Jiangxi Geography

Jiangxi province lies in southeast China and along the southern bank of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangzi River. At the latitude between 24o 29'14" and 30o 04' 44" N, and longitude between 113o 34'36" and 118o 28'58" E, Jiangxi borders Zhejiang and Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west and Hubei and Anhui to the north.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the Yangtze River on the other, Jiangxi has rolling hills and broad plains. The land gradually tilts from south to north, leading to the largest fresh water lake in China, Poyang Lake, which forms a large, open basin.
Jiangxi is rich in mineral resources. Among the 150 proven minerals in the world, Jiangxi has documented more than 140. The reserves of 33 of them are among the top five in volume and quality in China. The reserves of nonferrous metals, precious metals, rare minerals, rare-earth minerals lead the country.
With a total length of about 18,400 kilometers, over 2400 rivers of various sizes run through Jiangxi. Of these, over 160 have water all year. The five major waterways are the Ganjiang, Fuhe, Xinjiang, Xiuhe and Raohe Rivers. The Ganjiang River winds south to north for 751 kilometers, covering a drainage area of 83,500 square kilometers. It covers such a large area that Jiangxi is called "Gan" for short. These five rivers all originate from the border mountains, wind through the foothills, run across the plains, moisten fertile lands, gather at Poyang Lake and empty into the Yangtze River.

Jiangxi is dotted with numerous lakes, of which Poyang Lake is the most famous. It stretches 170 kilometers from south to north, and 74 kilometers from east to west. Its shorelines run for 1,800 kilometers. During the flood season, the lake covers 3,841 square kilometers, and the wide expanse of misty Poyang Lake ranks the first among China's five largest fresh lakes. Its huge volume of water acts as a transfer station linking the five major rivers with the Yangtze River and then to the Pacific Ocean. It is a hub linking Jiangxi's river transportation with other provinces as well as a regulating center to the flow of water in the Yangtze River. Poyang Lake is an aquatic treasure house. The fertile area around the lake has established itself as "the Land of fish and rice".
Close to the Tropic of Cancer, Jiangxi has distinct season changes. Due to its special topography, it has short springs and autumns, lasting for only two months, and four-month winters and summers. The weather in spring is ever changing. A rainy season joins spring with summer. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cold and dank with a short frost period. There is a difference of 5.5 degrees latitude between the southern and northern tips of the province. Consequently, the climate in northern and southern Jiangxi differs by one solar term. Jiangxi has a warm climate, with an annual average temperature from 16.2 to 19.7 degrees Celsius. The free frost period lasts from 241 to 304 days, and the annual sunshine averages from 1,473 to 2,077 hours. The province enjoys plentiful rainfall, with annual mean precipitation ranging from 1,341.4 to 1,934.4 millimeters. This makes Jiangxi a lead among all the provinces and autonomous regions in annual rainfall. The subtropical moist climate is favorable for agricultural development.