Jiangsu

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, Gaoyou Hu, Hongze Hu).

The climate shows considerable variations: while the south has a moist temperate climate, the north is cooler. The annual rainfall, which decreases as one goes northwards, is about 1000mm/39in. In summer and autumn the area is subject to typhoons.

Up until the 6th C BC the region belonged mainly to the Wu Kingdom. When the Mongols conquered northern China in the 12th C, the Song dynasty fled to the south, causing south Jiangsu to develop into an economic, cultural and political center. The province, whose name is derived from its two prefectures, Jiangning and Suzhou, was set up in 1667 by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty. Between 1839 and 1842 the English advanced into the Changjiang delta area and during the Japanese War (1931-45) Japan occupied Jiangsu, which suffered considerable damage as a result.

Since 1949, besides the traditional textile and food industries, machine engineering, motor vehicle and chemical industries have also gained prominence. In the agricultural sector vegetables, cereals, cotton and rape should be mentioned. In addition salt is extracted in the coastal region. Wuxi and Suzhou are centers of silk production, which has made Jiangsu famous both in China and abroad.