Jiangsu Travel Guide

Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China

Meaning of the name of "Taizhou"
"Peaceful Prefecture"

Location
North of the Chang Jiang (Yangzi River), about 25 km (15 miles) east of Yangzhou and 210 km (130 miles) northwest of Shanghai

History
As a prefecture, Taizhou became independent of its larger neighbour Yangzhou in the 10th century AD. Under the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), it was a center of the salt trade, and like Yangzhou, was the home of many wealthy salt merchants.

In 1952, a new canal and ship locks were constructed to link Taizhou with the Yangzi River.

Taizhou is now a center for flour mills, textile works, fishing net manufacturing, and other industries based on local agriculture.

Culture
Mei Langfang (1894-1961), one of the greatest opera performers in Chinese history, was born at Taizhou.

Gaoyou, Jiangsu Province, China

Meaning of the name of "Gaoyou"
"High Post (Office)"

Location
40 km north of Yangzhou, on the east shore of Gaoyou Lake

History
Recent archaeological research at the Longqiuzhuang site in Gaoyou has found evidence of rice-growing dating back to 5,500-7,000 years ago. The discovery was recognized as one of China's Top Ten Archaeological Finds of the year.

Founded in 223 BC as a city, Gaoyou has since ancient times been an important post on the imperial mail route along the Grand Canal between Beijing and Nanjing.

A post office constructed here in 1375 called Yucheng You was in use until 1911. After lying in ruin until recently, it has just been reopened as China's first postal museum.

Besides agriculture, Gaoyou now boasts industries as diverse as silk reeling mills, chemical plants, electrical appliance manufacturers, and a brewery.

Language
Gaoyou is in the region of Lower Yangzi Mandarin Chinese, which means the natives speak a dialect more like Standard Chinese than their neighbours who live closer to Shanghai.