History
As an original part of the Wu kingdom, Jiangsu had the traditional name of Wu. In addition, the two characters of Jiangsu were derived from Jiangning (Nanjing) and Suzhou. In 1667, it was formed as a Province named Jiangnan, which served as the gateway to the central China, with the history of about 341 years. In 1842, Jiangsu became the major market for European commercial activity through the Treaty of Nanjing, which was signed by the Chinese and British governments. After the Sino-Japanese war lasting seven years, Jiangsu was liberated by the Chinese Nationalists in 1945 and it was later administered by the Communists in 1949. At that time, Jiangsu was separated and supervised as two regional parts, north and south Jiangsu. However, in 1952 the province was combined into its current format. Since 1956, many historical and archaeological sites have been discovered. The province was as a part of the Shanghai special economic zone in 1984. Today, Jiangsu province has become one of the most prosperous provinces in China.

Culture
Jiangsu was the political and cultural center for many dynasties, with a long history and rich cultural heritage. This is clearly reflected in its numerous crafts, performing arts, festivals, and the famous people with which it is associated.

Jiangsu is rich in exquisite crafts and craft-making, and almost every city has something unique to offer. The traditional crafts include Suzhou silk embroidery, Nanjing cloud brocade, Wuxi clay figurines, Changzhou combs, Yangzhou lacquer ware, Yixing teapots, Nantong blue calico cloth, and many others.

Jiangsu’s festivals and events are many and varied. Some of the festivals are religious, while others are held around special holidays such as dragon boat races and lantern festivals. Many festivals and events are seasonal and are related to agriculture and flowers.

Jiangsu is the birthplace of many famous Chinese people and is also associated with famous people from other countries. Marco Polo, the famous Italian explorer spent time in both Suzhou and Yangzhou, while the Nobel Prize winning author, Pearl Buck, had her home in Yangzhou for many years. Two premiers of the People’s Republic of China, Zhou Enlai and Hu Jintao, hail from Jiangsu. The province was also home to many famous writers and performers, including Mei Lan Fan, famous Chinese opera star, and Wu Cheng’en, author of Journey to the West.

Jiangsu is famous for its many forms of local drama and opera, such as Kun, Xi, Huai, Yang, Huaihai, Liuqin, Bangzi, and others. There are 15 kinds of Chinese folk art forms in Jiangsu, including the local songs with Suzhou dialect, Yangzhou dialect, Xuzhou songs with dulcimer, Huaihai gong and drum, and Nanjing Baiju (local songs with Nanjing dialect). Concerning music, the most representative local form is Jiang Nan Si Zhu (playing music with Erhu fiddle, dulcimer, and lute). The most well known local song of South Jiangsu is Jasmine Flower and for North Jiangsu it is The Moon Reflected in Er-quan. The local dance, called the dance with a colorful fan, is very popular with Chinese people.