Nantong Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 南通 (nán tōng)
Population: 7,318,000
Area: 8,544square kilometers (3,299 square miles)
Location: in the southeast of Jiangsu Province, east China
Administrative Division: 3 districts (Chongchuan, Gangzha, Tongzhou); 1 county (Rudong); 4 county-level cities (Haimen, Qidong, Tongzhou, Rugao)
Area Code: 0513
Zip Code: 226000
GDP (2019): CNY 938.34 billion (USD 136.01 billion)

Standing on the Yangtze River Delta, Nantong is located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province. The ports of China's coastal area can be reached through its estuary to the sea. Proceeding northward along the Yangtze River, the city can connect the thoroughfares with cities in Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan provinces.

Nantong is one of the four largest kite producing areas in China, famous for producing kites with unique sound effects. Nantong kites are simple in shape, richly and elegantly painted and decorated with whistles. After flying, the kite will make a big and beautiful sound, as if playing an air symphony. Nantong Kite Museum allows tourists to see exquisite kite collections at close range, understand kite culture and make kites by themselves.

Nantong plays an important role in the history of modern Chinese culture, science and education, because it established many schools firstly during the Republic of China era, such as the normal school, textile school and meteorological station. Hao River and Langshan National Forest Park are two main scenic spots in urban Nantong. 

Enjoying a subtropical and warm temperate monsoon climate, Nantong has relatively moderate and favorable weather with enough sunshine and abundant rainfall. Its average temperature of a year is about 15°C (59°F). Just as other cities in Jiangsu Province, the rainy season of the city usually ranges from July to September.

 When to Go: Spring is the most favorable season to pay a visit, for the weather is neither hot nor cold. The water, garden and mountain landscape make the city in spring the most charming.

 Dining: Delicious food is ever indispensable to journeys. Qingnian Zhong Road is perfect destination to eat delicacies. It is a street collecting various foods, such as Guangdong (Cantonese) cuisine and Sichuan cuisine, as well as tea bars and eateries.

 Physical Features: Nantong City is on the north bank of the Yangtze River, neighboring north Jiangsu Plain and separated from Shanghai by the Yangtze River. It is a fine port and the hinge of coastal transportation in Jiangsu's coastal area.

 History: This area was formed by the deposition of Yangtze River sediment in remote ages. In the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), it was a famous town prosperous in salt producing. It was in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) that Nantong began to be linked with the mainland of China. Before that period it was called Douzhou, an islet. From then on, it was well-known for its location leading everywhere.

 Special Local Products: marine products, embroidery, blue printed cloth (blue cloth with design in white)