Gaoyou

Pig-shaped Pottery Pots excavated from Longqiuzhuang Site

Recent archaeological finds at the Longqiuzhuang site in Gaoyou has found evidence of rice growing dating back 5,500-7,000 years. Gaoyou ting (commune, 亭) located in this area was established in Qin dynasty. Then Gaoyou county whose seat was the former commune was established in BC 118.[3]

In 1353, Zhang Shicheng revolted and captured the walled city of Gaoyou. In the next year, Zhang established Kingdom of Dazhou, while Gaoyou functioned as its temporary capital until 1356. Later, the city withstood the siege led by Toqto'a, since the complicated politics severely reduced the cohesion of the Yuan army. At that time, it was one of the 46 important mail posts along the Grand Canal between Beijing and Nanjing. It was in use until the 1911 Revolution. On 2 October 1939, the Japanese army captured the walled city. On 19 January 1949, the CPC controlled the walled city.

The profound history and culture of Gaoyou fostered Qin Shaoyou, the well-known poet in the Song Dynasty, Wang Nianshun and Wang Yinzhi (father and son), the celebrated classics interpreters in the Qing Dynasty, Sun Yunzhu, the modern paleontologist and Wang Zengqi, the contemporary writer. Gaoyou is also the hometown of the infamous Wu Sangui.

A total of about 200,000 people drowned in their sleep in Gaoyou alone due to the devastating flooding of 1931.[4][5] Gaoyou was the most badly affected place during the floods.[6]

More than 30,000 people starved to death in Gaoyou county during the great famine, of which more than 10,000 were children.[7]

Worship Hall of the ancient mosque at Lingtang

In the present,Gaoyou City has 2 subdistricts, 10 towns and 1 ethic township.[8]

Gaoyou. Nieuhof, L'ambassade de la Compagnie Orientale des Provinces Unies vers l'Empereur de la Chine, 1665.

Gaoyou is located in the central part of Jiangsu Province, which is also part of Yangtze River Delta. It borders Baoying and Jinhu to the north, Jiangdu to the south and Xinghua to east.[9] There are over twenty townships, Lingtang Hui Ethnic Township is the only Minority Township in the province. The population in this county is approximately eighty-three thousand. The total area is 1963 square kilometres with 1175 square kilometres of land area and 788 square kilometres of water surface area.[9] Gaoyou is a plain region which full of rivers and lakes. Gaoyou Lake is the third largest lake in Jiangsu, which closes to The Grand Canal from Beijing to Hangzhou. Geographical location provides important water resources and rich aquatic products for this county.[9]

Gaoyou is located at 32.79 degrees north latitude and 119.44 degrees east longitude.[10] It belongs to the subtropical monsoon climate. The hottest in July is around 27.6 °C (81.7 °F) while the coldest in January is about 1.7 °C (35.1 °F). The average annual temperature is 15.0 °C (59.0 °F). The wet-season is from mid June to July and the average annual rainfall is about 1,000 mm (39 in). The average annual relative humidity is 67%, at the meantime, the frost-free season is more than 200 days. Gaoyou has the characteristics of mild climate, adequate rainfall, four distinctive seasons, sufficient sunshine and long frost free period.[9]

South Gate Avenue, served as the most bustling commercial district of the city during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Gaoyou was dependent on its agriculture and aquaculture sections financially. Primary agricultural products include rapeseed, rice, wheat, poultry and eggs. A variety of aquatic products contain fish, crab and shrimp. The environment in this county has been well protected by the government. The local government has closed many factories in order to protect the lakes.[9]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Gaoyou.

• Gaoyou Information Website
• Gaoyou City English guide
• (in English and Chinese) "Illustrated Album of Yangzhou Prefecture", from 1573 to 1620, has illustrations of Gaoyou