Nanning[a] is the capital and largest city by population of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Southern China.[6] It is known as the "Green City (绿城) " because of its abundance of lush subtropical foliage. Located in the South of Guangxi, Nanning is surrounded by a hilly basin, with a warm, monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate.

Nanning
南宁市 · Namzningz Si
NICEC
Qingxiu Mountain
Longxiang Pagoda
View from Qingxiu Mountain
Map
Location of Nanning City jurisdiction in Guangxi
Location of Nanning City jurisdiction in Guangxi
Nanning is located in China
Nanning
Nanning
Location in China
Coordinates (Guangxi People's Government): 22°49′00″N 108°19′39″E / 22.8167°N 108.3275°E / 22.8167; 108.3275
CountryChina
RegionGuangxi
Municipal seatQingxiu District
Government
 • TypePrefecture-level city
 • BodyNanning Municipal People's Congress
 • CCP SecretaryNong Shengwen
 • Congress ChairmanFeng Xuejun
 • MayorSun Daguang
 • CPPCC ChairmanDu Wei
Area
 • Prefecture-level city22,189 km2 (8,567 sq mi)
 • Urban
6,559 km2 (2,532 sq mi)
 • Metro
5,264 km2 (2,032 sq mi)
Population
 (2020 census)[1]
 • Prefecture-level city8,741,584
 • Density390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
 • Urban
5,977,185
 • Urban density910/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
 • Metro
5,293,359
 • Metro density1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
GDP[2]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 512.1 billion
US$ 79.4 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 58,241
US$ 9,028
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
530000
Area code0771
ISO 3166 codeCN-GX-01
License plate prefixes桂A
Websitewww.nanning.gov.cn
Nanning
"Nánníng" in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese南宁
Traditional Chinese南寧
Hanyu PinyinNánníng
Literal meaning"Southern tranquility"
Zhuang name
ZhuangNamzningz
1957 orthographyNamƨniŋƨ

Beginning in 1949, as it underwent sustained industrial growth, Nanning's economy began developing beyond its former role, and the city became essentially a commercial and administrative centre.[7] Today, Nanning is considered the economic, financial and cultural center of Guangxi, and the chief centre for the training of the Zhuang minority in Guangxi.[8] The People's Park is located in the center of the city. The city also serves as a gateway for the China-ASEAN opening up and cooperation.[8]

The city is home to several notable universities, including Guangxi University, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi University for Nationalities, Guangxi University of Finance and Economics and Guangxi Arts University.

History edit

Nanning, an ancient city with a long history and rich culture, was part of Baiyue ethnic groups in the ancient time.[9] In the first year of Daxing period of Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 318), Jinxing County, established here as one of the county towns, ushered a history of 1700 years of Nanning organizational system. During the Zhenguan period of Tang dynasty (AD 632), it was renamed Yong prefecture (Yongzhou) and established Yongzhou government seat, which is why it has been called Yong () for short. In the first year of Taiding period of Yuan dynasty (AD1318), Yongzhou was renamed Nanning, meaning the Pacified South.

Nanning was once the territory of the Baiyue people and became the capital of Jinxing Prefecture which was separated from Yulin Prefecture of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In 1076 during the Lý–Song War Yongshou was besieged by Lý forces. Under the leadership of Su Jian, the garrison held out for forty-two days before succumbing. The city was razed to the ground and its people massacred by Lý dynasty.

In the Yuan dynasty in 1324, it was renamed Nanning Lu (Nanning Circuit) of Yongzhou. Historically, Nanning was famous for trade, and had permanent business offices from other areas in China since the Song dynasty. In the Ming dynasty Nanning developed into an economic center of the Zuo River and the You River with the reputation of "Little Nanjing".

On 4 December 1949, Nanning was captured by the CPC;[10] in January 1950, Nanning municipality was set up, and identified as the capital city of Guangxi on 8 February of the same year; in March 1958, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was established, and Nanning municipality was the capital city.

Nanning served as host for the annual China–ASEAN Expo (CASEAN Expo) which began in 2004.[11] The city was also the venue for the 2006 World Robotics Olympiad.[12]

Administrative divisions edit

Nanning has jurisdiction over 7 districts, 1 county-level city, 4 counties, and 6 development zones.

Map
Name Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Zhuang Population (2010) Area (km2) Density (/km2)
City proper
Xingning District 兴宁区 Xīngníng Qū Singhningz Gih 398,789 722.68 551.82
Qingxiu District 青秀区 Qīngxiù Qū Cinghsiu Gih 709,721 865.27 820.23
Jiangnan District 江南区 Jiāngnán Qū Gyanghnanz Gih 567,999 1,183.26 480.03
Xixiangtang District 西乡塘区 Xīxiāngtáng Qū Sihsienghdangz Gih 1,153,305 1,076.00 1071.84
Liangqing District 良庆区 Liángqìng Qū Liengzcing Gih 344,768 1,368.88 251.86
Yongning District 邕宁区 Yōngníng Qū Yunghningz Gih 259,721 1,230.73 211.03
Suburban and satellite city
Wuming District 武鸣区 Wǔmíng Qū Vujmingz Gih 544,478 3,388.91 160.66
Hengzhou City 横州市 Héngzhōu Shì Hwngzcouh Si 863,001 3,448.06 250.29
Rural
Long'an County 隆安县 Lóng'ān Xiàn Lungzanh Yen 300,215 2,305.59 130.21
Mashan County 马山县 Mǎshān Xiàn Majsanh Yen 390,900 2,340.76 167.00
Shanglin County 上林县 Shànglín Xiàn Sanglinz Yen 343,590 1,871.00 183.64
Binyang County 宾阳县 Bīnyáng Xiàn Binhyangz Yen 782,255 2,298.17 340.38
Total 6,658,742 22,099.31 301.30

Development Zones:

Cityscape edit

 
Elephant Fountain on Minzu Road
 
Nanning Wuxiang New Area

Nanning is home of the 21st tallest building[13] in the People's Republic of China, the Diwang International Commerce Center, at 276 m (906 ft), currently the tallest building in Guangxi and in southwestern China outside Chongqing. The second tallest building in Nanning is the World Trade Commerce City at 218 meters. The city currently has seven buildings taller than 100 m (330 ft), built or under construction.

Nanning has many parks with tropical lush green landscape, it is one of the "greenest" cities in China, and it's known as "Green City"(绿城). Nanning's downtown skyline is rapidly changing and the city is becoming an important hub in China.

Recently, the government has begun a citywide beautification plan which aimed to further clean up the city and improve its image. This involved curtailing the number of street-side food vendors operating without proper licenses and restricting parking in busy streets. The program has achieved initial success, long-term efforts are still needed to deliver lasting results.[citation needed]

Economy edit

 
Nanning Street

Nanning's GDP in 2015 was 341 billion RMB.[14] The GDP per capita was $7,844. Foreign exports in 2007 were US$10 billion. Foreign fixed asset investment was 34.3 billion RMB. Nanning has six development zones and industrial parks, three of which accounted for 6 billion RMB of Nanning's GDP, more than 8 percent of Nanning's total. Mineral resources include gold, iron, manganese, aluminum, quartz, silver, indium, coal, marble, and granite with a third of China's different types of mineral resources found in Nanning.

Industrial zones edit

  • Nanning Economic & Technological Development Area

Transportation edit

Metro edit

 
Metro map

Nanning Metro system is known for its Nanning Rail Transit (NNRT), expected to comprise a total of nine lines. The first was completed and put into operation in June 2016, the second began operation in December 2017. Line 3 began operation in 2019, and Line 4 began operation in 2020. Line 1 connects the East and West of Nanning, linking the financial and political center and the academic and research center of Nanning.

Air edit

Rail edit

 
Nanning East Railway Station

Nanning has two major railway stations: Nanning railway station and Nanning East railway station. The latter one is newer and also the main destination of high-speed trains. A third, Nanning North railway station, is set to open in 2023 with the Guiyang–Nanning high-speed railway. Nanning railway station is a railway junction for the Nanning–Kunming, Nanning–Guangzhou and Hunan–Guangxi Railways. There are also plans to build a high-speed railway to Pingxiang on the Vietnamese border.[15] The goal is to better integrate Pan-Pearl River Delta and southeast China with members of the ASEAN.[16]

At the end of 2013, some high-speed service has been introduced on the Hunan–Guangxi railway and on the railway line that connects Nanning with Beihai (as well as its branch to Fangchenggang).[17][18] Guangxi is also a conjunction of Guangzhou-Guiyang Highspeed Rail.

Highways edit

 
Nanning Bridge

Flora and fauna edit

Nanning's warm climate gives it a large amount of biodiversity. There are many species of animals and more than 3,000 species of plants. The city flower is the Jaba flower, an evergreen shrub, and the city tree is the almond tree which is regarded as the backbone tree used for greening and landscaping throughout the city.

Geography edit

Nanning is located in the southern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 160 km (99 mi) from the border with Vietnam. It has an administrative area of 22,293 km2 (8,607 sq mi).[19] Nanning is situated in a hilly basin with elevations between 70 and 500 m (230 and 1,640 ft) above sea-level. Qingxiu Mountain dominates the southern part of town.

Climate edit

Nanning has a warm, humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with an annual mean temperature of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F). Summers are hot and humid with July, the hottest month, having a 24-hour average temperature of 28.5 °C (83.3 °F). Winters are mild and somewhat damp with January, the coolest month, averaging 13.3 °C (55.9 °F). From February to August, rain is most frequent and relative humidity consistently averages above 80 percent; the annual rainfall is 1,269 millimetres (50.0 in). The area is also frost-free for all but 3 or 4 days a year and snowfall is virtually unheard of in the city, with a single exception since 1900: in December 1975 snow fell on the city albeit without sticking to the ground. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −2.1 to 40.4 °C (28 to 105 °F).[20] With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 15 percent in March to 51 percent in September, the city receives 1,579 hours of bright sunshine annually.

Climate data for Nanning (Yongning District, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.6
(90.7)
36.2
(97.2)
35.5
(95.9)
38.3
(100.9)
40.4
(104.7)
37.9
(100.2)
39.0
(102.2)
39.1
(102.4)
38.2
(100.8)
35.2
(95.4)
33.7
(92.7)
30.5
(86.9)
40.4
(104.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 17.3
(63.1)
19.2
(66.6)
21.8
(71.2)
27.2
(81.0)
30.9
(87.6)
32.3
(90.1)
32.9
(91.2)
33.1
(91.6)
32.1
(89.8)
29.1
(84.4)
24.9
(76.8)
20.0
(68.0)
26.7
(80.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9)
15.1
(59.2)
18.0
(64.4)
23.0
(73.4)
26.4
(79.5)
28.1
(82.6)
28.5
(83.3)
28.4
(83.1)
27.2
(81.0)
24.1
(75.4)
19.8
(67.6)
15.2
(59.4)
22.3
(72.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 10.7
(51.3)
12.5
(54.5)
15.4
(59.7)
20.0
(68.0)
23.3
(73.9)
25.3
(77.5)
25.7
(78.3)
25.5
(77.9)
24.0
(75.2)
20.7
(69.3)
16.4
(61.5)
12.0
(53.6)
19.3
(66.7)
Record low °C (°F) −2.1
(28.2)
0.2
(32.4)
3.7
(38.7)
9.2
(48.6)
13.5
(56.3)
18.2
(64.8)
19.7
(67.5)
19.9
(67.8)
15.4
(59.7)
6.9
(44.4)
0.7
(33.3)
−1.9
(28.6)
−2.1
(28.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 40.9
(1.61)
31.0
(1.22)
61.0
(2.40)
75.5
(2.97)
174.8
(6.88)
216.8
(8.54)
222.4
(8.76)
193.5
(7.62)
111.2
(4.38)
65.3
(2.57)
42.2
(1.66)
34.6
(1.36)
1,269.2
(49.97)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 9.6 9.6 13.8 12.2 13.9 16.4 16.6 15.4 9.7 6.8 6.9 7.2 138.1
Average relative humidity (%) 76 78 82 79 79 83 82 82 78 74 74 72 78
Mean monthly sunshine hours 64.3 60.0 57.6 103.3 152.7 155.4 187.9 193.3 187.2 175.5 132.6 108.7 1,578.5
Percent possible sunshine 19 19 15 27 37 38 45 49 51 49 40 33 35
Source: China Meteorological Administration[21][22][23] all-time extreme temperature[20]

Twin towns – sister cities edit

Nanning is twinned with:[24]

Demographics edit

As of the 2020 Chinese census, Nanning had a population of 8,741,584, of which 5,293,359 live in its built-up (or metro) area made of 6 urban districts, Wuming District not being conurbated yet. Nanning is a city in which Zhuang ethnic group live in compact communities. Thirty-five ethnic groups live in compact communities in Nanning, including people of Zhuang, Han, Yao, Hui, Miao, Dong, and Man minorities.

Culture edit

Nanning is the center of science and technology, education, culture and health in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. There are altogether 54 scientific research institutes subordinate to districts. 10 colleges and 50 trade schools are training specialised personnel of all kinds. Now there are 62 mass cultural organizations, 13 performing groups, 8 cinemas, 285 projecting units, over 70 karaoke halls and over 1000 newsstands. Bookshops and cultural markets can be found everywhere.

Food edit

 
Laoyou rice noodles

Nanning has not only local cuisine but also food from other areas of China and abroad. Traditional food culture can be found around most streets of Nanning. Nanning food shares the style of Cantonese food and of Southeast Asia. Chinese cuisine including Guangdong, Sichuan, Hunan and Jiangsu as well as Japanese, Thai and Western cuisines can be found.

Rice noodles are very popular among the Nanning people. Laoyou rice noodles are the most famous, while other noodle dishes such as Guilin rice noodles and hand made noodles can be found. Laoyou rice noodles (means old friend rice noodles) are made of fry up pepper, sour bamboo shoots, black beans and garlic, then pork, and then soup and rice noodles. The sour-spicy tasting noodles are a very popular and cheap favorite street food for all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) in Nanning.

The dish, Lemon duck, is originally from Nanning.

Tourism edit

Nanning is close to scenic Guilin, with its world-famous hillscape, northern and western Guangxi and its minority villages, and the border with Vietnam in the south. Tourist attractions in Nanning include Guangxi Museum, People's Park with the Zhenning Fort, Mount Qingxiu, Guangxi Medicinal Herb Botanical Garden,[26] and Yangmei Ancient Town.[27] Other places of interest include Nanhu Park, Shishan Park and Nanning Zoo.

Colleges and universities edit

 
Guangxi University

Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.

Notable people edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ /ˌnɑːnˈnɪŋ/,[3][4] also /ˌnænˈnɪŋ/;[4][5] Chinese: 南宁; pinyin: Nánníng; Zhuang: Namzningz

References edit

  1. ^ "China: Guăngxī (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  2. ^ "广西统计年鉴-2021", tjj.gxzf.gov.cn
  3. ^ "Definition of NANNING". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Definition of Nanning | Dictionary.com". www.dictionary.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Nanning". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Illuminating China's Provinces, Municipalities and Autonomous Regions". PRC Central Government Official Website. Archived from the original on 19 June 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Nanning | China". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Nanning Overview". Nanning Municipal Government. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  9. ^ "古代南宁政权更迭史及审判史迹" [The history of regime change and trial history in ancient Nanning]. Nanning Court Network Editorial Board. 27 September 2013. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Chinese Civil War - Nationalist collapse and the establishment of the People's Republic of China (1949) | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  11. ^ "ASEAN and China Gear Up for CAEXPO". asean.org. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  12. ^ admin (18 August 2021). "Previous Challenges". WRO Association. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  13. ^ According to the table on List of tallest buildings in the People's Republic of China
  14. ^ Huang, Yanmei (黄艳梅); Yang, Zhixiong (杨志雄) (25 March 2008). 2007南宁市GDP总量首次突破一千亿元人民币. 中新广西网 (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015 – via Xinhua Guangxi.
  15. ^ "High-speed railway to boost trade". Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  16. ^ "China starts construction of Nanning-Guangzhou high-speed rail line". Xinhua. 9 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  17. ^ Nanning train schedule Archived 2 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Chinese)
  18. ^ 广西再开通运营9对动车组 陈武宣布高铁开通 [Guangxi opens new CRH service, with 9 pairs of train a day. Chen Wu announces the opening of high-speed service]. huochepiao.com. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  19. ^ 南宁市 (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on 10 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  20. ^ a b "Extreme Temperatures Around the World". Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  21. ^ 中国气象局 国家气象信息中心 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 16 July 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  22. ^ "Index" 中国气象数据网 - WeatherBk Data. China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  23. ^ CMA台站气候标准值(1991-2020) (in Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  24. ^ "南宁市国际友城名单及分布图". nanning.gov.cn (in Chinese). Nanning. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Перелік партнерських міст Івано-Франківська" (PDF). mvk.if.ua (in Ukrainian). Ivano-Frankivsk. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  26. ^ China's Southwest. Lonely Planet. 2007. p. 192. ISBN 978-1-74104-185-9. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  27. ^ "Ancient Town of Yangmei". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2015.

External links edit