Nanchang History & Culture

In 202 BC, Guan Ying, a general of the Western Han Dynasty, built a city here, initially named Guan Ying City. Over 2200 years, the area has been known by various names including Yuzhang, Hongzhou, and Longxing. During the Ming Dynasty, it was officially named Nanchang, meaning "prosperous south" and "great southern frontier." Nanchang is a settlement area of the Jiangxi ethnic group and has served as the seat of county, prefecture, and state governments throughout history. It is also the political, economic, scientific, educational, and cultural center of Jiangxi Province. The Nanchang Municipal People's Government was officially established on June 7, 1949. Nanchang is a key central city in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, as approved by the State Council, a national historical and cultural city, a national comprehensive transportation hub, and a regional advanced manufacturing base. Nanchang is a place of rich cultural heritage, renowned throughout history for its abundant resources and outstanding people, having nurtured many great figures such as Ling Lun, Xu Ruzi, Wang Yangming, and Hu Xiansu. Nanchang has more than 50 national, provincial, and municipal key cultural relics protection units. Nanchang is also known as the "Hero City," where the first shot of the armed resistance against the Kuomintang reactionaries was fired during the August 1st Uprising, earning it the reputation of "the place where the military flag was raised." The first ship of the Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, a national strategic asset, was named "Nanchang."