Changzhou

Summary

Changzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu, China. It was previously known as Yanling, Lanling, and Jinling. Located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, Changzhou borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Zhenjiang to the northwest, Wuxi to the east, and the province of Zhejiang to the south. The population of the Changzhou Municipality was 5,278,121 at the 2020 census.[3][2] The city is the birthplace of Zhou Youguang who created the pinyin romanization system.

Changzhou
常州市
Changchow
Map
Location of Changzhou City jurisdiction in Jiangsu
Location of Changzhou City jurisdiction in Jiangsu
Changzhou is located in Jiangsu
Changzhou
Changzhou
Location of the city center in China
Changzhou is located in Eastern China
Changzhou
Changzhou
Changzhou (Eastern China)
Changzhou is located in China
Changzhou
Changzhou
Changzhou (China)
Coordinates (Changzhou municipal government): 31°48′40″N 119°58′26″E / 31.811°N 119.974°E / 31.811; 119.974
CountryPeople's Republic of China
ProvinceJiangsu
Municipal seatXinbei District
Divisions5 districts, 1 city
Government
 • Party SecretaryChen Jinhu(陈金虎)[1]
 • MayorSheng Lei(盛蕾)
Area
 • Prefecture-level city4,384.58 km2 (1,692.90 sq mi)
 • Urban
1,872.1 km2 (722.8 sq mi)
Population
 (2020 census[2])
 • Prefecture-level city5,278,121
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
 • Urban
3,601,079
 • Urban density1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi)
 • Metro12,400,000
GDP[4]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 705 billion
US$ 106.7 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥149,275
US$22,600
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
213000, 213100 (Urban center)
213200, 213300 (Other areas)
Area code0519
ISO 3166 codeCN-JS-04
License Plate Prefix苏D
Local dialectWu: Changzhou dialect
Websitechangzhou.gov.cn
Changzhou
"Changzhou" in Chinese
Chinese常州

History edit

As approved by State Council on June 8 of 1995, Wujin County was promoted to Wujin City, with the government set in Hutang Town. In 1999, as approved by the provincial government, Taixiang Town of Jiaoqu District was revoked and incorporated into Xueyan Town of Wujin City.[5]

Administration edit

The prefecture-level city of Changzhou administers seven county-level divisions, including five districts and one county-level city.

Demographics edit

Its total population was 5,278,121 inhabitants at the 2020 census, a 1.4% annual increase since the previous census.

Population
Subdivision Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Population (2020)[6] Area (km2) Density (/km2)
City Proper
Tianning District 天宁区 Tiānníng Qū 668,906 154.84 3,317.50
Zhonglou District 钟楼区 Zhōnglóu Qū 658,537 132.93 3,806.03
Suburban
Xinbei District 新北区 Xīnběi Qū 883,125 508.91 1,172.72
Wujin District 武进区 Wǔjìn Qū 1,277,487 1,065.26 1,571.56
Jintan District 金坛区 Jīntán Qū 585,081 975.68 565.81
Satellite cities (County-level cities)
Liyang City 溧阳市 Lìyáng Shì 785,092 1,534.52 488.35
Total 5,278,121 4,372.15 1,050.28
Dissolved district: Qishuyan District

Education edit

Changzhou is an educational hub and is home to several universities, including Changzhou University, Hohai University (Changzhou campus), Jiangsu Teachers' University of Science and Technology, Jiangsu Teachers' University of Technology, and Changzhou Institute of Technology. The city also has a number of prominent secondary schools, including the Changzhou Senior High School of Jiangsu Province.

Economy edit

Since 1908, Changzhou has been linked by rail with Shanghai and Nanjing (see below for transportation).

According to Forbes ranking, Changzhou was the 9th best business city in mainland China in 2008. Changzhou data was reported at 662.228 RMB bn in Dec 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 577.386 RMB bn for Dec 2016. China's CN: GDP: Jiangsu: Changzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 130.818 RMB bn from Dec 1991 to 2017, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 662.228 RMB bn in 2017 and a record low of 10.545 RMB bn in 1991. China's CN: GDP: Jiangsu: Changzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database's National Accounts – Table CN.AE: Gross Domestic Product: Prefecture Level City.[7]

Industrial zones edit

Changzhou Export Processing Zone edit

Approval for the establishment of Changzhou Export Processing Zone was given in June 2005 with a planned area of 1.66 km2 (0.64 sq mi). Near to Shanghai and Nanjing via convenient transportation links, the zone began operation in October 2006. Investors enjoy a series of preferential policies whilst all handle export procedures are handled inside the export processing zone. The zone focuses on electronic information, electromechanical integration and new materials.[8]

Changzhou National Hi-Tech District edit

Changzhou National Hi-Tech District (CND) is a state-level high-tech industrial development zone. It is located in the northern part of Changzhou city. With a population of 500,000 and an area of 439 square km, the district is 160 km (99 mi) from Shanghai to the east and 110 km (68 mi) from Nanjing to the west. The district represents the highest-level and most sophisticated industrial park in Changzhou. More than 1,300 foreign companies and over 5,000 local industrial enterprises have been registered within the district of which around 40% are from European and American countries. Industries encouraged include engineering machinery, transformer & transmission equipment, automotive, locomotive & locomotive components, parts, precision machinery, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, photo-voltaic (PV) and new materials, chemicals, garment and textiles production, computer software and research & development. Some major investors include Terex, Komatsu, Ashland Chemical, Johnson, Caltex Oil Corp., Disa, +GF+, Rieter and General Electronics.[9]

Climate edit

The climate is Humid Subtropical Cfa, with cool winters and hot and humid summers. Changzhou has a wide range of temperature differences throughout the year.

Climate data for Changzhou (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.2
(70.2)
26.7
(80.1)
30.6
(87.1)
33.6
(92.5)
35.2
(95.4)
37.8
(100.0)
39.4
(102.9)
38.2
(100.8)
38.2
(100.8)
32.1
(89.8)
29.4
(84.9)
22.2
(72.0)
39.4
(102.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°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
(69.7)
Daily mean °C (°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)
Mean daily minimum °C (°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)
Record low °C (°F) −12.8
(9.0)
−8.8
(16.2)
−4.2
(24.4)
−1.0
(30.2)
6.8
(44.2)
13.3
(55.9)
17.0
(62.6)
17.8
(64.0)
10.4
(50.7)
2.9
(37.2)
−4.2
(24.4)
−11.2
(11.8)
−12.8
(9.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 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)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 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
Average snowy days 3.3 2.8 0.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 1.0 8.1
Average relative humidity (%) 75 73 71 69 70 77 78 79 77 74 75 72 74
Mean monthly sunshine hours 125.5 128.1 152.3 180.9 189.4 150.8 199.8 202.2 176.3 174.8 147.6 139.7 1,967.4
Percent possible sunshine 39 41 41 46 44 35 46 50 48 50 47 45 44
Source 1: China Meteorological Administration[10][11]
Source 2: Weather China[12]

Transportation edit

Metro edit

The Line 1 of the Changzhou Metro opened on 21 September 2019.[13] The Line 2 opened on 28 June 2021.

Railway edit

Located just south of the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River), Changzhou station is situated on the original Beijing–Shanghai railway. Changzhou North station was completed in 2011 and is located in the north of Changzhou in the Xinbei district on the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway. Changzhou is also one of the main stops on the busy Shanghai–Nanjing intercity railway, with two stations located in Changzhou (Changzhou station and Qishuyan station).

Air travel edit

Changzhou Benniu International Airport in Xinbei District is approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) from the city center.

Highways and Expressways edit

Changzhou has a network of four elevated freeways: the Longcheng Avenue in the north, the Longjiang road in the west, the Qingyang road in the east, and the Changhong road/Jinwu (Jintan-Wujin) Freeway in the south. Together, these four roads make up the "Outer Ring Elevated Road" system.

Bus rapid transport (BRT) system edit

Use of the BRT System costs one yuan and provides access throughout Changzhou. The BRT-only stations and road sections have the following specifications: separate bus lanes or bus-only roadways, a vast network of routes and corridors, high capacity buses operating both outside and inside these corridors, greater passenger volume as compared to that in mixed traffic lanes (about 3000 pphpd), enhanced station environments (not just simple bus shelters), pre-boarding fare collection and fare verification, electric buses, centralized system controls, real-time next bus information app, segregated bike lanes along main corridor(s) as well as station access for disabled persons.

Culture edit

The Changzhou dialect is a member of the Wu Chinese language family.

Other famous handicrafts of Changzhou are silk embroidery in a "crisscross" style and carvings made from green bamboo.

Tourism edit

 
Comb Lane

Amusement parks edit

Changzhou is the home of the China Dinosaurs Park located in the Xinbei District of the city. The 5A rated Dinosaur Park has a collection of dinosaur bones and fossils from all over China. The park has 50 various fossils and more than 30 amusement programs including the Brontosaurus Roller Coaster and the Whirling Dinosaur Carriage. The fossils are located in a museum housed in a single building and the amusement rides are spread throughout the park which is categorized into six themed areas. Besides fossils and family oriented rides, Dinosaur Park is home to a giant panda and sea lions.[14]

In 2011, a new amusement park called CC Joyland (Chinese: 环球动漫嬉戏谷; pinyin: Huánqiú dòngmàn xīxì gǔ) opened in Taihuwan near Taihu lake in Wujin District in the south of Changzhou.

Tianning Temple and Hongmei Park edit

The city is also home to the Tianning Temple—one of the largest Zen Buddhist temple and monasteries in China. The city recently rebuilt the Tianning pagoda in the temple grounds, which is adjacent to Hongmei Park. The pagoda, called the Tianning Baota, was first built during the Tang dynasty (AD 618 – 907). Since that time it has been destroyed and rebuilt five times. The current reconstruction is built to the height specification of 153.79 m (504.6 ft). This makes it the tallest pagoda in China and perhaps also the world. Both the Hongmei Park and Tianning Temple are located just to the east of the city centre.[15]

As Changzhou is noted for its combs, the city has reconstructed its Fine Comb Lane area with contemporary architecture. Changzhou combs can be purchased in most places in the city.

Other sites include Changzhou's sunken city and area of archaeological ruins from the Spring and Autumn period.

Dongpo Park is located in the east part of downtown of Changzhou city, and its original name is Dongjiao Park. It covers 2.667 hectares, and is a typical Jiangnan Garden composed of cultural sites and natural landscape. During the time of south Song dynasty, the civilians of Changzhou established Yizhou Pavilion to commemorate, Su Dongpo, who was the great literature master and used to come to Changzhou. During the time of Qing dynasty, Kangxi and Qianlong, two emperors southwardly visited, they ordered to build up the temporary palace here and reconstructed this pavilion.

Changzhou also has attractive gardens such as the Wei Yuan. The Old Museum of Wisteria is also located in the city.

Sister cities edit

Notable people edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "local leadership information". Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  2. ^ a b "China: Jiāngsū (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) – Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  3. ^ a b OECD Urban Policy Reviews: China 2015, OECD READ edition. OECD. 18 April 2015. p. 37. doi:10.1787/9789264230040-en. ISBN 9789264230033. ISSN 2306-9341. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.Linked from the OECD here Archived 2017-12-09 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "存档副本". 29 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  5. ^ "Historical Changes". Archived from the original on 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  6. ^ "Communiqué of the Seventh National Census of Changzhou". 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  7. ^ "China | CN: GDP: Jiangsu: Changzhou | Economic Indicators". www.ceicdata.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  8. ^ "RightSite.asia | Changzhou Export Processing Zone". Archived from the original on 2010-06-11. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  9. ^ "RightSite.asia | Changzhou National Hi-Tech District". Archived from the original on 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  10. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Experience Template" 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  12. ^ 常州 – 气象数据 -中国天气网 (in Chinese). Weather China. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  13. ^ 常州地铁1号线今日正式开通初期运营. cz001.com.cn (in Chinese (China)). 2019-09-21. Archived from the original on 2019-09-21. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  14. ^ 中华恐龙园官网. www.cnkly.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-18. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  15. ^ "Buddhists gather to inaugurate world's tallest pagoda". China Daily. Xinhua. 2007-04-30. Archived from the original on 2007-12-09. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  16. ^ Siedzik, Jason (2011-12-16). "Delegates From Torrington's Sister City in China Tour Warner Theatre". CT Insider. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  17. ^ "Wyndham's Sister City Program". Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  18. ^ "Figure Card". Archived from the original on 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2018-12-25.

External links edit

  • Official website   (in Chinese)