South of middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River lies Jiangxi, a province bordered by Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces to the east, Guangdong Province to the South, Hunan Province to the west, and Hubei and Anhui provinces to the north. Under the jurisdiction of Jiangxi are 4 prefectures (Ji'an, Yichun, Wuzhou and Shangrao) and 7 municipalities (Nanchang, Yingtan, Pingxiang, Xinyu, Jiujiang, Jingdezhen and Ganzhou). Nanchang, the capital city, is the leading transportation hub of the entire province and a major transit center for travelers entering and leaving the province. With the Beijing Kowloon Railway crossing the Hangzhou-Nanchang Railway in Jiangxi, where more than 70 pairs of trains shuttle to and fro on a daily basis. The charms of the local landscape are ascribed to the magnificent forms of the Lushan (a world cultural heritage site), Jinggangshan, Longhushan and Sanqing mountains, as well as the mirror-like Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake of China. Porcelain making goes back a long time at Jingdezhen and forms a cultural school in its own right. The Prince of Teng's Tower by the Poyang Lake is one of the three major towers south of the Yangtze. The presence of so many revolutionary sites bespeak Jiangxi's important position in modern Chinese revolution.

Abbreviation: Gan
Area: 166,900 square km
Population: 42 million

THE PROVINCE'S MEAN TEMPERATURE ()

Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province, is better known as a heroic city because of the 1927 Communist-led August 1 Nanchang Uprising, which marked the birth of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The city's sizeable industrial setup consists of iron and steel, electronics, machine building, auto, tractor, chemical, power, papermaking and textile industries. Former revolutionary sites mingle with a rich cultural heritage in this city.

Prince of Teng's Tower

Prince of Teng's Tower, built in 659 in Nanchang, is one of three major towers south of the Yangtze River whose national fame stems from the Tang poet Wang Bo's "Introducing Prince of Teng's Tower". The tower as it stands today is a 57.5-metrehigh reinforced concrete structure built in 1985 in Tang and Song architectural styles. Soaring from amidst the lush foliage of trees to the clouds in a most elegant fashion, its multiple layers of eaves curving gracefully like so many wings, the building commands a most breathtaking view of the picturesque surroundings.

Jiangxi History Museum

The History Museum of Jiangxi covers an area of 4 hectares in Nanchang. Collected in its various buildings, totalling 26, 000 square metres in floor space, are 15,000 or so revolutionary relics and some 100,000 historical and cultural artefacts-pottery, bronze ware, calligraphic works and paintings, ancient books and documents, local gazetteers, stone tablet rubbings, and whatnot. Among those on display are 600 exquisite pieces of porcelain.

Bada Shanren's Studio

This studio, situated at Qingyunpu in south Nanchang, showcases calligraphic works and paintings by Bada Shanren, a Ming abstract painter whose real name was Zhu Da. On the premises are the tomb of the painter and a garden graced with a tiny bridge, gurgling stream, old trees, and bamboo groves.

Lushan Mountain

Lushan Mountain is an important national scenic and summer resort. In 1996 it was endorsed as world cultural heritage site. Towering over Yangtze River in the south of Jiujiang on one side, and Poyang Lake on another, the mountain is linked with Nanchang by a 100-km expressway. Since ancient times Lushan has been frequented by famous men of letters, who have left a wealth of cultural heritage. Altogether there are 474 scenic spots in 12 scenic areas. The beauty of Lushan Mountain is attributed to its exotic peaks and mysterious caves, cascading waterfalls and gurgling springs, ancient temples and stele forest, and buildings that seem to be suspended in midair. "The waterfalls of Lushan is famous under heaven", as one saying goes. "The beauty of Lushan is unmatched under heaven," goes another. It is a religious sanctuary, as well as a centre of education, culture and politics. China's first subtropical mountain botanical garden was built there. In the 1920s, Lushan became the summering centre of the ruling Kuomintang Party, which left quite a few historical sites there. The mountain today is equipped with a complete array of tourist facilities. Transportation is made convenient by airports at Nanchang and Lushan. Lushan is also a terminal on the Beijing-Kowloon Railway. A highway extends directly to the centre of Lushan-Guling Town.

Longhu Mountain

Longhu (Dragon and Tiger) Mountain is a national scenic resort 20km to the south ern suburbs of Yingtan. Clustered along the bewitching Luxi River are a series of scenic spots, which can be observed by rafting down the river. Coffins are seen suspended on some cliffs by the river. As the domain of the Zhengyi sect of Taojism, Longhu Mountain is visited by a constant stream of pilgrims.

Jinggang Mountains

Jinggang Mountains, sitting astride Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, is a national scenic place in China. So many revolutionary sites, monuments, and museums indicate that Jinggangshan was a cradle of Chinese revolution. The mountains, looking majestic, breathtaking, and graceful, are excellent for sightseeing, summering and recuperating. The back of the Chinese banknote with a 100-yuan denomination is printed with a picture of Wuzhi, the major peak of Jinggang Mountains.

Jingdezhen

Jingdezhen, China's capital of porcelain-making industry, used to be known as Changnan and Xinping. During the Jingde reign (1004-1007) of the Song, the quality porcelains made by local artisans drew the attention of Emperor Zhenzong, who designated them for imperial use and had the wording "Made during the Jingde Reign" printed on the bottom of every piece of porcelain made there. Hence the name, Jingdezhen. A 1,700-year-old history in the making of porcelain has pockmarked the land of he city with ancient kilns, and nurtured a distinctive folklore. Avisit to the place never fails to become a most rewarding experience. Panlong Town in the west of the city is the site of the Jingdezhen Porcelain Museum, whose cluster of Ming and Qing buildings and Ming porcelain-making kilns capture exactly the essence of the local cultural heritage.

Sanqing Mountain

Sanqing (Pure Trinity) Mountain is another national scenic resort in northeast Jiangxi Province. Exotic-looking rock prominences are the forte of this resort, which is also graced with running springs and cascading waterfalls and historical sites of Taoism. Transportation has been vastly improved, and there are a complete line of facilities, as the resort is fast emerging as a key tourist destination in Jiangxi.
SOUVENIRS

Jingdezhen Porcelains: The porcelains produced in the Chinese porcelain-making capital are known throughout the world for their fine and smooth textures and exquisite glazing. They are "white as jade, thin as paper, bright as mirror, and, when struck with a finger, sounds like a chime".

Ji'an Sandalwood Boxes: Sandalwood boxes made in Ji'an are finished with quality clear varnish, and solidly built for durable use. The seemingly ever-lasting scent of the wood is enough to keep the clothes kept in the boxes from insects.

Nanfeng Tangerines: Tangerines produced in Nanfeng are a precious strain among all Chinese citrus products.
Yunwu (Cloud-and-Fog) Tea: Produced in Lushan Mountain, the Yunwu tea is famous in China.