Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China

History | Geography | Administrative divisions | Economy | Education | Transport | Tourist Industry

🇨🇳 Zhoushan, formerly romanized as Chusan, is an urbanised archipelago with the administrative status of a prefecture-level city in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. It consists of an archipelago of islands at the southern mouth of Hangzhou Bay, off Ningbo. The prefecture's city proper is Dinghai on Zhoushan Island, now administered as the prefecture's Dinghai District. The built-up (or metro) area is made of two urban districts of Dinghai and Putuo.

In 2011 the central government approved Zhoushan as Zhoushan Archipelago New Area, a state-level new area.

History The archipelago was inhabited 6,000 years ago during the Neolithic by people of the Hemudu culture. During the Spring and Autumn period, Zhoushan was called Yongdong, referring to its location east of the Yong River. At the time, it belonged to the state of Yue. The fishermen and sailors who inhabited the islands often engaged in piracy and became recruits for uprisings against the central authorities. At the time of the Eastern Jin, the Zhoushan Islands served as the base for Sun En's rebellion. Sun En, an adherent of the Taoist sect the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice, launched his rebellion around the year 400 and was defeated by Jin forces in 402. Today's Zhoushan was first created as Wengshan County in Ming Prefecture in 738 under the Tang.

In 863, the Japanese Buddhist monk Egaku (慧锷) and a Putuoshan local Zhang-shi (张氏) placed a statue of Guanyin at Chaoyin Cave (潮音洞) that would later become a popular tourist and pilgrim destination. In 1073, under the Song, it was renamed Changguo County; this was upgraded to a prefecture in the early Yuan dynasty. During the Ming dynasty, especially between the years 1530 and 1560, Japanese and Chinese pirates used Zhoushan as one of their principal bases from which they launched attacks as far as Nanjing; "the whole Chinese coast from northern Shandong to western Guangdong was ravaged to a distance of sixty miles inland".

After suppression of the pirates, Zhoushan became an important commercial port of entry. Under the early Qing dynasty, it played a similar role to Xiamen and Guangzhou as a frequent port of call for Western traders. Changguo Prefecture became Dinghai County within Zhejiang Province in 1688 under the Qing. The restriction of all European trade to the port of Guangzhou in 1760 forced Westerners to leave Zhoushan. One of the requests of Lord Macartney's embassy to the Qianlong Emperor in 1793 was an acquisition of "a small unfortified island near Zhoushan for the residence of English traders, storage of goods, and outfitting of ships". The Qianlong Emperor denied this request together with all the rest.

British forces under Captain Charles Elliot captured Zhoushan on 5–6 July 1840 during the First Opium War and evacuated it in early 1841, after Elliot reached an agreement with Qishan, the Governor-General of Tianjin and Grand Secretary to the Daoguang Emperor, in exchange for Hong Kong. At that time, Zhoushan was a well known port while Hong Kong was still only a fishing village. The British Foreign Secretary Palmerston was furious when he learned that Elliot agreed to the cede Zhoushan for Hong Kong, described as "a barren island with hardly a house on it" Elliot was dismissed in April 1841 for his blunder. His replacement Sir Henry Pottinger led a British fleet that recaptured Zhoushan on 1 October 1841. The First Opium War ended with conclusion of the Treaty of Nanjing in which China opened up the cities of Guangzhou ("Canton"), Fuzhou ("Foochow"), Xiamen ("Amoy"), Ningbo ("Ningpo"), and Shanghai to residence by British subjects for the purpose of trade. As a result, Britain no longer had any use for Zhoushan but it kept the island until 1846 as a guarantee for the fulfilment of the stipulations of the treaty. Dinghai was upgraded to a directly controlled subprefecture (定海直隸廳) sometime in 1841.

Zhoushan was also occupied by the British in 1860 during the Second Opium War. Wang Yijun, a leader of the Taiping rebels, attempted to retake Zhoushan from its Qing garrison on 13 February 1862 but was defeated and killed.

Following the Xinhai Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of China, Dinghai Subprefecture reverted to a county. Sun Yat-sen visited Zhoushan on 25 August 1916 and wrote Travelling to Putuo (游普陀志奇, You Putuo Zhiqi). On 1 October 1942, the Japanese ship Lisbon Maru was transporting 1,800 POWs to Tokyo when she was attacked by the USS Grouper off Qingbing (青浜) or Dongfu; one torpedo hit and she sank the next day. The fishermen of nearby Dongji (东极乡) rescued 384 of the British prisoners from the wreckage. Amid the Chinese Civil War, Dinghai County lost Shengsi, which became an Archipelago Directly controlled District (列島直屬區) of Jiangsu in 1946, then a separate county in October 1949. The same year, Dinghai County was divided into Dinghai and Wengzhou (翁洲) Counties. In November, the Communists landed on Dengbu Island, but were repulsed by the defenders.

Nevertheless, Zhoushan was overrun by the Communists on 17 May 1950. Wengzhou was merged back into Dinghai County, which made up part of Ningbo Prefecture, and Shengsi made up a special area (特区) and then county of the Songjiang Prefecture, then still part of Jiangsu. In March 1953, the Council of Ministers opted to establish the Zhoushan Prefecture, returning Shengsi and dividing Dinghai into Dinghai, Putuo, and Daishan. Ningbo's Xiangshan County was also briefly incorporated into this new prefecture from 1954 to 1958. From 1958 to May 1962, Zhoushan was incorporated into Ningbo before becoming a separate prefecture again. Shengsi was temporarily assigned to Shanghai in the early 1960s. The short-lived Daqu County (大衢縣) was created in 1962 before being redivided between Daishan and Shengsi four years later.

Zhoushan was promoted to a prefecture-level "city" on 27 January 1987, with Dinghai and Putuo Counties upgraded to districts. The municipal People's Government was established on 8 March of that year. April of the same year, the ports of Zhoushan became open to foreign ships. On 10 April 1988, it became a coastal economic open zone.

Geography The Zhoushan Archipelago, comprising 1,390 islands and 3,306 reefs, is outside of Hangzhou Bay. It is the largest archipelago of China. Among these islands, 103 are inhabited all year round, 58 are larger than 1 square kilometer (0.39 sq mi), and only 12 have populations over 10,000. Major inhabited islands include: • Zhoushan Island (舟山岛), 502.65 km² (194.07 sq mi), 635,595 (DH/PT) • Daishan Island (岱山岛), 119.32 km² (46.07 sq mi), 111,765 (DS) • Liuheng Island (六横岛), 109.40 km² (42.24 sq mi), 59,102 (PT) • Jintang Island (金塘岛), 82.11 km² (31.70 sq mi), 37,321 (DH) • Zhujiajian Island (朱家尖岛), 75.84 km² (29.28 sq mi), 27,981 (PT) • Qushan Island (衢山岛/大衢岛), 73.57 km² (28.41 sq mi), 53,016 (DS).

There are 11 middle-size islands (between 10 and 50 km² (3.9 and 19.3 sq mi)): • Taohua Island (桃花岛), 44.43 km² (17.15 sq mi), 10,867 (PT) • Greater Changtu Island (大长涂山), 40.62 km² (15.68 sq mi), 1,750 (DS) • Xiushan Island (秀山岛), 26.33 km² (10.17 sq mi), 10,106 (DS) • Sijiao Island (泗礁山), 25.88 km² (9.99 sq mi), 39,008 (SS) • Xiazhi Island (虾峙岛), 18.59 km² (7.18 sq mi), 11,247 (PT) • Dengbu Island (登步岛), 16.72 km² (6.46 sq mi), 2,479 (PT) • Mount Putuo (普陀山), 16.06 km² (6.20 sq mi), 10,337 (PT) • Cezi Island (册子岛), 14.97 km² (5.78 sq mi), 6,334 (DH) • Changbai Island (长白岛), 14.16 km² (5.47 sq mi), 3,066 (DH) • Lesser Changtu Island (小长涂山), 13.33 km² (5.15 sq mi), 19,750 (DS) • Dayu Island (大鱼山), 11.03 km² (4.26 sq mi), 788 (DS).

Zhoushan includes 20,800 km² (8,031 sq mi) of marine territory, but only 1,440.12 km² (556 sq mi) of land, 183.19 km² (71 sq mi) of which are submerged during high tides. It is 182 km (113 mi) east-west and 169 km (105 mi) north-south and although heavily populated now has few farms.

Administrative divisions Zhoushan administers two districts and two counties. The city currently consists of 36 township-level divisions, including 17 towns, 5 townships and 14 subdistricts. • Dinghai District (13 divisions, including 10 sub-districts and 3 towns) ◦ Sub-district: Jiefang, Changguo, Huannan, Chengdong, Yancang, Lincheng, Qiandao, Xiaosha, Ma'ao, Cengang ◦ Town: Baiquan, Jintang, Ganlan • Putuo District (9 divisions, including 4 sub-districts and 5 towns) ◦ Sub-district: Shenjiamen, Donggang, Zhanmao, Zhujiajian ◦ Town: Putuoshan, Dongji, Taohua, Xiazhi, Liuheng • Daishan County (7 divisions, including 6 towns and 1 township) ◦ Town: Gaoting, Qushan, Changtu, Dongsha, Daidong, Daixi ◦ Township: Xiushan • Shengsi County (7 divisions, including 3 towns and 4 townships) ◦ Town: Caiyuan, Yangshan, Shengshan ◦ Township: Wulong, Huanglong, Gouqi, Huaniao

In particular, Qiandao and Lincheng sub-districts of Dinghai District are governed by a special new town administration committee of Zhoushan.

Economy Traditionally Zhoushan had relied heavily on the primary sector, especially fishing, given Zhoushan is the largest fishery in China. Nowadays with the development of the secondary and tertiary sectors, Zhoushan's economic base has been largely diversified. Ship building and repairing, shipping, light industry, tourism and service industry grow to be the major contributors of local economic output. In 2016, the entire municipality achieved a total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 122.85 billion yuan (approximately 16,013 US dollars per capita), with an increase of 11.3% from the previous year. The city continuously ranked 3rd among 11 municipalities of Zhejiang Province. However, since Zhoushan has a significantly smaller population compared with other municipalities, the absolute figure of total GDP still ranked the last place in the province. The structure of three sectors of industry is 10.6: 39.8: 49.6. In 2012, Zhoushan Port alone processed 290,990 kilotons of cargo. If combined with Ningbo Port (Ningbo and Zhoushan Ports are essentially one port with shared infrastructure, harbor basin and administrative collaboration), the entire greater port handled approximately 744,000 kilotons of cargo, surpassing Shanghai Port to be world's new busiest port in terms of cargo tonnage.

In 2012, Zhoushan's per capita disposable income of urban residents reached 34,224 yuan, with a 12.2% increase from the previous year (an increase of 10.3% considering the price and inflation factors). On the other hand, Zhoushan's per capital net income of rural residents reached 18,601 yuan, with a 12.9% increase from the previous year (an increase of 11.0% considering the price and inflation factors). The Engel's Coefficients for urban and rural residents are 35.9% and 38.1% respectively. The average housing building areas are 32.39 and 49.10 square meters for urban and rural residents respectively.

Education Zhoushan City has 3 higher-educational level colleges and universities. Zhejiang Ocean University and Zhejiang University (Zhoushan Campus) are two well-known universities in the city.

Transport Zhoushan is served by different modes of transportation, including air, highway and water. The transportation condition in Zhoushan has been improved largely during recent years, especially after the opening of Zhoushan Trans-Oceanic Bridges in 2009, which established a stable corridor connecting to the continent and converted Zhoushan into a peninsula per se. Due to geographical isolation, Zhoushan is the only one of the municipalities in Zhejiang Province which is not served with rail transportation.

Tourist Industry Zhoushan, which proudly boasts two national level key scenic areas (Mount Putuo and Shengsi Islands) and two provincial level key scenic areas (Taohua Island and Daishan), is always praised to be the "backyard garden" of Yangtze River Delta. Beside these scenic areas, Zhoushan has an abundance of points of interest, landscape forms and tourism resources, many of which are still under development, due to its rich historic and natural endowment. Conveniently connected to the continental part of the delta, Zhoushan attracted 27.71 million visitors (which is approximately 25 times its population), 310.5 thousand of whom were from abroad, in 2012 alone. Tourism and its related services have risen to be a very important sector of the municipal economy with a total tourism revenue of 26.68 billion yuan, according to the 2012 statistic.

Asia/Shanghai/Zhejiang_Sheng 
<b>Asia/Shanghai/Zhejiang_Sheng</b>
Image: Adobe Stock THINK b #324217289

Zhoushan has a population of over 882,932 people. Zhoushan also forms the centre of the wider Zhoushan Prefecture which has a population of over 1,157,817 people.

To set up a UBI Lab for Zhoushan see: https://www.ubilabnetwork.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/UBILabNetwork

Twin Towns, Sister Cities Zhoushan has links with:

🇨🇳 Cangzhou, China 🇰🇷 Ganghwa, South Korea 🇰🇷 Gokseong, South Korea 🇦🇺 Greater Geraldton, Australia 🇵🇭 Imus, Philippines 🇯🇵 Kesennuma, Japan 🇮🇹 La Spezia, Italy 🇬🇷 Lefkada, Greece 🇺🇦 Mykolaiv, Ukraine 🇺🇦 Mykolayiv, Ukraine 🇺🇸 Richmond, USA 🇰🇷 Sacheon, South Korea 🇭🇺 Szekszárd, Hungary 🇬🇷 Tinos, Greece 🇵🇭 Zamboanga City, Philippines
Text Atribution: Wikipedia Text under CC-BY-SA license

North of: 30.169

🇨🇳 Cixi 30.17

🇵🇰 Multan 30.183

🇺🇸 Lake City 30.183

🇺🇸 Panama City 30.185

🇯🇴 Ma'an 30.194

🇺🇸 Lafayette 30.212

🇨🇳 Huangshi 30.213

🇲🇦 Biougra 30.214

🇪🇬 Al Khankah 30.217

🇺🇸 Jennings 30.217

East of: 122.403

🇵🇭 Sipalay 122.478

🇨🇳 Rongcheng 122.487

🇮🇩 Kendari 122.509

🇵🇭 Tagkawayan 122.53

🇵🇭 Iloilo City 122.571

🇵🇭 Passi 122.66

🇨🇳 Haicheng 122.685

🇵🇭 Jose Panganiban 122.693

🇨🇳 Huimin 122.712

🇨🇳 Zalantun 122.743

West of: 122.403

🇵🇭 Kalibo 122.367

🇨🇳 Huludao 122.301

🇵🇭 Calauag 122.291

🇨🇳 Yingkou 122.28

🇵🇭 Miagao 122.235

🇵🇭 Lamitan 122.137

🇨🇳 Weihai 122.12

🇨🇳 Dawa 122.083

🇵🇭 Zamboanga 122.074

🇵🇭 Zamboanga City 122.074

Antipodal to Zhoushan is: -57.597,-30.169

Locations Near: Zhoushan 122.403,30.1694

🇨🇳 Ningbo 121.542,29.875 d: 89.1  

🇨🇳 Fengxian 121.567,30.883 d: 112.7  

🇨🇳 Cixi 121.266,30.17 d: 109.3  

🇨🇳 Xushan 121.233,30.167 d: 112.5  

🇨🇳 Yuyao 121.151,30.048 d: 121.2  

🇨🇳 Ninghai 121.419,29.287 d: 136.6  

🇨🇳 Luwan 121.467,31.117 d: 138.3  

🇨🇳 Beicai 121.545,31.189 d: 139.9  

🇨🇳 Pudong 121.5,31.233 d: 146.5  

🇨🇳 Xuhui 121.433,31.183 d: 146  

Antipodal to: Zhoushan -57.597,-30.169

🇧🇷 Uruguaiana -57.08,-29.772 d: 19948.4  

🇧🇷 Salto -57.963,-31.396 d: 19874.3  

🇦🇷 Goya -59.25,-29.133 d: 19818.1  

🇦🇷 Colón -58.133,-32.217 d: 19781.8  

🇺🇾 Tacuarembó -55.983,-31.733 d: 19782.9  

🇦🇷 Reconquista -59.933,-29.233 d: 19766.6  

🇦🇷 Corrientes -58.817,-27.483 d: 19693.6  

🇦🇷 Gualeguaychú -58.517,-33.017 d: 19686.7  

🇦🇷 Resistencia -58.983,-27.45 d: 19683.9  

🇦🇷 Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña -58.983,-27.45 d: 19683.9  

Bing Map

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