Zhenjiang

Zhenjiang is a city of about three million people located near the junction of the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal, about an hour east of Nanjing and two hours west of Shanghai. It is a busy and important hub of transportation and commerce. The general area, the lower Yangtze River Delta, is one of the most affluent areas in China.

Most Americans have never heard of this city. The few who have, usually know it through Pearl Buck who grew up here. I visited Zhenjiang because I was curious to see what had happened to the city where Pearl Buck grew up.

I was pleasantly surprised and have grown very fond of the city since my first visit. It has come a long way since the days of Pearl Buck. China was in great turmoil and its people suffered from all kinds of calamities almost continuously for a long period of time around the time Pearl Buck lived here. It is now impossible walking through the busy streets and looking over the genteel landscape to imagine the horrors the Chinese suffered through for a very long period of time. The city is big enough to have all the amenities of a big city but small enough that you can get to know the city and its people in a short period of time. It is also very convenient to visit, as it is located so close to Shanghai, Suzhou, and Nanjing.

Zhenjiang Pearl Buck Middle School

Pearl Buck's Home

The Grand Canal meets the Yangtze River