People began to live here in Nantong more than 5,000 years ago, making Nantong a city with a profound history. The urban area was called Hudou State before the Sui Dynasty, and was renamed Tongzhou after the construction in the fifth year of Xiande's reign, during the Later Zhou Dynasty. Then it was again renamed Nantong County in the first year of the Republic of China. Nantong city was built in the main urban area in February 1949, and became a provincial municipality after the implementation of the new system featuring city governed counties in 1983. Nantong became one of the first 14 coastal cities in China further opened up to the outside world in 1984.

Over 100 years ago, the educator and industrialist Zhang Jian, built a unique urban pattern of "one city and three towns; city alternating with country" by carrying on historical traditions and absorbing modern fashion. This pattern is centered on the urban area of Nantong and integrates the elements of modern Chinese cities, covering a variety of aspects including production, life, industry, agriculture, culture and education, opening up new industrial zones, harbors, commercial areas, as well as leisure and tourist areas. While being vigorously engaged in industrial projects, Zhang Jian attached particular importance to the coordinated development of social undertakings. He founded China's first non-government funded normal school, a museum, a weather station, a nursing home, an infant-care center and so on. Accordingly, through the modern concept of city and the independent, comprehensive planning of design and construction, Nantong has become the first new city full of humane care and modern values, which is undoubtedly gives it the title of "the first city of modern China".