Jiangsu is a coastal province in eastern China, on the northern side of the Yangtze River Delta and the Yellow Sea. It is one of China's wealthiest and most densely populated provinces, anchored by the capital Nanjing and by Suzhou, the province's largest city, whose classical gardens are UNESCO-listed. Jiangsu is celebrated for its canal-laced water towns, Grand Canal heritage, Taihu Lake, and refined Huaiyang and Jiangnan cuisine.
Jiangsu sits at the mouth of the Yangtze and along the Grand Canal, and for over two thousand years has been a centre of Chinese political and cultural life. Nanjing was capital of six dynasties, the first Ming capital and the Republic's capital; Suzhou and Yangzhou were wealthy merchant cities whose scholar-gardens are now UNESCO sites; Xuzhou preserves the Han-era heartland.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Jiangsu.
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1
Founding of Suzhou
King Helu of Wu commissions the city of Helu, later Suzhou, near Lake Taihu.
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2
Han Chu kingdom at Xuzhou
Xuzhou serves as the capital of Han-era Chu royalty, whose tombs hold terracotta armies.
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3
Wu makes Jianye capital
Sun Quan moves the Wu capital to Jianye (Nanjing), beginning its role as a southern imperial capital.
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4
Grand Canal completed
Sui Emperor Yang links the Yangtze to the north, boosting Yangzhou and Zhenjiang.
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5
Jianzhen sails from Yangzhou
The monk Jianzhen departs on his sixth attempt to reach Japan after preaching at Daming Temple.
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6
Yunyan Pagoda built
The Tiger Hill pagoda is completed under the Song dynasty.
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7
Ming capital at Nanjing
Zhu Yuanzhang proclaims the Ming dynasty in Nanjing and builds the city wall.
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8
Humble Administrator's Garden begun
Wang Xianchen creates the Zhuozheng Garden in Suzhou.
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9
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
The Taiping rebels hold Nanjing until the Qing recapture it in 1864.
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10
Provisional government
Sun Yat-sen takes office as provisional president of the Republic in Nanjing on 1 January.
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11
Nanjing Massacre
The Japanese army occupies Nanjing and kills hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers.
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12
Suzhou gardens on UNESCO list
Four gardens are inscribed, with further gardens added in 2000.
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13
Grand Canal UNESCO inscription
The Grand Canal, including Yangzhou and Suzhou stretches, joins the World Heritage list.
Historical eras
The chapters of Jiangsu's past.
Neolithic and Wu-Yue Kingdoms
Rice-farming Liangzhu-related cultures gave way to the Wu and Yue states around the Taihu basin; Wu's capital Helu built Suzhou in 514 BC.
Han dynasty and Chu
Xuzhou was a Chu royal seat and a Han-era heartland, leaving tomb art and terracotta armies.
Six Dynasties
Nanjing (then Jiankang) served as capital of six southern dynasties and became a centre of Buddhism, scholarship and art.
Sui and Tang: The Grand Canal
The Grand Canal turned Yangzhou into a major trade and cultural city; the monk Jianzhen sailed from here to Japan in 753.
Song and Yuan
Suzhou and Zhenjiang prospered from silk, rice and river trade; the garden tradition and Pingjiang street plan date from this period.
Ming Capital and Garden Age
Nanjing was the first Ming capital under the Hongwu Emperor; Suzhou's scholar-gardens flourished under the Ming.
Qing dynasty and Taiping
Yangzhou salt merchants built gardens; Nanjing was the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom capital from 1853 to 1864.
Republic and War
Nanjing was the Republican capital; the city suffered the 1937 massacre during the Japanese occupation.
Historical sites
Places where Jiangsu's past comes alive.
Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (UNESCO)
Tomb of the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming dynasty, inscribed by UNESCO in 2003 as part of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties; a 2.6 km Sacred Way of stone animals leads to the burial mound.
Where: Nanjing
Admission: Approx CNY 70 (approx $10.45) in peak season
Nanjing City Wall and Zhonghua Gate
The longest surviving Ming city wall in the world (about 25 km), built for Zhu Yuanzhang; Zhonghua Gate has four defensive courtyards and hidden troop caves.
Where: Nanjing
Admission: Approx CNY 50 (approx $7.46)
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
Designed by architect Lu Yanzhi, the blue-tiled tomb of Sun Yat-sen combines Chinese and Western elements and is a national symbol of the Republic of China.
Where: Nanjing
Admission: Free with mandatory passport reservation
Presidential Palace (China Modern History Museum)
Site that housed Ming princes, Qing viceroys, the Taiping Heavenly King and, in 1912, Sun Yat-sen's provisional presidency; later the Nationalist government's seat.
Where: Nanjing
Admission: Approx CNY 40 (approx $5.97)
Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre
Museum and memorial on the site of mass burials from the December 1937 massacre, with archaeological remains, artifacts and survivor testimony.
Where: Nanjing
Admission: Free with passport reservation
Jiming Temple
One of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nanjing, founded in the 6th century and rebuilt many times; today it is best known for its Pharmacist Buddha Pagoda and cherry blossom in spring.
Where: Nanjing
Admission: Approx CNY 10 (approx $1.49)
Humble Administrator's Garden (UNESCO)
Built by the retired imperial censor Wang Xianchen, the largest of Suzhou's classical gardens; part of the UNESCO Classical Gardens of Suzhou (1997, extended 2000).
Where: Suzhou
Admission: Approx CNY 70 (approx $10.45) to CNY 80 (approx $11.94) depending on season
Tiger Hill and Yunyan Pagoda
The Yunyan Pagoda is a brick-and-timber pagoda that leans about 3 degrees; the hill is traditionally the tomb of King Helu of Wu (6th century BC).
Where: Suzhou
Admission: Approx CNY 70 (approx $10.45) in peak season
Hanshan Temple
Buddhist temple made famous by Zhang Ji's Tang poem Mooring at Maple Bridge at Night, with New Year bell-ringing ceremonies.
Where: Suzhou
Admission: Approx CNY 20 (approx $2.99)
Tongli Retreat and Reflection Garden (UNESCO)
Garden built by a dismissed official; unusual for placing its pavilions close to the water, and part of the UNESCO Classical Gardens of Suzhou.
Where: Suzhou (Wujiang)
Admission: Included in the approx CNY 80 (approx $11.94) Tongli combined ticket
Zhouzhuang Shen Residence
Merchant mansion built by the Shen family, illustrating the wealth of Jiangnan water towns; Zhouzhuang was founded in 1086.
Where: Suzhou (Kunshan)
Admission: Included in the approx CNY 100 (approx $14.93) Zhouzhuang entry ticket
China Grand Canal Museum (Yangzhou)
Museum on the UNESCO-listed Grand Canal (inscribed 2014), the world's longest artificial waterway, explaining its construction, use and Yangzhou's role as a canal-trade city.
Where: Yangzhou
Admission: Free with passport reservation
Daming Temple and Jianzhen Memorial Hall
Buddhist temple where the monk Jianzhen (Ganjin) taught before travelling to Japan in 753 CE; his memorial hall shows Sino-Japanese cultural exchange.
Where: Yangzhou
Admission: Approx CNY 50 (approx $7.46)
Xijin Ferry Ancient Street
Restored ferry-crossing lane of the Yangtze with layers of stone paving from the Three Kingdoms, Song, Yuan and Qing periods.
Where: Zhenjiang
Admission: Street free; museum approx CNY 30 (approx $4.48)
Han Terracotta Army Museum (Xuzhou)
Museum built over the Shizishan tomb of a Chu king, displaying thousands of Han-period terracotta soldiers and horses found nearby; a small-scale companion to Xi'an.
Where: Xuzhou
Admission: Approx CNY 45 (approx $6.72)
Museums
Curated collections that tell Jiangsu's story.
Nanjing Museum
Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00AM-5:00PM; closed Mondays
Admission: Free with passport reservation
Suzhou Museum
Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00AM-5:00PM; closed Mondays
Admission: Free with passport reservation
China Grand Canal Museum
Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00AM-5:00PM; closed Mondays
Admission: Free with passport reservation
Han Terracotta Army Museum
Hours: Tue-Sun 8:30AM-5:00PM; closed Mondays
Admission: Approx CNY 45 (approx $6.72)
Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre
Hours: Tue-Sun approx 8:30AM-4:30PM; closed Mondays
Admission: Free with passport reservation
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.
Walking tours
Self-guided walks along Nanjing's Zhonghua Gate to Confucius Temple and Suzhou's Pingjiang Road; audio guides via the venue's official WeChat mini-program.
Day tours
Nanjing-based day tours to Zhongshan Scenic Area and Ming Xiaoling cost about CNY 400 (approx $59.70) to CNY 600 (approx $89.55) per person by private car; Suzhou-Zhouzhuang day tours from Shanghai run about CNY 350 (approx $52.24) to CNY 500 (approx $74.63) per person; book on Trip.com or GetYourGuide.
Private tours
Licensed English-speaking guides in Nanjing or Suzhou cost about CNY 600 (approx $89.55) to CNY 900 (approx $134.33) per day via Trip.com; confirm the guide's licence and receive an itemised price in writing.