Nanchang and the Gan River: Jiangxi's Capital

Where Jiangxi Meets the River

Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi and a river city: the Gan runs through it, the old town sits on one bank and a newer lakeside district on the other, and the whole place is organised around water. It is not a tourist city in the way Xi'an or Hangzhou are, which means prices are low, restaurants are local, and the sights are unhurried.

The Pavilion and the Riverfront

The Tengwang Pavilion is Nanchang's emblem: a Tang-dynasty pavilion rebuilt in the 1980s on the river bank, with views over the water and a museum inside. The riverside promenades and the bridges make a good evening walk, and the light shows on the far bank are a local ritual on summer nights.

Museums, Markets and Food

Nanchang's museums are better than its reputation suggests - the provincial museum covers Jiangxi archaeology and the revolutionary period - and the food is a reason to come on its own: rice noodles for breakfast, claypot soups, smoked and pickled dishes, and a chilli habit that rivals Hunan. Street markets around the old town do it best.

Practical Notes

Nanchang is a rail hub with fast connections to Lushan, Jingdezhen, Wuyuan, Hangzhou and Changsha, which makes it a practical base for a Jiangxi loop. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold and damp but quiet.

Frequently Asked Questions