Home : China Guide : Jiangsu : Zhangjiagang

Meaning of the name of "Zhangjiagang"
"Zhang Family Harbour"

Population
820,000

Location
On the south bank of the Yangzi River (Chang Jiang), about 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Shanghai and 30 km (20 miles) north of Wuxi.

History
Zhangjiagang is a relatively new city, having been developed from a small farming town following the economic reforms of the last 15 years. By 1994 the city had the second-highest economic rating in China, with an urban per-capita income of $1000/year. The rural population around Zhangjiagang is said to be even wealthier.

In 1993, Zhangjiagang was selected to be a unique model city for all of China. Householders were given pamphlets listing the 10 "don'ts" and 6 "dos" of what the government called "civilized behaviour". The new rules emphasized courtesy, mutual respect, and obediance to authority. Thanks to vigourous enforcement, the rules are followed to such a degree that visitors remark on the beauty, cleanliness and friendliness of Zhangjiagang relative to other Chinese cities. The government began trumpeting their accomplishment nationwide, in a campaign reminiscent of the old "Learn from the Dazhai Commune" propaganda effort of the Cultural Revolution. The current goal of the central government is to turn China into a country of mini-Singapores, with clean, pleasant cities filled with polite, obedient citizens. So far, clean, friendly cities are such a novelty in China that up to 300,000 tourists visit Zhangjiagang every year to sample what could be the future of urban life in China.

Language
Zhangjiagang is in the region of Wu dialects , so the natives speak a dialect similar to that of Shanghai.

(Source: www.magma.ca)

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