First described in The Spring and Autumn Annals, and then set as a county in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317- 420), Rugao was the first region to become land on the plain along the river and sea and one of the earliest ancient counties in the Yangtze River Delta to be recorded in history, and is the only world longevity village located in plain areas. It is also the birthplace of China's only central red army in Jiangsu province -- the 14th Red Army. Its culture includes the ten main areas of literati, folk, officials, religion, education, arts and crafts, food, the fishery and salt industry, longevity and gardening. Rugao has been recognized as one of the seven longevity villages by international natural science associations. It has 338 centenarians, over twice as many as the number set by the United Nations for longevity towns, thus being honored as the best place in the world for longevity and good health.

Shuihui Garden in Rugao, Nantong [Photo/rugao.gov.cn]

China has been thoroughly implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, Yangtze River Economic Zone and Shanghai Free Trade Zone; Jiangsu has been extensively promoting the further opening of coastal and waterfront cities and supporting the rise of cities in Jiangsu's central areas; and Nantong has been building the Yangtze River Delta North Economic Center and pushing forward the coordinated development of land, river and sea. Furthermore, the Shanghai-Nantong Bridge and the Yangtze River 12.5-meter-deep water channel in Nanjing have also been under construction. Thanks to all these advancements, Rugao is moving towards a "high-speed railway era" and a "harbor era", rising to be a junction city of China's eastern coastal highway and Yangtze River waterway and integrating into the shanghai development circle.

Automobile culture city in Rugao, Nantong [Photo/rugao.gov.cn]

Rugao enjoys fertile soil, adequate sunlight and sufficient rainfall. It has the antique Shuihui Garden and East Street, the beautiful Dragon Lake and Dragon River, the verdant green International Gardening City and Guzhuang Ecological Garden, as well as the modern Cultural Square and Olympic Sports Center. Idyllic and energetic, Rugao is one of China's national eco-cities, healthy cities, gardening cities and tourism cities. Carrying out the two-wheel drive strategy of fostering advanced manufacturing and modern services, Rugao is gaining its new driving forces from the six sectors of intelligent manufacturing, logistics, big data, the health industry, tourism and agriculture. Rugao is gaining new economic growth poles from in-depth development of Rugao harbor, a high-speed railway, an urban river system and health industry, the Bohai Commodity Exchange Yangtze River international trade center, a new energy automobile industry base and software park development.