Location:
Jiangsu province is located in the downstream area of the Yangtze River in the center of the eastern coastal area of the Chinese Continent. It is bordered by Anhui Provincein the west, Shandong in the north, and Shanghai and Zhejiang in the south.

Provincial Capital:
Nanjing City

Population:
74,380,000 people (2001)

Area:
102,600km2

Administration System:
The provinces have jurisdiction over cities while cities have jurisdiction over towns.
Municipalities : 13
(Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Nantong, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Lianyungang, Yancheng, Xuzhou, Huaiyin, Taizhou, Suqian)

Topography:
The southeastern and northern parts are surrounded by mountains, and a vast plain spreads across the center of the prefecture. Several large bodies of water cover the area. There are Yantze River, Da Canal, and many fresh water lakes, therefore, especially, the southern region is called the biggest lake district in China.

History:
Nanjing City, the Capital of Jiangsu province, has enjoyed a 2,400-year history of prosperity since the Warring States period, and it has been the capital of China during eight dynasties. The Taiping Rebellion, a modern peasant revolution, was centered in Nanjing. Also, the Republic of China, constructed by Sun Yat-sen, placed its capital here. It was liberated in 1949, and it has been the capital of Jiangsu province since then.
There are many other historical cities in this province such as Suzhou, the capital of Wu in Chun-Chiu (Spring and Autumn) period and Xuzhou, where many relics of Ante-Han period remain today.

Industries:
This district is known for its exceptionally high agricultural productivity among various regions of the Chinese Continent. Not only its mild climate and abundant precipitation, but also its fertile soil carried by the Yangzi River that accumulates in the plain account for such productivity. This district is also blessed with abundant fish resources. Thus, it known as the home of fish and rice.
Principal manufacturing industries include spinning, machinery, electronics and petrochemistry etc.
Jiangsu province's spinning industry is the largest in scale and his the highest production in China. This production was worth 770.06 billion yuan in 1999, and the total output of all manufacturing industries is the largest in the nation.

Transportation:
The transportation network has been developing rapidly. There is a limited express train connecting over 40 major cities throughout the country, and passengers using the line connecting Nanjing and Shanghai can travel that distance in 2 hours. Also, Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway was constructed in the autumn of 1996, which enabled travellers to go between Shanghai and Nanjing in 3 hours. Nanjing Lukou International Airport was opened in 1997. Jiangsu province also has the most developed inland waterway system in China.

External Trade and Commerce:
Jiangsu province is one of the principal districts for external trade and commerce, and it is trading with 196 nations and districts at present. The total value of exports and imports was 31.26 billion dollars. It contains 11 national development sections, 68 provincial development sections, and there are a number of joint ventures with foreign companies.

Life:
The average annual income of the residents in Jiangsu province in 1999 was 6,538.2 yuan per urban resident and 3,495.2 yuan per rural resident. The system of compulsory education for 9 years has been enforced in most of the province. The number of students at universities and other higher educational organizations is 252,000, which is the largest in the nation.
The average life expectancy is 72.7 years.

Culture:
Jiangsu Province is famous as the birthplace of culture and art. From long ago, Jiangsu has produced some of the most famous poets, novelists, and artists representative of China as a whole. Suzhou's silk, Yixing's pottery, and many other arts are famous around the world.Recently, Jiangsu Province has been active in promoting more cultural exchange, and in October, 2000, the 6th China Arts Festival was held. There are many such activities promoting the arts.