Jingjiang

Jingjiang (Chinese: 靖江; pinyin: Jìngjiāng) is a county-level city in China's Jiangsu province. It is located on the northern bank of the Yangtze river. Originally belonging to the Yangzhou Prefecture-level city, Jingjiang was transferred to the Taizhou Prefecture-level city in 1996. The area of Jingjiang is 673 square kilometres and the population is 660,000.

Geography

As most of central Jiangsu, Jingjiang is situated on the Yangtze River's alluvial plain. About the only non-flat topographic feature is the appropriately named Lonely Hill, or Gushan, located near Gushan Town some 5-6 km northeast of Jingjiang's central city.

Transportation

Jiangyin Suspension Bridge, the most seaward bridge in China to cross the Yangtze River and the seventh-longest span suspension bridge in the world, connects the cities of Jiangyin of southern Jiangsu province and Jingjiang of northern Jiangsu province. The city is part of the Yangtze River Delta region. There are some major state roads crossing the city including Beijing-Shanghai expressway, Shanghai-Nanjing expressway and it is one of those very few cities in the lower reaches of Yangtze River which have the combination of transportation of road, railroad and water. It takes within two hours' drive to both Nanjing Lukou International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Economy

By taking advantage of the geographical situation as a pivotal transport hub abutting the Yangtze River and neighboring Suzhou, Changzhou, and Wuxi in the Eastern Chinese Jiangsu province, Jingjiang has achieved an economic boom since China's economic reform in 1978. It was ranked in the “National Top 100 County (City) in Comprehensive Strength” and as the “Most Worthy City for Investment in Yangtze Delta”.

Traditionally, the city has been noted for its core manufacturing industries in electronics, auto parts, biochemicals, textiles and machinery. Emerging industries include shipbuilding and logistics (transport).

The city has 52.3 kilometers of superior deep water shoreline of Yangtze River which could meet the need of constructing 50 docks of the ten-thousand-ton class. The city is noted for its "State Class-1 Open Port" Jingjiang Port and as a regional logistics center in Yangtze River Delta region.

The city has been officially titled “Ship Export Base of Jiangsu Province” for the potency of shipbuilding. Seven major local shipyards, including one of China’s largest private shipyards New Century Shipyard and its subsidiary New Time Shipyard; New Yangtze Shipyard, which went public in Singapore in 2007 and it was the first ever china’s private shipyard listed on overseas stock exchange; Jiangsu Eastern Shipyard, which was the second China’s private shipbuilding company successfully listed on overseas stock exchange, following the footstep of New Yangtze Shipyard. And approximately 60 supporting enterprises have been forming Jingjiang shipbuilding industry chain. The shipbuilding industry boosts the development of supporting enterprises.

Administrative divisions

The city consists of eight towns and one sub-district:

• Jingcheng (靖城街道)
• Xinqiao (新桥镇)
• Dongxing (东兴镇)
• Xieqiao (斜桥镇)
• Xilai (西来镇)
• Jishi (季市镇)
• Gushan (孤山镇)
• Shengci (生祠镇)
• Maqiao (马桥镇)

In addition the city has a provincial level economic development zone (Jingjiang Economic Development Zone).

Food

The city mainly features Jiangsu cuisine and has established a reputation for its delicious food nationwide. It is also noted for its numerous award winning pork jerky, dried pork slices and steamed soup dumplings filled with crab juices.

Notable people

• Henry Liu
• Tao Siju
• Song Zude

External links

• 中国靖江网