Area: 166,900 sq km (64,440 sq mi) Known as a remarkable place producing outstanding people, Jiangxi Province lies in the southeastern part of China, on the southern bank of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. It borders Zhejiang and Fujian in the east, Guangdong in the south, Hunan in the west, Hubei and Anhui in the north, covering a total area of 166,900 square kilometers (64,440 square miles). Called 'Gan' for short, for the Gan River, the province has Nanchang as its capital city.
A hinterland to Yangtze River Delta, Zhu River Delta, and Southeast Fujian Delta, Jiangxi is the only province that adjoins the three areas in China, and serves as the front to enter central China in the southeast coastal area. As a result Jiangxi has been strategically important throughout much of China's history. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), Jiangxi became one of the earliest bases for the Communists.
The province is surrounded on three sides by mountains and hills, with hilly lands occupying its central part and a vast plain lying on the northern part. There are dense forests and bamboo groves in the mountains on the borders. And from here most of the major rivers originate. They flow through the province before emptying into Poyang Lake, the biggest fresh water lake in China.
Jiangxi enjoys a sub-tropical monsoon climate, warm and humid. The annual mean temperature is 16 to 20 degrees Celsius (60.8 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit), increasing from north to south. Jiangxi has plentiful rainfall. The average annual rainfalls range between 1,341 and 1,940 millimeters (4.4 to 6.4 feet). The monsoon climate of subtropical zone, warm winter and hot summer and plentiful rainfall have turned Jiangxi into a fertile land of fish and rice.
Jiangxi Province is rich in mineral deposits and 59 percent of the region is covered with forest. As home to many ancient trees, such as ginkgo, known as the 'living fossil' of plants, it boasts more than 2,400 rivers and streams. Jiangxi is a major producer of rape, timber, and fresh-water fish. There are many beautiful mountains, rivers and historical relics in Jiangxi. Mount Lushan has been listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO since 1996. Together with Jinggang and Sanqing mountains, it offers charming peaks and quiet valleys. Another highlight of Jiangxi travel should be Jingdezhen, which is known as the 'Capital of Porcelain' in China.
