Forteza11 : Zhejiang

Zhejiang China

Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People’s Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiangsu and Shanghai to the north, Anhui to the northwest, Jiangxi to the west, and Fujian to the south. To the east is the East China Sea, beyond which lie Japan’s Ryukyu Islands. Zhejiang has a population of about 57 million, the 10th largest among Chinese provinces. Other major cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. In ancient times, the area of Zhejiang was controlled by the Kingdom of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period, and it was annexed by the Qin Empire in 222 BC. During the late Ming dynasty and the subsequent Qing dynasty, Zhejiang’s ports became important centers of international trade. The province is also the birthplace of Chinese Nationalist leader and president Chiang Kai-shek. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Zhejiang was occupied by the Empire of Japan and placed under the puppet regime known as the Reorganized National Government of China. After Japan’s defeat, Zhejiang’s economy stagnated under Mao Zedong’s policies. Following China’s economic reforms, Zhejiang became one of the country’s wealthiest provinces, ranking fourth in national GDP and fifth in GDP per capita, with a nominal GDP of about CN¥5.62 trillion (US$849 billion) in 2018. Its economy is driven by electromechanical industries, textiles, chemicals, food processing, and construction materials. Most of Zhejiang is hilly, with hills covering around 70% of its total area, and higher elevations in the south and west. Zhejiang has China’s longest coastline. The Qiantang River flows through the province and gives Zhejiang its name. The province includes around three thousand islands, the most in China. The capital, Hangzhou, sits on Hangzhou Bay in northern Zhejiang, which separates Shanghai and Ningbo. The bay contains numerous small islands collectively known as the Zhoushan Islands. Hangzhou is a historically important Chinese city and is classified as a “Beta+” World City by the GaWC. It is famous for West Lake. Various forms of Chinese are spoken in Zhejiang, most notably Wu Chinese.

Recommended airport

Xiaoshan (HGH)

Nearby destinations

Zhejiang, China

Zhejiang China