Jiangmen

Jiangmen is a prefecture-level city located in Guangdong Province, southern China. It sits within the western section of the Pearl River Delta. The city is positioned on the lower reaches of the Xi River. To the south, Jiangmen faces the South China Sea. It is located near the major cities of Guangzhou and Zhuhai. The city covers an area of 9,505.42 square kilometers. This is about one quarter the size of the entire Pearl River Delta.

The city is organized into several distinct administrative divisions. It includes three urban districts: Pengjiang, Jianghai, and Xinhui. It also includes the city of Heshan. The more rural areas are often called the Siyi or "Four Counties." These rural areas consist of Xinhui, Taishan, Kaiping, and Enping. However, because Heshan was added to the jurisdiction, many locals now call the region the "Five Counties." As of the 2020 census, the total population was approximately 4,798,090 people. The urban region alone held about 2,657,062 inhabitants.

Jiangmen has a unique cultural identity as a "qiao'xiang," or ancestral homeland. It is the home of approximately 4 million overseas Chinese. These people live in 107 different countries and regions worldwide. This history has left many traces in the local landscape. In Kaiping, you can find fortified multi-story towers called diaolou. These are also known as "Gold Mountain Towers." The city also features natural hotspring resorts, such as the Gudou Hotspring Resort. These resorts use the area's natural heated groundwater.

The history of Jiangmen involves significant changes in trade and government. In 1902, a declaration made Jiangmen a treaty port. This forced the city to open to western trade in 1904. During this era, many western-style buildings were built along the waterfront. Today, the government is working to restore these historic structures. In 1925, the Guangdong provincial government placed Jiangmen under direct administration. The city was later incorporated into the People's Republic of China in 1949. It was officially proclaimed a city in 1951. In June 1983, it was upgraded to a prefecture-level city.

The economy of Jiangmen is driven by a massive manufacturing sector. This sector is vital to the western Pearl River Delta. Factories produce many goods, including electronics, textiles, and food products. They also manufacture machinery, paper, and building materials. The city produces new energy products, motorcycles, and household appliances. Many global brands have a presence here. These include Panasonic, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. In 2024, the city reported a GDP of 4,022.96 billion Yuan. The Jiangmen Port is the second largest river port in Guangdong province.

Transportation in Jiangmen is highly developed through many different systems. A mature network of highways and expressways connects the city to other regions. For example, the G15 Shenyang–Haikou Expressway connects the downtown area to Heshan, Kaiping, and Enping. The Shenzhen–Zhanjiang high-speed railway opened in 2018. This line connects Jiangmen to Shanghai. The city also uses a large railway network. Jiangmen Station is the largest station in the city.

Water and road travel also provide many ways to move around. Ferry services connect Jiangmen to Hong Kong and Macao. The Chu Kong Passenger Transport service takes about 2.5 hours to reach Hong Kong. There are also 18 coach terminals across the city. These terminals provide bus services to many major cities. The city is also a center for education. Wuyi University is the only university founded within the city. There are also many vocational colleges, such as Jiangmen Polytechnic College.