Ganzhou (赣州)

1. Introduction

Ganzhou City, abbreviated as Qian, historically known as Qianzhou and Nankang, and commonly referred to as Gannan, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China. Located in the southern part of Jiangxi Province, the city borders Ji'an City and Fuzhou City to the north, Sanming City and Longyan City of Fujian Province to the east, Meizhou City and Heyuan City of Guangdong Province to the south, Shaoguan City of Guangdong Province to the southwest, and Chenzhou City of Hunan Province to the west. It is the largest prefecture-level city in Jiangxi Province by both area and population. Ganzhou is a National Historical and Cultural City, an Excellent Tourism City of China, a National Civilized City, a National Forest City, and one of the major settlement areas for the Hakka people, renowned as the "Cradle of the Hakka." The municipal government is located at No. 8 Changzheng Avenue.

Ganzhou is a sub-central city in Jiangxi Province, a national base for rare metal industries and advanced manufacturing, a demonstration zone for the revitalization and development of the former Central Soviet Area, an area for the inheritance and innovation of red culture and a tourism destination, a regional comprehensive transportation hub, and a modern regional central city at the crossroads of Jiangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, and Hunan provinces. It enjoys reputations such as the "First City on the Thousand-Mile Gan River," "Song Dynasty City of the Jiangnan Region," "Cradle of the Hakka," "Red Capital," "World's Orange Hometown," and "World's Tungsten Capital."

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2. History

In the 33rd year of Qin Shi Huang's reign (214 BCE), Nanye County was established under Jiujiang Commandery, marking the beginning of administrative divisions in southern Jiangxi.

In the fifth year of the Jiahe era of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period (236 CE), the Southern Commandant of Luling was established, with its seat in Yudu.

In the third year of the Taikang era of the Jin dynasty (282 CE), the Southern Commandant was reorganized into Nankang Commandery, still based in Yudu. In the fifth year of the Yonghe era (349 CE), the commandery seat was moved from Yudu to Gan County (located between the Zhang and Gong rivers, in present-day Zhanggong District).

In the ninth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui dynasty (589 CE), Nankang Commandery was renamed Qianzhou. During the Tang dynasty, Qianzhou was administered from Gan County, located in what is now the urban area of Ganzhou City, rather than the modern-day Gan County.

In the first year of the Chunhua era of the Song dynasty (990 CE), the three counties of Nankang, Dayu, and Shangyou, originally under Qianzhou, were separated to form Nan'an Commandery, with its seat in Dayu. In the 23rd year of the Shaoxing era (1153 CE), Qianzhou was renamed Ganzhou.

From the 25th year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan dynasty (1365 CE) to the early Ming dynasty, the two circuits of Ganzhou and Nan'an were reorganized into Nan'an Prefecture.

In the 18th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty (1385 CE), Jiangxi was divided into five circuits, with Ganzhou and Nan'an prefectures both belonging to the Lingbei Circuit.

In the 10th year of the Kangxi era of the Qing dynasty (1671 CE), the Gannan Circuit was established, overseeing Ganzhou Prefecture and Nan'an Prefecture.

In the first year of the Republic of China (1912 CE), the prefecture system was abolished, and counties were directly administered by the province. In the third year (1914 CE), the Gannan Circuit was established. In the 15th year (1926 CE), the Gannan Circuit was abolished, and counties were again directly administered by the province.

In July 1949, the Ganzhou Administrative Inspectorate was established. In August, Ganzhou Town was separated to form Ganzhou City. In September 1949, the Ningdu (Ruijin) Administrative Inspectorate was established. In August 1952, the Ningdu Inspectorate was abolished. In May 1954, the Gannan Administrative Office was established. In May 1964, the Ganzhou Special District was established. In January 1971, it was renamed the Ganzhou Prefecture.

In July 1999, Ganzhou Prefecture was abolished and replaced by Ganzhou City, with the former county-level Ganzhou City reorganized into Zhanggong District.

On November 12, 2013, the State Council approved the abolition of the county-level city of Nankang and its reorganization into Nankang District.

In October 2016, the proposal to abolish Gan County and establish it as a district was approved, leading to the creation of Ganxian District under Ganzhou City.

On June 29, 2020, the Jiangxi Provincial Government announced the abolition of Longnan County and the establishment of the county-level city of Longnan. Longnan City is directly administered by the province and managed by Ganzhou City on its behalf.

3. Geography

Ganzhou City is located in the southern part of Jiangxi Province and is the largest prefecture-level administrative division in Jiangxi by area. The city's terrain is predominantly mountainous and hilly, accounting for 80.98% of its total area. The Zhang River and the Gong River converge in the main urban area of Ganzhou to form the Gan River. The region is surrounded by mountains: the Wuyi Mountains to the east, the Jiulian Mountains to the south, the Dayu Ridge and Zhuguang Mountains to the west, and the Yu Mountains to the north, with several basins distributed in the central area. The main source of the Gan River, the Gongshui (whose upper reaches are called the Mianshui), originates from Huangzhuling in the eastern Wuyi Mountains. The western source, the Zhangshui, originates from the Niedu Mountain in the west. The Zhang and Gong rivers converge at Bajingtai, after which the river is called the Gan River. Other tributaries of the Gan River within the city include the Xiangshui, Lianshui, Meijiang, Pingjiang, Taojiang, and Shangyoujiang. In the southeastern corner, the Xunwu River and the Jiuqu River flow south into the Dong River. The city's total area is 39,363 square kilometers.

3.1 Climate

Ganzhou City has a central subtropical monsoon climate, with an annual average temperature of 19.4°C. The average annual precipitation is 1,461.2 mm, concentrated mainly in spring and summer.

Meteorological Data for Ganzhou City, Ganxian District (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Record High (°C / °F) | 27.7 (81.9) | 29.5 (85.1) | 32.2 (90.0) | 35.1 (95.2) | 36.5 (97.7) | 38.4 (101.1) | 40.0 (104.0) | 41.2 (106.2) | 38.8 (101.8) | 36.6 (97.9) | 32.8 (91.0) | 29.1 (84.4) | 41.2 (106.2) | | Average High (°C / °F) | 12.4 (54.3) | 14.3 (57.7) | 17.9 (64.2) | 24.3 (75.7) | 28.6 (83.5) | 31.5 (88.7) | 34.5 (94.1) | 34.0 (93.2) | 30.6 (87.1) | 26.2 (79.2) | 20.7 (69.3) | 15.2 (59.4) | 24.2 (75.5) | | Daily Mean (°C / °F) | 8.2 (46.8) | 10.3 (50.5) | 13.8 (56.8) | 19.8 (67.6) | 24.0 (75.2) | 27.1 (80.8) | 29.5 (85.1) | 28.9 (84.0) | 25.9 (78.6) | 21.4 (70.5) | 15.7 (60.3) | 10.2 (50.4) | 19.6 (67.2) | | Average Low (°C / °F) | 5.4 (41.7) | 7.6 (45.7) | 11.0 (51.8) | 16.6 (61.9) | 20.7 (69.3) | 23.9 (75.0) | 25.8 (78.4) | 25.4 (77.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 17.8 (64.0) | 12.0 (53.6) | 6.6 (43.9) | 16.3 (61.3) | | Record Low (°C / °F) | -6.0 (21.2) | -4.4 (24.1) | -0.3 (31.5) | 4.2 (39.6) | 11.1 (52.0) | 15.6 (60.1) | 19.1 (66.4) | 19.7 (67.5) | 13.1 (55.6) | 5.2 (41.4) | -0.4 (31.3) | -3.8 (25.2) | -6.0 (21.2) | | Average Precipitation (mm / inches) | 66.8 (2.63) | 113.4 (4.46) | 176.6 (6.95) | 181.1 (7.13) | 221.3 (8.71) | 190.4 (7.50) | 123.1 (4.85) | 140.5 (5.53) | 88.2 (3.47) | 54.4 (2.14) | 50.7 (2.00) | 39.7 (1.56) | 1,446.2 (56.93) | | Average Precipitation Days (≥0.1 mm) | 12.4 | 15.1 | 18.8 | 18.0 | 18.4 | 15.5 | 12.0 | 13.2 | 9.9 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 157.1 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 75 | 78 | 80 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 70 | 72 | 74 | 71 | 72 | 71 | 75 | | Mean Monthly Sunshine Hours | 87.8 | 73.5 | 72.3 | 100.5 | 137.8 | 173.1 | 261.0 | 235.8 | 182.1 | 165.2 | 147.1 | 142.1 | 1,778.3 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine (%) | 27 | 23 | 20 | 26 | 33 | 42 | 62 | 58 | 49 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 40 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Ganzhou City currently administers 3 municipal districts, 13 counties, and oversees 2 county-level cities on behalf of the higher administration.

• Municipal Districts: Zhanggong District, Nankang District, Ganxian District
• County-level Cities: Ruijin City, Longnan City
• Counties: Xinfeng County, Dayu County, Shangyou County, Chongyi County, Anyuan County, Dingnan County, Quannan County, Ningdu County, Yudu County, Xingguo County, Huichang County, Xunwu County, Shicheng County

The Ganzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone is a national-level economic and technological development zone established by Ganzhou City. Rongjiang New Area is an urban new area established by Ganzhou City, serving as a dispatched agency of the Ganzhou Municipal Government with the administrative rank of a county-level unit.

5. Economy

Gannan Navel Orange is a Chinese geographical indication product.

In 2022, Ganzhou City achieved a regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 452.363 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of 5.2% calculated at constant prices. Specifically, the added value of the primary industry was 45.083 billion yuan, up by 3.8%; the added value of the secondary industry was 182.259 billion yuan, up by 6.6%; and the added value of the tertiary industry was 225.021 billion yuan, up by 4.5%.

6. Transportation

• Airport: Ganzhou Huangjin Airport
• Railways: Beijing-Kowloon Railway, Ganzhou-Longyan Railway, Ganzhou-Shaoguan Railway, Ganzhou-Ruijin-Longyan Railway, Nanchang-Ganzhou Passenger Dedicated Line, Ganzhou-Shenzhen Passenger Dedicated Line, Changsha-Ganzhou Railway (under construction)
• Expressways: G45 Daqing–Guangzhou Expressway, G35 Jinan–Guangzhou Expressway, G72 Quanzhou–Nanning Expressway, G76 Xiamen–Chengdu Expressway, Xunwu–Quannan Expressway, S4503 Ganzhou Ring Expressway, Ganzhou–Shaoguan Expressway, Changning–Ningding Expressway (under construction), Xingguo–Ganzhou Expressway.
• National Highways: National Highway 105, National Highway 323, National Highway 206, National Highway 319
• Water Transport: Ganzhou Port, Doushui Lake Tourist Passenger Terminal.

7. Education

7.1 Universities

All are located in Zhanggong District.

• Jiangxi University of Science and Technology
• Gannan Normal University
• Gannan Medical University
• Gannan University of Science and Technology
• College of Science and Technology, Gannan Normal University
• Ganzhou Teachers College
• Jiangxi Environmental Engineering Vocational College
• Jiangxi Vocational College of Applied Technology
• Gannan Health Vocational College

7.2 High Schools

The main key high schools include:

• Ganzhou High School
• Ganzhou No.1 High School
• Ganzhou No.3 High School
• Ganzhou No.4 High School
• The Affiliated High School of Gannan Normal University (Provincial)
• Nankang High School
• Ganxian High School
• Xinfeng High School
• Ruijin No.1 High School
• Yudu High School
• Ningdu High School
• Anyuan No.1 High School
• Huichang High School
• Xingguo Pingchuan High School

8. Population

In 2011, Ganzhou City had a total of 2,751,800 households and a total population of 9,182,600, an increase of 109,900 people compared to the beginning of the year. The agricultural population was 7,295,900, accounting for 79.5% of the total population; the non-agricultural population was 1,886,700, accounting for 20.5% of the total population. There were 4,769,200 males and 4,413,400 females. The average household size was 3.34 persons, with a population density of 233 persons per square kilometer. The city's birth rate was 13.53‰, and the natural population growth rate was 7.52‰.

By the end of 2019, the city's total registered population was 9,830,700, an increase of 16,100 people compared to the end of the previous year. This included an urban population of 3,020,900 and a rural population of 6,809,800.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's resident population was 8,970,014. Compared with the 8,368,447 people from the Sixth National Population Census, this represents an increase of 601,567 people over ten years, a growth of 7.19%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.7%. Among them, the male population was 4,603,577, accounting for 51.32% of the total population; the female population was 4,366,437, accounting for 48.68% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 105.43. The population aged 0-14 was 2,071,601, accounting for 23.09% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 5,495,181, accounting for 61.26% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 1,403,232, accounting for 15.64% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 994,136, accounting for 11.08% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 4,961,719, accounting for 55.31% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 4,008,295, accounting for 44.69% of the total population.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's resident population, the Han ethnic population was 8,904,275, accounting for 99.27%; the combined population of various ethnic minorities was 65,739, accounting for 0.73%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population increased by 593,071, a growth of 7.14%, but its proportion of the total population decreased by 0.05 percentage points; the combined population of ethnic minorities increased by 8,496, a growth of 14.84%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.05 percentage points.

The city has 42 different ethnic minority groups living in mixed or scattered settlements. They are distributed across 19 counties (cities, districts) (including Ganzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone), 204 townships (towns), and 486 villages. The She ethnic group is predominant. The Hui ethnic group is concentrated in Zhanggong District, and the Yao ethnic group is concentrated in Quannan. There are 30 ethnic villages. The ethnic minorities are respectively: She, Hui, Mongol, Tibetan, Uyghur, Miao, Yi, Zhuang, Bouyei, Korean, Manchu, Dong, Yao, Bai, Tujia, Hani, Kazakh, Dai, Li, Lisu, Gaoshan, Va, Lahu, Shui, Dongxiang, Naxi, Jingpo, Derung, Tu, Daur, Mulao, Qiang, Blang, Salar, Maonan, Gelao, Xibe, Tajik, Nu, Uzbek, Ewenki, and others.

Language [edit] Hakka is commonly spoken in most areas of the city; Southwestern Mandarin, specifically the Ganzhou dialect, is commonly used in Zhanggong District and the county seat of Xinfeng.

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Zhanggong District

Zhanggong District

Han Chinese account for 99.27% of the population; ethnic minorities account for 0.73%.

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