Zhenjiang history

Zhenjiang is a city with a rich history spanning over 3,000 years. The first settlements in this territory appeared as early as the Zhou Dynasty era. The official founding date of the city is considered to be 545 BC. In 211 BC, during the Qin Empire, a county was established here, which was later named Dantu. The city received its current name, which translates as "Guarding the River," during the Song Empire in 1113, emphasizing its strategic importance.

A key factor in the formation and prosperity of Zhenjiang was its unique geographical location. The city is situated on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, at its intersection with the Grand Canal—the oldest and longest artificial waterway in the world. This transformed it into a vital transport and trade hub of Ancient China. Routes for transporting grain, salt, and other goods between the north and south of the country passed through Zhenjiang, ensuring its economic well-being and political influence. Throughout its history, the city has repeatedly served as an administrative center and even a temporary capital.

Thanks to its prosperity, Zhenjiang became a significant cultural center from early times. Trade wealth attracted scholars, poets, and artists who left behind a rich legacy. The city is known for traditional crafts, such as jade carving and silk painting. According to legends, it was here that the events of the famous Legend of the White Snake, associated with the Jinshan Temple, unfolded. In 1986, the State Council of the PRC included Zhenjiang in the list of cities of national historical and cultural significance, confirming its unique role in the history and culture of China.

Timeline of Events

• 545 BC — The conventional date of the foundation of the first fortified settlement on the site of modern Zhenjiang.
• 221 BC — After the unification of China under the rule of the Qin Dynasty, Dantu County was officially established here.
• 209 AD — Warlord Sun Quan moved his headquarters here, renaming the city Jingkou and strengthening its defensive structures.
• 610 AD — Construction was completed on the section of the Grand Canal connecting the city to the Yangtze River, turning it into a strategic transport hub.
• 1113 AD — During the Song Dynasty era, the city received its current name, which translates as "Guarding the River."
• 1276 AD — The city became part of the Yuan Empire, retaining its status as an important trade and craft center.
• 1842 AD — During the First Opium War, a major battle known as the Battle of Chinkiang (Zhenjiang) took place here.
• 1853 AD — The city was occupied by Taiping troops, who held it for four years.
• 1861 AD — Zhenjiang was opened to international trade as a treaty port, after which a foreign settlement began to form here.
• 1929 AD — The city was declared the capital of Jiangsu Province, which contributed to its architectural and cultural development in the first half of the 20th century.
• 1949 AD — The city entered the modern historical period with the rise to power of the CPC.
• 2005 AD — Opening of the Runyang Bridge across the Yangtze, which was among the longest suspension bridges in the world at the time of construction.

Major Development Milestones and Their Significance

The evolution of Zhenjiang was defined by its unique location at the junction of the two main waterways of China. The city has journeyed from a military fortification to a modern industrial center while preserving its cultural heritage.

• Creation of the Grand Canal (7th Century)
  Connecting the Yangtze River with the North China Plain through a canal system turned the city into a key logistics hub.
  Significance: Zhenjiang became the "gateway" for transporting grain and goods from south to north, ensuring a constant flow of capital and merchants for centuries to come.
• Economic Flourishing in the Song Era (960–1279)
  Development of crafts, especially silk production, ceramics, and silverware.
  Significance: The city transformed from a transit point into an independent center of production and culture, attracting the best masters and poets of that time.
• Opening of the Port for Foreign Trade (1861)
  After the defeat of the Qing Empire in the Second Opium War, the city received treaty port status, and a British concession was founded here.
  Significance: The beginning of urban modernization and westernization. The appearance of European-style buildings and the introduction of Western trade standards formed the unique architectural appearance of the Xijindu district.
• Capital Status (1928–1949)
  During the Republic of China period, the city served as the capital of Jiangsu Province.
  Significance: Political elevation contributed to the development of urban infrastructure, the education system, and administrative management, strengthening the city's position in the region.
• Industrialization and Infrastructure Breakthrough (21st Century)
  Construction of giant bridges across the Yangtze, including the Runyang Bridge, and connection to the high-speed rail network.
  Significance: Final integration into the Yangtze River Delta economic zone. This allowed the city to develop high-tech industries and become an important link in the modern Shanghai-Nanjing agglomeration.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning of Zhenjiang

The architectural landscape of Zhenjiang represents a multi-layered canvas bearing the imprint of different eras—from ancient Chinese dynasties to the period of European influence and the modern construction boom. The city harmoniously combines traditional temple complexes, colonial buildings, and futuristic structures, reflecting its rich and dynamic history.

Traditional Chinese Architecture

The historical appearance of the city is formed by classical Chinese architecture, closely linked to the natural landscape. Many ancient structures are integrated into the hilly terrain and located by the water.

• Temple Architecture: The brightest example is Jinshan Temple (Golden Hill), built during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (265–420 AD). This Buddhist monastery complex literally "clings" to the hill, creating an impressive architectural ensemble with pagodas, pavilions, and halls connected by winding stairs. Another important site is Jiaoshan Temple on the island of the same name, surrounded by a park and water currents.
• Historic Quarters: The heart of the old city is the Xijin Ferry (Xijindu) Historical Block. This is a beautifully preserved district that was once a lively crossing over the Yangtze. Narrow streets paved with stone lead past ancient residential houses, shops, and temples. The uniqueness of the quarter lies in the fact that here, under glass, one can see layers of road surfacing from different dynasties—Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, vividly demonstrating the centuries-old history of this place. The stone Zhaoguan Stupa, built during the Yuan Dynasty, is also located here.

Treaty Port Period and European Influence

After the opening of Zhenjiang to foreign trade in 1861, buildings in the Western style appeared in the city. This period left a noticeable mark on the architecture, especially in the Xijindu area.

• Consular Buildings: The most iconic object of this era is the former British Consulate, built on a hillside in the Xijindu quarter. The complex consists of several buildings in the East Indian colonial style. Today, its walls house the Zhenjiang Museum, which holds a rich collection of artifacts.

Modern Development

Like many Chinese cities, Zhenjiang has been experiencing rapid urban development in recent decades. New architecture is aimed at creating a modern urban environment, developing infrastructure, and forming new cultural and business centers.

• Infrastructure Projects: Modern bridges, wide avenues, and transport interchanges are appearing, connecting different districts of the city and neighboring metropolises.
• New Public Spaces: Modern sports complexes, exhibition centers, and theaters are being built, becoming new points of attraction for residents and tourists. Although Zhenjiang is not as famous for its skyscrapers as Shanghai or Shenzhen, modern residential and office buildings are actively being erected in the city, changing its skyline.

Distinguished Figures Associated with Zhenjiang

Throughout its centuries-old history, Zhenjiang has been a home, workplace, or source of inspiration for many outstanding figures who left a noticeable mark on culture, science, and business.

• Liu Xie (approx. 465–522) — A literary critic of the Southern and Northern Dynasties era. His main work, "Wenxin Diaolong" ("The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons"), is one of the most fundamental and comprehensive works in the history of Chinese literary theory. This work laid the foundations for the analysis and criticism of literature for many centuries to come.
• Xiao Tong, Prince Zhaoming (501–531) — Crown Prince of the Liang Dynasty. He went down in history as a patron of literature and the compiler of "Wen Xuan" ("Selections of Refined Literature"). This is one of the earliest and most influential anthologies of Chinese poetry and prose, which defined the literary canon and tastes of educated society for centuries.
• Shen Kuo (1031–1095) — An outstanding encyclopedic scientist and statesman of the Song Dynasty. Although born in another region, he spent his final years in seclusion at his "Dream Brook Garden" estate near Zhenjiang. It was here that he wrote his famous treatise "Dream Pool Essays," in which he described the principle of the magnetic compass for the first time in history, proposed a theory on the geological origin of terrain, and touched upon hundreds of topics from astronomy to medicine.
• Mi Fu (1051–1107) — A painter, poet, and one of the four greatest calligraphers of the Song Dynasty. He spent over 40 years in Zhenjiang (then Runzhou), and it was here that his creativity reached its peak. Mi Fu is known for his eccentric character and innovative style of landscape painting, named the "Mi style," which had a huge influence on subsequent generations of artists. After his death, he was buried in the vicinity of the city, and a calligraphy park is dedicated to him in modern Zhenjiang.
• Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) — An American writer and Nobel Prize laureate in Literature. She arrived in Zhenjiang with her missionary parents in infancy and spent nearly 20 years of her childhood and youth here. The city and life within it had a huge influence on her work. Her novel "The Good Earth," awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and other works opened the life and daily existence of the Chinese people to the Western world. The writer's house-museum has been preserved in Zhenjiang, and the residents themselves call her the "Daughter of Zhenjiang."
• Liu Chuanzhi (born 1944) — One of the pioneers of the modern Chinese technology industry, founder of Lenovo. Born in Zhenjiang, he turned a small firm created with the support of the Chinese Academy of Sciences into a global giant in personal computer manufacturing, which gained fame after acquiring the PC division from IBM.