1978), Jiangsu spearheaded a number of “firsts” in the history of New China, including the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, the Jiangdu Water Conservancy Project, and the General Irrigation Canal in North Jiangsu. In the new period of Reform and Opening Up when China endeavored to pursue socialist modernization (AD 1978-2012), Jiangsu completed its historic transformation from an agricultural province relying on the domestic market to an industrial powerhouse driven by international trade and investment. The “Sunan Model”, a development pathway, provided valuable experience for national reform and development. Since entering the new era of pursuing socialism with Chinese characteristics in 2012, Jiangsu embarked on a new journey of advancing modernization after completing, on schedule, the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects to high standards.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, President Xi Jinping has visited Jiangsu many times for inspections and participated in the deliberations of the Jiangsu delegation at the National People’s Congress sessions five times. He delivered important speeches and gave significant instructions to steer Jiangsu’s work, affording underlying principles and strong impetus to Jiangsu on its new journey ahead in the new era. At the moment, bearing in mind his instructions, Jiangsu Province is forging ahead in gratitude, remaining committed to turning the blueprint into reality by serving as a responsible major provincial economy to make greater contributions to overall national development. Jiangsu will continue to act as a national pacesetter in pursuing high-quality development and advancing Chinese modernization, striving to write a new chapter in building a new Jiangsu that is prosperous, beautiful, and culturally advanced.
In 2025, the province’s GDP reached 14.23515 trillion yuan, growing by 5.3% year-on-year. The per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents stood at 68,956 yuan and 34,147 yuan, respectively, with the urban-rural income gap narrowing to 2.02:1. Significant progress was made in ecological preservation and environmental protection, making “Beautiful Jiangsu” tangible, perceptible, and enjoyable. Jiangsu’s social civility index remained above 90 points (indicating advanced levels in public governance, citizen ethics, and sustainable development).
Jiangsu is known for its rich cultural tapestry woven through history by splendid Chu-Han culture, Wu culture, Jinling culture and Huaiyang culture, presenting a fine combination of cultural distinctions in both southern and northern regions across the country. Many a luminary from Jiangsu holds significant places in the history of Chinese culture: Yan Yan, Confucius’s sole disciple from the south, crowned as the “grand master of cultural enlightenment in Jiangnan (regions south of the Yangtze River)”; Mei Cheng, the creator of Han Fu (a genre of rhythmic prose prevailing in the Han Dynasty); Gu Kaizhi, the “greatest painter” of the Eastern Jin Dynasty; and Zhang Xu, the “saint of cursive-script calligraphy” of the Tang Dynasty. Jiangsu is also home to a myriad of cultural treasures and historical heritage items well known both domestically and internationally: the “Three Greats”—Han tombs, Han terracotta warriors, and Han portrait stone carvings; three of the Four Great Classics of Chinese literature—Outlaws of the Marsh, Journey to the West and A Dream of Red Mansions; the most representative folk music “Jiangnan string and pipe ensemble”; the Kunqu opera, revered as the mother of Chinese operas; the Suzhou Xiangshan school of traditional architecture; Nanjing Yunjin brocade, Yangzhou lacquerware, Yixing purple clay pottery and many other craftsmanship inherited from previous generations.
