Nantong History & Culture

Nantong, one of the birthplaces of modern Chinese national industry, boasts a long history. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the area surrounding Nantong city rose to form Hudouzhou (later called Hudouzhou). During the Tang Dynasty, Langshan Town was established, belonging to the Zhejiang West Circuit. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, it was called Jinghai. In the fifth year of Xiande in the Later Zhou Dynasty, Jinghai Army was established, and the city was soon renamed Tongzhou. During the Song Dynasty, it was briefly called Chongzhou and Jinghai Commandery. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was briefly promoted to Tongzhou Road. In the first year of the Republic of China, it was renamed Nantong County. In February 1949, Nantong City was established, under the jurisdiction of the Ninth Administrative District of the Jiangsu-Anhui Border Region (which underwent several name changes until its renaming in April 1971, when it was renamed Nantong Prefecture). In June 1962, Nantong City became a provincial-level city. In March 1983, the Nantong Prefecture was abolished, and a city-county system was implemented. Nantong's diverse cultural mix has endowed it with an immigrant character. Its proximity to the river and the sea has imbued its culture with a strong sense of river and sea. The introduction of Western civilization has imbued Nantong's modern culture with a vibrant blend of Chinese and Western influences.