Zhangjiagang Travel Guide

The history of Zhangjiagang (张家港) traces back to Neolithic Age about 8,000 years ago. The evidence is that the earliest relics in the lower reaches of Yangtze River have been found here. There are ten Neolithic sites have been discovered up till now. Zhangjiagang was belonged to the administration of Wu State (勾吴/吴国) during the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC - 1046 BC) and set up Jiyang County (暨阳县) in the Jin Dynasty (265 AD - 420 AD). The northern part of Zhangjiagang port has been administrated by Nantong County during the Qing Dynasty and the Nationalist period. A county called Shazhou was set up in this area by the Communist Party of China during the patriotic Anti-Japanese War (1937 - 1945). After China's liberation in 1949, the east Zhangjiagang was belonged to Changshu County (常熟县) while west was Jiangyin County (江阴县).

Since the turbulent times of 1960s in China the historical people's communes were set up in Shazhou County. Then in September 1986 the State's Council abolished Shazhou County and established the Zhangjiagang City, which has an area of about 1,000 sq. km, of which the water area is about 221 sq. km, and the city is 100km away from Shanghai Municipality. In ancient times Yangtze River divided the land into south and north parts. Low hills have been formed through ages in southern and western portions, while the north is the new Yangtze Delta, which has taken shape by tens of sandy shoals. This forming process took about 7,000 years. There are 6033 small creeks flowing in Zhangjiagang, the total length of these is 4477.3km. That is to say, in one square kilometer of land there will be a stream of 5.71km averagely. Moreover, fresh water, natural gas and quartz stone resources are very rich.

Now the total population in Zhangjiagang is estimated about 880,000. They are the registered local people with about 460,000 people from other places whose are living here temporarily for jobs.

Local specialties are fishery products, juicy fruits and delicious dried bean curd, which is called the Phoenix Dried Bean Curd originated in the Qing Dynasty. This product had been used as article of tribute for the Qing Imperial Court.

Close to Suzhou and Shanghai, Zhangjiagang's traffic is convenient. The arrangement of the highways is "five ways which are going south to north, five roads from east to west, with one big flyover and a ring expressway". The Zhangjiagang Port occupies 33.7 sq. km of water area located at Yangtze River Estuary and is free of frost and slit. It is now an international trade port and the only inland port of tariff-free in China. There is a low-tax logistics development area in Zhangjiagang too. 

In recent decades the endeavoring effort of local people has made Zhangjiagang one of the well developed cities in Jiangsu Province. The achievements they made and the richness in civil resources have also promoted the local tourism industry. In the city, there are lots historical and cultural scenes. Century Square, Jiyang Lake Park, Zhangjiagang Park and Shazhou Park, to name a few, are ideal places for leisure and relax. If you like more exciting tour, the Shuangshan Island (双山岛) Holiday Resort is a great place to visit. A golf course is built on the island. It is the one and only course that is constructed on a river island in China.

Xiangshan Hill Scenic Tourism Area is located in Nansha Town at the west of Zhangjiagang. The hill is height about 136 meters above sea level and not far from downtown. Lots kinds of fruit tree and bamboo, as well as many herbs can be found here. Xiangshan means Fragrance Hill in Chinese, for which it is said that in ancient times a senior official dispatched pretty girls to go to the hill in searching fragrant herbs. This beautiful area and its legend have attracted many poets and litterateurs who have written lots of work in praising the scene.