Overview

Yangzhou, a city famous for its history and culture, is located in the central part of Jiangsu with the lower reaches of Yangtze River in south and Jianghuai plain in north. It borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across the river to the south. With nearly 2500 years of history in urban area, Yangzhou has 3 districts (Guangling, Weiyang and Hanjiang), 3 county-level cities (Jiangdu, Gaoyou and Yizheng) and Baoying County. There are 87 villages and towns and 11 sub-district offices in the whole city with total area of 6634 square kilometers (urban area 988.81 sq.kms.) and total population of 4.5361 million (urban population 1.1252 million).

There are 49 ethnic groups in Yangzhou and the Han nationality accounts for 99.57% of the total population. The Hui nationality, the most populated minority, accounts for 65% of the minority population. Gaoyou Lingtang Hui nationality village is the only minority village in Jiangsu province.

Yangzhou is not only a scenic city with beautiful landscape, but also a culture city with a galaxy of celebrities and a city with centuries old sites. There is the oldest canal in China, mausoleums of Han and Sui emperors, historical sites of ancient city in Tang and Song Dynasty and private gardens in Ming and Qing Dynasty. With numerous human landscapes, beautiful natural scene and rich tourist resources, it attracts numerous Chinese and foreign tourists.

In 1998, Yangzhou was awarded the title of Excellent Tourist City in China. Shouxihu, the best known lake with garden, and ancient Daming temple are both the scenic spots with 4As level in China. He garden, Ge garden, historical city in Tang Dynasty, Gaoyou Mengchengyi, Puhading tomb and dwelling place in Longqiuzhuang are all historical and cultural relics under state protection. Qianlong water tourism route in famous Shouxihu is the national level tourism route recommended by China Tourism Administration to the tourists both at home and abroad. The tourism products for Muslim are increasingly becoming an important component part of Muslim tourism route in China.

In 2004, Yangzhou won the best Human Habitat Environment Award. By making full use of the advantage as a famous city and scenic characteristic for years, Yangzhou attaches much importance to its history, culture, water, landscape and elegancy, successfully develop a group of new, famous and delicate tourism products and further exploit and perfect its local culture tourism, e.g. Shouxihu Qianlong water tourism route, Gaoyou lake recreation tour for fishing fun and Yizheng ecological tour. Besides, a group of new tourist spots have been formally opened to the outside world, e.g. the Wang's Courtyard, the No. 2 tomb of Han Guang Ling king Tomb Museum, Gaomin Temple, Puhading Cemetery, scenic spot of ancient canal in urban area, Tomb of Sui Yang king, Industrial Arts Exhibition Spot of jade ware factory, West Suburb Forest Park, Yizheng Dengyue Lake Tourism and Vacation Resort and Jiangdu Longshuan Square.

Yangzhou, one of the first 24 historical and cultural cities approved by State Department in 1982, has abundant human landscapes and historical sites. Classical gardens have the artistic styles with both the elegancy in southern area and the majesty in the northern area. There are 50 travel agencies of all kinds and 36 restaurants with Star level. From the Year 2000, Yangzhou periodically held the Flowery March Tourist Festival and Moon Culture Festival with the aim to promote the development of tourism. In 2007, Yangzhou received 15.56 million domestic and foreign tourists trips, tourism total revenue realized 15.58 billion yuan, 2.4 times in 2002 and three times.