The northernmost county-level division of Yancheng, it borders the prefecture-level cities of Lianyungang to the northwest and Huai'an to the southwest.

Stunning local residents over years, tens of false killer whales from the Yellow Sea had swum back into its watergate as deep as 10 km.

Xiangshui county has an oceanic monsoon climate with humid changeable wind and distinct four seasons.

Xiangshui was traditionally a poor county, and was a testing ground for Jiangsu's economic reform policies.

By 2018, it had joined the ranks of the "top one hundred counties for investment potential", signalling its more recent economic growth.

The county's industrial sectors are still in its early shape, including textile, chemicals, machinery, food manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

Lacking or without strict regulation and supervision, these chemical plants brought pollution and environmental damage to the county.