Located on the eastern coast of China, Jiangsu has been a region of vital importance for centuries and remains so today. As China’s second-richest province, Jiangsu seamlessly blends economic prosperity with cultural depth and historical significance.
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, a significant juncture where we take stock of the past and look into the future. People-to-people friendship holds the key to sound state-to-state relations,” said H.E. Cai Run, Ambassador of the Mission of China to the EU, during the week-long celebration of Jiangsu Province in Brussels.
As part of this milestone celebration, the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government and the Jiangsu International Culture Association took centre stage in Brussels, sharing the province’s rich heritage with European audiences.
We spoke with Xu Ying, President of the Jiangsu International Culture Association, who guided us through the water-rich landscapes of Jiangsu, providing plenty of reasons to explore this remarkable province and its many treasures.
1. Nanjing
Jiangsu’s capital Nanjing was founded in 495 BC and is also known as China’s capital of the South. The city has played an important role in the country’s history throughout the centuries, especially when it was named the capital of the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century.
Although nowadays, Jiangsu counts approximately eight million inhabitants and has become a modern city in its own, many historical remnants can still be seen and visited. From the ancient City Wall to the Jiming Temple and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum: no matter what period you’re interested in, you will be able to find a monument to your liking.
2. Chaotian Palace
Those who wish to get an overview of the province’s cultural richness in one place, can pay a visit to the Chaotian Palace, once an imperial palace during the Ming Dynasty and now known as the Nanjing Municipal Museum. More than 100,000 relics tell the story of the Jiangsu province in a building worth visiting for its architectural features alone.
3. Water Towns
As Jiangsu is located within the Yangtze River delta region, water has played an important role in the province since its earliest days. The so-called water towns, including Zhouzhuang, Tongli, and Xitang, are silent witnesses of that particular heritage.
Xitang is thought to date back to the Spring and Autumn period, ranging from 770 BC to 476 BC. The town is crossed by no less than nine rivers and due to its fine cityscape, it has frequently been depicted in Chinese landscape painting. One of the town’s most well-known highlights is the Zui Garden, with origins going back to the Ming Dynasty.
In Tongli, too, water is all around as the town is fed by five adjacent lakes. Here, canals replace roads, and the so-called trio of Taiping, Jili, and Changqing bridges shouldn’t be missed while visiting.
Last but not least, the lotus-leaf-shaped town of Zhouzhuang is well-worth mentioning. The town is also known as ‘the Land of Rivers and Lakes’ and just like in the other water towns, every bend in the water reveals yet another picture-perfect view over the many bridges and historical homes, such as Shen’s House.
4. Wuxi Opera
The Wuxi Opera genre, also known as, is a genre of opera that originated in the southern region of the Yangtze River Delta. Its golden age happened in the middle of the twentieth century but even today, there are some 10 Wuxi opera troupes in Jiangsu. The simple yet humanistic genre centers around everyday life stories of rural areas, while male actors characteristically play both men and women.
5. Culinary excellency
“Food is a shining pearl in Jiangsu culture. Our local huaiyang cuisine, one of the four major cuisines in China, is well-known for its fresh and elegant taste, exquisite culinary skills, and accentuation on the original flavour of food. Huai’an and Yangzhou, the two cities that this cuisine was named after, are worthy winners of UNESCO’s World Cities of Gastronomy, an honour bestowed upon just five cities in China,” said … on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and EU in Brussels.
The local cuisine, known as haying cuisine, abundantly used fish, waterfowl, and water-loving plants, to create fresh dishes that combine salt and sweet. The best example of that might be the ongshu guiyu (Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish), an exquisite dish for those wanting to get a literal taste of the region.
6. Suzhou embroidery
Suzhou embroidery originated in and around the city ion Suzhou, one of the oldest cities within the Yangtze River delta, playing an important role in the silk trade. The embroidery technique is considered to be one of the oldest in the world, with a history dating back over 2,000 years.
As part of one of the ‘four great embroideries of China’, Suzhou embroidery shows portraits of characters and landscapes alike. The centuries-old art was used to embellish both costumes and objects around the home, using a very specific set of tools and technique. The Suzhou embroidery is part of the intangible cultural heritage of China and selection of masterworks can be seen at the Chinese embroidery art museum in Suzhou.
7. Economical prosperity
As the national second in terms of aggregate GDP and the national top in terms of per capita GDP, the Jiangsu province is a symbol of modern economical prosperity in China. The region therefore boasts a lot of modern infrastructure and architecture, living side by side with traces of its historical past. Some of those historical remnants stay active until today, such as the province’s silk industry, which still plays an important role in the local economy.
8. Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Classical Gardens of Suzhou have a long and rich history, dating back to the Northern Song Dynasty in the 11th century. Many of the key features of classical Chinese garden design were created at these locations, proving their importance until today. In total, there are nine different gardens spread throughout the city, developed by designers such as Zhang Liang, Ji Cheng, Ge Yuliang, and Chen Congzhou.
9. Xiao Mausoleum
Located at the foot of Purple Mountain near Nanjing, the Xiao Mausoleum is the mausoleum of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming dynasty. Its construction began in 1381 and ended in 1405, with no less than 100,000 workers helping to build the site, which originally included a 22.5 kilometer-long wall.
While visiting the monument, one can admire a great number of features, including the Great Golden Gates, the 1800 meter-long Sacred Way, and the Lingxing Gate. It is inscribed by UNESCO on the list of World Heritage Sites, along with the mausolea near Beijing.s
10. The Grand Canal
The Grand Canal was once built during the Sui Dynasty, from 581 to 618 AD, to promote the economic development in the Yangtze Delta-region. The Canal, measuring over 1,000 kilometres in length, connected the region with Beijing and was used to transport goods throughout the country.
While some parts of the Canal are no longer operational nor visible, others can be visited, such as the one in Suzhou at the Baodai Bridge.
