Changzhou (常州)

1. Introduction

Changzhou City, abbreviated as Chang, historically known as Piling, Wujin, and Yanling, is renowned as the "Pearl of Jiangnan." It is located in the southern part of Jiangsu Province. The city borders Nanjing to the southwest, Zhenjiang to the west, Taizhou to the northeast, and Wuxi to the east and south. Within the Taihu Lake area, the Xiaojiao and Dajiao Mountains face Huzhou and Suzhou across the lake, while Xuancheng City in Anhui Province lies to the southwest. Situated in the central Yangtze River Delta, Changzhou lies on the southern bank of the Yangtze River and the northern shore of Taihu Lake, with the Maoshan Mountains to the west and the Tianmu Mountains to the south. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal flows through the city, and it is crisscrossed by numerous river networks.

Changzhou is a nationally recognized historical and cultural city, with a documented history spanning over 3,200 years. It boasts excellent transportation infrastructure by water, land, and air, and is equidistant from Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou. Together with Suzhou and Wuxi, it forms a key central city in the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area. The urban area of Changzhou is a core member of the Shanghai metropolitan area, while its Jintan District and Liyang City are important eastern members of the Nanjing metropolitan area. Changzhou serves as a vital central hub in the Yangtze River Delta. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 1280 Longcheng Avenue, Xinbei District.

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2. History

The documented history of Changzhou can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period. In 547 BCE, King Shoumeng of Wu granted the fourth son, Jizha, the fief of Yanling. Subsequently, it has been known by various names such as Piling, Jinling, Changchun, Changzhou, and Wujin.

In the ninth year of the Kaihuang era of Emperor Wen of Sui (589 CE), Changzhou was established in Changshu County, which is the origin of the name "Changzhou," derived from "Changshu Zhou." The administrative seat was relocated to the then Jinling County (present-day downtown Changzhou) after Changshu was incorporated into Suzhou. During the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it served as the administrative seat of Changzhou, Changzhou Lu, and Changzhou Fu, with its jurisdiction roughly covering present-day Wujin, Jiangyin, Wuxi, and Yixing. During the Qing dynasty, Wujin County was divided into two: Wujin County and Yanghu County. At this time, Changzhou Fu governed eight counties: Wujin, Yanghu, Wuxi, Jinkui, Yixing, Jingxi, Jiangyin, and Jingjiang. In 1912, Changzhou Fu and Yanghu County were abolished, leaving only Wujin County. In 1949, the urban area of Wujin County was separated to establish Changzhou City, with Zhuge Shen serving as the first mayor after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Since 1983, it has governed counties.

On April 28, 2015, with the approval of the State Council, Qishuyan District and Wujin District were abolished, and a new Wujin District was established. The former Qishuyan District was merged into Wujin District; the county-level Jintan City was abolished and replaced by Jintan District. Additionally, Benniu Town, originally under Wujin District, was placed under the jurisdiction of Xinbei District; Zhenglu Town, originally under Wujin District, was placed under Tianning District; and Zhouqu Town, originally under Wujin District, was placed under Zhonglou District[3]. During the same period, the original Changzhou Economic Development Zone was restructured into a new economic development zone comprising the former Qishuyan District, Henglin Town, Hengshanqiao Town, and Yaoguan Town. Starting January 1, 2020, the Changzhou Economic Development Zone officially implemented a new management system, fully aligning with the Changzhou Municipal Government, developing the Eastern New City, and gradually separating from Wujin District.

3. Geography

Changzhou is located in the Yangtze River Delta region, in the northwestern part of the Taihu Plain. It borders the Yangtze River to the north, Taihu Lake to the south, Anhui Province and Nanjing City to the southwest, Wuxi City to the east, and Zhenjiang City to the west. It is equidistant from the two major metropolises of Shanghai and Nanjing, and is 144 kilometers (via expressway) from the provincial capital, Nanjing. The southwestern part features the Yili mountainous area, with peaks such as Maoshan Mountain, Guodishan Mountain, and Wuyuan Mountain. Lakes include Tao Lake and Ge Lake. Rivers include the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Wuyi Canal, Taige Canal, Jingxi River, and South Canal. The area is crisscrossed by a dense network of waterways, earning it the nickname "Land of Water." In the 1430s, during a major flood in the Jiangnan region, Zhou Chen was dispatched to manage water control. He extensively promoted land reclamation by enclosing lakes and damming rivers to prevent waterlogging. Over 20 years, 37,000 mu of farmland were created, causing Furong Lake, Yanghu Lake, and Linjin Lake to gradually shrink and eventually disappear.

3.1 Climate

Changzhou City has a northern subtropical humid monsoon climate, with significant monsoon influence and four distinct seasons: winters are damp and cold, while summers are hot and humid. Annual precipitation occurs mainly in spring and summer; the heaviest rainfall typically comes from the Meiyu (plum rain) around June. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 3.6°C, and July is the hottest, with an average temperature of 28.7°C. The annual average temperature is 16.6°C, and the average annual precipitation is 1,219 mm. The total annual sunshine duration is 1,967.4 hours.

Meteorological Data for Changzhou City (1991-2020)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Avg. High (℃ / °F) | 7.5 (45.5) | 9.9 (49.8) | 14.7 (58.5) | 21.0 (69.8) | 26.3 (79.3) | 29.0 (84.2) | 32.6 (90.7) | 32.1 (89.8) | 28.1 (82.6) | 22.9 (73.2) | 16.8 (62.2) | 10.1 (50.2) | 20.9 (69.6) | | Daily Mean (℃ / °F) | 3.6 (38.5) | 5.7 (42.3) | 10.1 (50.2) | 16.0 (60.8) | 21.4 (70.5) | 24.9 (76.8) | 28.7 (83.7) | 28.2 (82.8) | 24.0 (75.2) | 18.5 (65.3) | 12.3 (54.1) | 6.0 (42.8) | 16.6 (61.9) | | Avg. Low (℃ / °F) | 0.7 (33.3) | 2.5 (36.5) | 6.4 (43.5) | 11.8 (53.2) | 17.3 (63.1) | 21.6 (70.9) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 20.8 (69.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 8.8 (47.8) | 2.8 (37.0) | 13.2 (55.8) | | Avg. Precipitation (mm / in) | 59.7 (2.35) | 57.5 (2.26) | 80.6 (3.17) | 86.0 (3.39) | 95.8 (3.77) | 206.8 (8.14) | 217.4 (8.56) | 178.4 (7.02) | 84.0 (3.31) | 59.4 (2.34) | 54.1 (2.13) | 38.9 (1.53) | 1,218.6 (47.97) | | Avg. Precipitation Days (≥0.1mm) | 9.8 | 9.4 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 11.2 | 12.7 | 12.9 | 12.8 | 8.5 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 122.4 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Changzhou currently administers 5 municipal districts and manages 1 county-level city on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Tianning District, Zhonglou District, Xinbei District, Wujin District, Jintan District
• County-level City: Liyang City

Additionally, Changzhou has established the following economic management zones: National-level Changzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone (co-located with Xinbei District), National-level Wujin High-tech Industrial Development Zone, and Changzhou Economic Development Zone (originally Qishuyan District, Henglin Town, Hengshanqiao Town, and Yaoguan Town; nominally under Wujin District but directly administered by the Changzhou Municipal Government).

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | |-------------------|-------------------|---------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------| | 320400 | Changzhou City | Chángzhōu Shì | 4,372.15 | 5,278,121 | Xinbei District | 213000 | 25 | 36 | | 320402 | Tianning District | Tiānníng Qū | 154.84 | 668,906 | Qinglong Subdistrict | 213003 | 6 | 1 | | 320404 | Zhonglou District | Zhōnglóu Qū | 132.93 | 658,537 | Beigang Subdistrict | 213002 | 7 | 1 | | 320411 | Xinbei District | Xīnběi Qū | 508.91 | 883,125 | Xinqiao Subdistrict | 213022 | 3 | 7 | | 320412 | Wujin District | Wǔjìn Qū | 1,065.26 | 1,697,380 | Hutang Town | 213161 | 5 | 11 | | 320413 | Jintan District | Jīntán Qū | 975.68 | 585,081 | Xicheng Subdistrict | 213200 | 3 | 6 | | 320481 | Liyang City | Lìyáng Shì | 1,534.52 | 785,092 | Licheng Subdistrict | 213300 | 1 | 10 |

5. Economy

In 2023, Changzhou's economic output exceeded one trillion yuan for the first time.

6. Transportation

6.1 Railway

• China High-speed Railway: The Beijing-Shanghai Line, with Changzhou as a top-tier station. It connects to major cities across the country.
• China High-speed Railway: Changzhou North Station on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway is the largest station along the Shanghai-Nanjing line. The fastest travel time to Beijing South Station is 4 hours and 51 minutes, and to Shanghai Hongqiao Station is 40 minutes. In May 2014, a malfunction in the neon lights on the southern side of the station roof displayed "Diaozhou North Station," sparking widespread discussion online. Consequently, Changzhou was humorously nicknamed "Diaozhou" or "Big Diaozhou" by netizens.
• China High-speed Railway: Changzhou Station on the Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity Railway, a major station on the line. The fastest travel time to Nanjing Station is 39 minutes, and to Shanghai Station is 58 minutes. Qishuyan Station is a passenger intercity rail station in the Changzhou Economic Development Zone.
• China High-speed Railway: The Shanghai-Nanjing-Yangtze River High-Speed Railway, stopping at Jintan Station and Wujin Station.
• China High-speed Railway: The Nanjing-Hangzhou High-Speed Railway, stopping at Wawushan Station and Liyang Station.
• China High-speed Railway: The Xinchang Railway, featuring Qianhuang Freight Station.

6.2 Highway

• National Highway 312, a main artery connecting nearby cities and counties.
• G42 Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway passes through the Xinbei District of Changzhou, taking about 1 hour to reach both Shanghai and Nanjing.
• G4221 Shanghai-Wuhan Expressway passes through downtown Wujin, crosses Gehu Lake, and connects downtown Wujin with Jintan.
• S39 Jiangsu-Yixing Expressway passes through the western part of downtown Changzhou, connecting Yangzhou and Yixing.
• Provincial Highway 340 serves as a main thoroughfare in Changzhou: Tongjiang Road and Huaide Road, and connects to the Jintan District.

6.3 Urban Transportation

• The city has a nearly 80-kilometer-long "井"-shaped elevated inner ring expressway network. The outer ring elevated expressway was completed and opened to traffic in 2010.
• On January 1, 2008, Changzhou launched its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the first of its kind in Jiangsu Province. Currently, two BRT trunk lines and over 10 feeder lines have been built, along with four loop lines (H1, H2, H3, H4) (the first two operate in downtown Changzhou, the latter two in downtown Wujin), forming the backbone of the city's extensive public transportation network. Most bus routes in the city offer discounted fares of 2 yuan for air-conditioned buses and a 40% discount with card payment, making Changzhou the second city in China after Beijing to provide such public transport fare concessions. On November 30, 2020, Changzhou bus fares were increased by 1 yuan across the board; currently, most bus routes in the city still offer the discounted fare of 2 yuan for air-conditioned buses and a 40% discount with card payment.

6.4 Rail Transit

• On May 11, 2012, the National Development and Reform Commission issued a document approving the recent construction plan (2011-2018) for Changzhou's urban rail transit in Jiangsu Province, making Changzhou the 29th city in China and the 4th in Jiangsu Province to receive approval for urban rail transit construction. According to the plan, Changzhou will eventually form an urban rail transit network consisting of 4 lines totaling 129 kilometers. The recent construction includes Phase I of Line 1 and Phase I of Line 2, with a total length of approximately 53.88 kilometers, forming a cross-shaped basic rail transit framework.
• In September 2019, Changzhou Metro Line 1 officially began operation.
• On June 28, 2021, Changzhou Metro Line 2 officially opened.
• In September 2023, the second phase of the Changzhou Metro project received approval from the National Development and Reform Commission. Construction of Line 5 officially commenced in October of the same year, and Line 6 is expected to start construction in 2024.

6.5 Waterways and Ports

• The city is bordered by the Yangtze River to the north and Taihu Lake to the south, with the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passing through. The city's water network is intricate, connecting rivers and seas. Changzhou Port on the Yangtze River is a national Class I open port, with an annual cargo throughput exceeding one million tons.

6.6 Airport

Changzhou Benniu International Airport is a 4E-class airport. It currently offers flights to over 20 major domestic cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Dalian, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Haikou, and Xi'an, as well as international (regional) flights to cities such as Macau, Nha Trang, Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Seoul, Bangkok, Vientiane, Jeju Island, and Yangyang County.

7. Education

7.1 High Schools

• Jiangsu Changzhou Senior High School
• Changzhou No.1 High School
• Changzhou Beijiao Senior High School
• Changzhou No.2 High School
• Changzhou No.3 High School
• Changzhou No.4 High School
• Changzhou No.5 High School
• Changzhou No.8 High School
• Jiangsu Qianhuang Senior High School
• Jiangsu Qianhuang Senior High School International Branch
• Changzhou International School
• Changzhou Xinqiao Senior High School
• Changzhou Qingtan Middle School
• Changzhou Qinye Middle School (formerly Changzhou No.9 Middle School)
• Changzhou Tianjiabing Senior High School (formerly Changzhou Tianjiabing Experimental Middle School)
• Changzhou Lucheng Middle School
• Changzhou Qishuyan Experimental Middle School (formerly Qishuyan Locomotive and Rolling Stock Works Staff Children's Middle School)
• Jiangsu Wujin Senior High School (formerly Jiangsu Hutangqiao Middle School)
• Jiangsu Benniu Senior High School
• Jiangsu Henglin Senior High School
• Changzhou Qinglong Middle School
• Jiangsu Liyang High School
• Jiangsu Hua Luogeng High School
• Changzhou Jintan District No.1 High School (Southeast University Second Affiliated High School)
• Changzhou Jintan District No.4 High School
• Changzhou Wujin District Sanhekou Senior High School
• Changzhou Wujin District Hengshanqiao Senior High School
• Changzhou Wujin District Huangli Senior High School
• Changzhou Xinbei District Xiashushu Senior High School
• Changzhou Qishuyan Senior High School (Provincial Changzhong Branch)

7.2 Higher Education Institutions

• Changzhou University
• Changzhou Institute of Technology
• Hohai University Changzhou Campus
• Jiangsu University of Technology
• Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Tianmu Lake Campus
• Changzhou College of Information Technology
• Changzhou Vocational Institute of Mechatronic Technology
• Changzhou Vocational Institute of Textile and Garment
• Changzhou Vocational Institute of Engineering
• Changzhou Institute of Light Industry Technology
• Changzhou Transportation Technician College
• Jiangsu Changzhou Construction Higher Vocational and Technical School

8. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 5,278,121. Compared with the 4,592,431 people recorded in the Sixth National Population Census, the population increased by 685,690 over the past decade, a growth of 14.93%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.4%. Among them, the male population was 2,711,786, accounting for 51.38% of the total population; the female population was 2,566,335, accounting for 48.62% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 105.67. The population aged 0–14 was 699,862, accounting for 13.26% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 3,522,325, accounting for 66.73% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 1,055,934, accounting for 20.01% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 785,494, accounting for 14.88% of the total population. The urban population was 4,067,856, accounting for 77.07% of the total population; the rural population was 1,210,265, accounting for 22.93% of the total population.

By the end of 2022, the city's resident population was 5.3662 million, an increase of 0.31%. The annual number of births was 29,600, and the number of deaths was 32,100, resulting in a natural population growth rate of -0.47‰, a decrease of 0.38 per thousand points compared to the previous year. By the end of the year, the urban resident population was 4.1864 million, an increase of 36,200 compared to the previous year. The urbanization rate was 78.01%, an increase of 0.43 percentage points compared to the previous year. The city's registered household population was 3.8921 million, an increase of 0.27%.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 5,223,648, accounting for 98.97%; ethnic minorities numbered 54,473, accounting for 1.03%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population increased by 670,420, a growth of 14.72%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.18 percentage points; the ethnic minority population increased by 15,270, a growth of 38.95%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.18 percentage points.

9. Religion

There are 53 registered Buddhist activity sites, including Tianning Temple, Qingliang Temple, Dalin Temple, Wanfo Temple, Jiulong Chan Temple, Yongning Temple, Wuhuang Chan Temple, etc. Christianity has 52 registered activity sites with 17,500 believers, such as the Changzhou Christian Church. Taoism has 6 registered activity sites. Maoshan is one of the birthplaces of Chinese Taoism and is recognized as the 8th minor grotto-heaven in Taoist tradition. Catholicism has 5 registered activity sites with 2,031 believers. Islam has 1 registered activity site with 1,727 believers.

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10. Sister Cities

Changzhou currently has a total of 28 sister cities, distributed as follows: 11 in Europe, 2 in Oceania, 2 in Africa, 6 in Asia, and 7 in the Americas:

Europe

• Prato, Province of Prato, Italy
• Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands
• Satakunta Region, Western Finland Province, Finland
• Jelenia Góra, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
• Randers, Denmark
• Tomsk, Tomsk Oblast, Russia
• Lommel, Limburg, Belgium
• Stavropol, Stavropol Krai, Russia
• Essen, Germany
• Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
• Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom

Oceania

• Wyndham City, Victoria, Australia
• Hurstville City, New South Wales, Australia

Africa

• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Mauritius

Asia

• Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
• Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
• Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
• Eskişehir, Turkey
• Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, South Korea
• Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Americas

• Rockford, Illinois, United States
• Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
• Buffalo, New York, United States
• Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico
• Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
• La Serena, Coquimbo Region, Chile
• Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

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Xinbei District

Wujin District

The Han population accounts for 98.97%; the various ethnic minority populations account for 1.03%.

Magnolia grandiflora

Rose