The Yujiang River, the largest tributary of the Xijiang River, is the longest river that runs through Nanning. The 1,179 km long river runs through the southwestern part of Guangxi with the average gradient of 1.4‰. The total area of its river basin is 90,656 km² and the area of the river basin in Guangxi is 70，007 km², making up 34.5% of the total area of Xijiang water system. The tributaries to the right bank are the Longxu River, the Zuojiang River, the Bachi River, the Wusi River, and the Dayang River. The tributaries to the left shore bank are the Leli River, the Wuming River, etc. Customarily, the Yujiang River refers to the reach from the Zuojiang River and the Youjiang River at Songcun Village, Yongning County to Guipin, with the span of 426 km. The average runoff-depth of the whole river is 546 mm, and the annual average runoff is 47.9 million m³，and the average sediment load is 0.34 kg/ m³. Hills, tablelands, plains, and river valleies are scattered along the firm banks of the Yujiang River. The reach at Liujingxu is called the Yongjiang River because it is located inside Yongning County. There are those who say that the reach from Songcun Village to Pumiao, Yongning County is also called the Yongjiang River. 

 

Since Nanning is located in a low latitude region, the radiation from the sun is fairly strong all the year round. The city enjoys abundant rainfall, but the amount of evaporation is also very large due to the high temperature. In recent years, the average annual solar radiation in Nanning has been 109.2 kcal/cm². The highest average annual solar radiation has been 126 kcal/cm², while the lowest average annual solar radiation has been 98 kcal/cm². The average annual length of time that the sun is shining in Nanning is 1797.9 hours. In recent years, the greatest length of sunshine time in a year was 2331 hours, while the lowest was is 1292 hours. The sunshine hours in summer (from June to August) are the most in a year, and among the three summer months, the sun shines most in July. The hours of sunshine in winter (from December to February) are the least, and among the three winter months, the sunshine hours in February are the least. The sunshine hours of autumn (from September to November) and spring (from March to May) range between that of summer and winter.

 

Mt. Longtou, the major peak of the Daming Mountain with a height of 1,760 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in mid-south Guangxi. Daming Mountain belongs to the west arc-shaped range in the mid-south Guangxi. Travelers usually climb the Daming Mountain from Wuming County, over 80 km away from Nanning. Imposing and majestic, Damming Mountain stretches from the northwest to the southeast, more than 150 km long and 25 km wide. Thanks to its terrain and the south Asian tropic monsoon, Daming Mountain boasts of its distinct scenery in four seasons: haze in spring, waterfalls in summer, clouds in autumn, and snow in winter. The temperature in the mountain is 8℃—10℃ lower than that at the foot of the mountain. It is a famous summer resort and compared to Lushan Mountain, on of the most famous summer resorts in the country. The major scenic areas include sunrise views from the immense forests, waterfalls in the high mountains, impressive peaks and deep ravines, grasslands surrounded by forests in the mountain, and fantastic pinnacles. Thousands of travelers at home and abroad spend their holidays in this summer resort and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The Daming Mountain has abundant animal and plant resources. The presence of plants of 1,836 species of 714 genuses of 199 families have been confirmed in these mountains.. There are 13 rare plants of China and, in addition to the yew, a rare plant in the world. There are more than 60 species of animals and among them there are over 10 species belong to the first, second and third grade of national protection. Groups from countries such as Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and Germany, have made scientific investigations in Daming Mountain.

 

The topology of Nanning is basin-type. The river valley of the lower reaches of the Zuojiang River and the Youjiang River and that of the higher reach of the Yongjiang River are the bottom of the basin, surrounded by the hilly country. Phoenix Mountain, with the highest Altitude, is 648 meters above sea level, located at the interface of the west region between the city and Fushui County.

 

 

The History of Yuan Dynasty written by Zong Lian et al. in Ming Dynasty, together with reference to other materials, such as “Yesun Tiemuer”and “Biography of Liu Guojie”, provide the following information about the origin of Nanning. In 1292 (the 29^th year of Zhiyuan in Yuan Dynasty), Huang Shengxu rebelled against the Yuan authorities in Shangsi Prefecture (which is Shangsi County today). In the sixth lunar month of 1319, Qin Shixing rebelled in Lai’an Prefecture, the Youjiang River region (which is Tianyang County today), killed the chief of Guide Prefecture (which is Pingguo County today), and seized the official stamp. Massive forces of Yuan authorities went to repress the riots many times, but failed. These two rebellion troops grew and branched out. In the seventh lunar month of 1323, Emperor Yingzong of Yuan Dynasty sent an envoy to offer amnesty and enlistment to Huang Shengxu and Qin Shixing in Yongzhou. In the twelfth lunar month of 1323 and the sixth lunar month of 1324, Huang Shengxu and Qin Shixing sent their representatives respectively to pay tribute in Yanjing City (which is Beijing today). In the ninth lunar month of 1324, Emperor Taiding of Yuan Dynasty promulgated that Yongzhou regional capital leading Xidong County of the Zuojiang River and the Youjiang River should be changed into Nanning Prefecture. From then on, the name of Nanning has been the official name of the city.

 

Nanhu Square, one of the government’s key projects in 2006, is located to the northeast part of the Nanhu Lake. The Square is a belt-shape grassland between Binghu Road and the Nanhu Lake. The total construction area is 78,900 m², in which green area is 52,900 m², making up 79% of the total area, and pavement area is 11,300 m². The Square was started on April 15^th, 2000, completed on September 28^th, and opened to public on October 1^st. With the investment of 18 million yuan, Nanhu Square is the largest square in Nanning, and includes a including fountain square, a municipal square, a golfing green, Golf green land, and art facilities. The main feature of the Square is the large computerized music fountain and undulated grasslands. Several scenic walks, paralleling the lake bank, link the scenery of the urban area with the lake, forming a distinctive, integrated scenic area of the Square, and making the Square a scenic belt for walking.

 

On November 17^th, 2002, the South Nanhu Square was opened to the public and represented an investment of more than 12 million yuan in planting vegetation of various sorts. The total area is over 300,000 m², in which the planned green area is 271,000 m², occupying 90% of the total area. There are 635 plants of 21 species, including some rare species introduced from Australia and date palms from places like Guangdong and Fujian. The Square is also the site of the “Famous-Tree Exposition Garden”。

 

Located at the northeast of Jinhu Square with a height of 160 meters, Nanning 2^nd Long Distance Telecommunication Pivot Building of Guangxi Telecommunication Co., Ltd. is currently the highest building in Nanning. With a total investment of over 40 million yuan, construction on the site was begun in December, 1996 and completed in December, 2000. The total construction area is 66,700 m², of which the main building occupies 48,000 m² and the attached building, 18,000 m². Telecommunication services provided in this building include long-distance exchange, long-distance transfer, local telephone exchange, local telephone transfer, data communication, gateway LAN, wireless local telephone, wireless page, message center, customer service center, and mobile telecommunication.

 

Lying at the crossroad of Chaoyang Road and Renmin Road, the Chaoyang Pedestrian Bridge, built by the Municipal Engineering Co. Ltd, is the first of its kind in Guangxi. The construction was begun in Sept. 1985, and was completed in Dec. 4^th of the same year. The steel bridge is 4.8 meters tall and 3 meters wide, with two 40-metre-long arms. The project cost 500,000 yuan and was constructed in two phases. From September to October, the Bridge was assembled in the Municipal Engineering Co. Ltd. In November, the Bridge was assembled on the spot. The Pedestrian Bridge effectively eased the burden of the crossroad of Chaoyang Road and Renmin Road.

 

The Wuyi railway underpass, located at the intersection of Wuyi Road and the railway, is the first road and railway underpass in Nanning. The main bridge is 29.1 meters long and 14.1 meters wide. Wuyi underpass was is designed by the Infrastructure Office of Liuzhou Railway Bureau and constructed by the 2^nd Engineering Team of Liuzhou Railway Bureau. It was stared in November, 1966 and completed in March, 1967. The bridge approach was constructed by the Municipal Engineering Co. Ltd at the same time.

 

Chaoyang Bridge was once called “the Peace Bridge”. It is located at Chaoyang Road, 50 meters away from the south of Chaoyang Stream, whose watercourse was straightened when the Bridge was constructed. Chaoyang Bridge, built in 1951, is the first permanent bridge to be constructed after the liberation of Nanning. It has concrete piers and steel-concrete road surface that is 35.2 meters long and 9 meters wide. The bridge was designed by He Ergang and constructed by Taishan Construction Factory. In 1964, 6-meter of pavement was added to each side of the bridge, constructed by the Municipal Engineering Co. Ltd. In 1979, the Municipal Engineering Co., Ltd. Improved and reinforced the bridge and enlarge it to 29.5 meters wide by enhancing the protection slope and the bridge abutments.

 

Nanning Express Ring Road is, for the moment, the longest city express ring road in Guangxi. It is 40.5 km in length and is divided into the East, South, West and North Ring. Along the Express Ring Road, there are two cross-Yongjiang River bridges, three middle-size bridges, one small bridge, two interchanges, 4 four comparted cloverleaf junctions, and eight passageways. The width of the Express Ring Road is 80 meters and the driving pavement is 60 meters. The speed limit is 80 km/h.

 

With the total investment of 309.7 million yuan, the construction of the Ring Road was started in 1994. The Express Ring Road opened to traffic in July, 2002, with the exception of the Huluding Bridge and the south Zuxi Road which are currently under construction. The construction companies tendered for the project which is adopted the Owner Responsibility Management and strict construction quality guarantee system.

 

Minzu Avenue is, at present, the longest street in Guangxi. The avenue starts at the Chaoyang Intersection in the west, and ends in the toll station of Nanning-Beihai Expressway in the east. The 6-lane Avenue is 11 kilometers long and 60 meters wide. The major work on the Avenue extension was completed in 2000. In 2002, the municipal government invested a great deal of money in the beautification of the Avenue. As a unique symbolic street in Guangxi, Minzu Avenue enjoys the title as “Number One Street in Guangxi”.