Nanchong is in the northeast of Sichuan province, People's Republic of China, with an area of 12,479.96 square kilometers (4,818.54 sq mi), and at the 2010 census was home to 6,278,614 people whom 1,858,875 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of 3 urban districts. The administrative center is Shunqing District.
Agriculture is the pillar of Nanchong’s economy, with 80% of Nanchong’s population located in rural areas and committed to traditional agricultural activities. Nanchong’s manufacturing industry also relies on raw materials which are provided by agriculture. Nanchong’s main agricultural product is food. A large quantity of rice, orange, silk worms, and pork are produced to support related manufacturers. Nanchong’s main manufacturing outputs are petroleum products, automobiles and parts, mechanical equipment, textiles, and building materials.
There is a large quantity of rock oil and natural gas found in Nanchong, and it has the largest slate mine in the west of China. The Dames on Jialing River and its branches have large potential to expand its electric power generation. But the largest resource of Nanchong is "Human", and Nanchong is one of the main providers of Chinese cheap migrant workers.
Transportation in Nanchong is quite convenient compared with other cities in Sichuan province because of its extensive express railway network, shipping, and air service. Nanchong is a transport hub of the northeast Sichuan Province, it is crossed by the strategic China National Highway 318, built by the Chinese government in the 1930s, and China National Highway 212 and several newly built expressways, Cheng-Nan, and Nan-Guang expressway which link the city to Chengdu, and another prefecture-level city Guang'an. The expressway to Chongqing is under construction.
The Dazhou–Chengdu Railway through Nanchong links Chengdu and Dazhou. The Chongqing–Lanzhou Railway, when in 2015, will link Lanzhou and Chongqing, and turn Nanchong into a railway hub in northeast Sichuan province. The Nanchong railway station provides passenger and cargo services to several regional and national economic centers such as Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Wuhan, Chengdu and Shenzhen. Old Nanchong airport was built in the 1950s and closed in 2003. The new Nanchong Airport which has capacity to land bigger planes, provides regular air services to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Xi'an and Sanya. Nanchong is suggested as a tradition shipping hub in ancient times, ships from Gansu could reach Chongqing along the Jialing River, but the river is not suitable for modern shipping.
As with the rest of the Sichuan Basin, Nanchong has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate with high humidity year-round; winters are short and mild while summers long, hot, and humid. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) in January to 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) in August; the annual mean is 17.33 °C (63.2 °F). Frost is uncommon and the frost-free period lasts 290−320 days. Over 70% of the 987 mm (38.9 in) of annual precipitation occurs from May to September. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from around 9% in December to 47% in August, the city receives only 1,135 hours of bright sunshine annually. Spring (March–April) tends to be sunnier and warmer in the day than autumn (October–November).
The Han people are the largest ethnic group in this area, contributing to 99.88% of its total population, another 48 ethnic groups can be found in the city. Langzhong has a large Hui Muslim community. As in other cities of China, the population of Nanchong can be divided into two parts, upper urban population and lower rural population.
Shunqing District, located downtown, is the densest area in Nanchong. At the center of Shunqing District, and the proverbial heart of the city, is Five Star Garden; a large roundabout with five exits leading to various other sections of the city.
Population: 7.60 million
Temperature: average 17.33 ℃( 63.2℉)
