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.
To keep an annual fishery production capacity at about 1.5 million tons, and to build the first national deep-sea fishing base approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Zhoushan needs a yearly capacity of dealing 500,000 tons of pelagic fishing products.
Zhoushan Archipelago New Area was officially approved by the State Council on June 30, 2011 as the fourth state-level New Area after Pudong New Area of Shanghai, Binhai New Area of Tianjin and Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing.
The Zhoushan Islands have a long history and culture. According to archaeological discoveries, human beings have lived in the Zhoushan Islands since the New Stone Age, which was more than 6,000 years ago.
Zhoushan is hometown of Qiao Shi, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People's Congress (1993—1998).
The Zhoushan Archipelago in the East China Sea calls to mind Mount Putuoshan, one of China's four sacred mountains and pilgrimmage sites. A kingdom of Buddhism where Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, is worshipped by millions, the island is already a landmark, a tourist staple.
Zhoushan PortFree Trade Zone was officially approved by the State Council on September 29, 2012. On January 7, 2013, the state Council approved the Developing Plan of Zhoushan Archipelago New Area.
