[Photo/zhoushan.cn]
Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, is the first prefecture-level island city in China. It is located at the intersection of the Yangtze River and the East China Sea. It is approximately 500 nautical miles from major ports in Northeast Asia and the western Pacific, and serves as a major gateway for ocean-river intermodal transport, and for the Yangtze River Delta region to further reach out to the outside world. Zhoushan plays an important role in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Yangtze River Economic Belt Strategy.
Renowned for its Buddhist culture and fishing industry, the city is famed as the "Buddha Realm between Sea and Sky" and the "City of Fishery and Ports". It attracts many tourists every year with its enchanting island scenery, delicious seafood and profound Buddhist culture.
Zhoushan covers 22,200 square kilometers (20,800 sq km of sea area and 1,440 sq km of land area), with 2,085 islands and a permanent population of 1.158 million by the end of 2021. It is divided into two districts and two counties: Dinghai district, Putuo district, Daishan county and Shengsi county.
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Home to ice-free, deep and wide harbors with shorelines totaling 282 km, Zhoushan enjoys a natural strength in constructing deep-water berths, docking large vessels and developing port-centered industries including shipping, logistics, marine engineering, heavy equipment and machinery production, and commodity processing. It is one of the world's major fisheries. It also boasts abundant wind power, tidal power, undersea oil and gas reserves and minerals.
Transport:
You can reach Zhoushan by sea, land and air. The Zhoushan Cross-Sea Bridge, consisting of five bridges connecting Zhoushan and Ningbo, brings Zhoushan into the within-three-hour-commute circle of the Yangtze River Delta. The Ningbo-Zhoushan Railway is under construction. The Putuo Airport was upgraded into an international airport in 2018.
Environment:
Zhoushan boasts a good environment and clean air, ranking among the top cities in China in terms of air quality, with annual average temperature of 16.6 C and average precipitation of 1,292 millimeters.
Economy:
Zhoushan has developed an economic system with distinct marine characteristics, featuring port-centered industry, ocean tourism and fishery. In 2022, Zhoushan achieved a 8.5 percent year-on-year increase in GDP.
The city's imports and exports surged 43.6 percent year-on-year to 338.18 billion yuan in 2022, the fastest growth in the province.
The China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Zhoushan also saw stable development last year. In 2022, the area added 2,432 oil and gas enterprises and it is currently home to 11,735 such companies.
