Taizhou of Jiangsu Province

Located in central Jiangsu Province on the banks of the Yangtze River, Taizhou has a history of more than 2,100 years.

Taizhou has been a prosperous place and an important transportation hub for centuries. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it was a main center for the salt trade and a home to many wealthy salt merchants.

The rich history of the area has given Taizhou quite a reputation. It has been a political, economic and cultural center of Jiangsu for ages; many talented people have come from Taizhou. Shi Nai'an(1296—1372), author of the famed Chinese novel Outlaws of the Marsh and Mei Lanfang(1894 –1961), a well known Peking Opera performer, both came from Taizhou.

A statue of famous Peking Opera performer Mei Lanfang in Taizhou

Due to its favorable geographical location, rich resources and solid economic foundation, Taizhou has enjoyed average annual economic growth of about 10 percent for the last 20 years.

The Qinhu Lake Wetland in Taizhou is a freshwater wetland–a rare sight in China. The water from Qinhu Lake is very pure, with almost no pollutants. Taizhou is also the birthplace of the Navy of Chinese People's Liberation Army, which was founded on April 23, 1949.