Ganzhou is a small city in the southern part of Jiangxi province, China and borders Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, and Hunan to the west, making it a significant transportation and commercial hub in the region. The city itself is just outside China's Greater Bay Area and is on the high speed rail network.
[I have visited Ganzhou twice; once in 2013 (by slow train) and again in 2023 (by high speed train)]
Geography
Ganzhou covers an area of approximately 39,400 square kilometers, with more than 70% of its area being forested and over 83% mountainous. The Gan River flows through the center of Ganzhou.
Ganzhou History
Ganzhou has a rich historical background, first settled during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). It became a county seat in the 3rd century CE and was named Ganzhou during the late 12th century under the Song dynasty. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was an important trade center, especially for tea, on the route from Guangzhou to Nanjing and the Yangtze River valley.
Economy and Industry
Ganzhou is known as the "Orange Capital of the World" and the "Tungsten Capital of the World" due to its significant production of these commodities. The city has developed industries in metallurgy and papermaking, leveraging its rich deposits of tungsten and tin, and abundant timber and water resources.
Transportation
Ganzhou is well-connected by various modes of transportation:
- Roads and Highways: Several national highways and expressways pass through Ganzhou. [Easily a nine hour road trip from Hong Kong. Maybe more.]
- Railways: The Beijing-Kowloon Railway and the Ganzhou–Shenzhen high-speed railway serve the city, connecting it to major cities like Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou.
- Air: Ganzhou Huangjin Airport
Cultural and Natural Attractions
Ganzhou boasts many historical and cultural sites, including:
- Ancient city walls and pavilions dating back to the Song dynasty.
- Hakka architecture and various pavilions and temples from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
- Natural landscapes such as Mount Jiulian, Mei Pass, and Cuiwei Peak
Ganzhou is the birthplace of Nobel Laureate Gao Xingjian, artist Hu Zhiying, actress Zhu Xijuan, and professor Li Peng.
The first time we visited, what stood out was the total lack of Western fast food brands. Even though this was 2013. Ten years later and I saw, for the first time in China, a Burger King. Before you think I eat in fast food restaurants in China; it's just something I note when visiting any country.
In Hong Kong, jewelry shops have their products traditionally made in Guangdong province (that is, the Greater Bay Area). However, Ganzhou's location means some jewelers are investing in jewelry-making facilities there because land and labour costs are cheaper than in the Greater Bay Area.
Photos
About Ivan Theodoulou
Ivan Theodoulou is founder of Eight PR, a PR agency in Hong Kong that specializes in tech, law, and corporate PR. He first visited China in 1987 by train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou and has since traveled extensively on the mainland and in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Ivan passed his China driving test in March 2024 and now drives regularly in the GBA.
Places visited in China (by car, plane, train, high speed train, ferry, coach, bus) include: Beijing, Beijou, Chengdu, Dali, Daya Bay, Dongguan, Foshan, Ganzhou, Gaoming, Guangzhou, Hainan, Hailing Island, Heishan, Huizhou, Junan, Kunming, Lijang, Longjiang, Nanhai, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Shilin Yi, Shunde, Wuzhou, Xiamen, Yingde, Yinghe, Zhuhai, Zhaoqing.
Sources: Britannica, Wikidata, Wikitravel, Wikipedia,