As we well know, China is an important shipping and industrial nation. It is the second largest country in terms of land area and is surrounded by water on the eastern front. Meet the 5 main ports in China
China is one of the main economic powers in the region and is known for its industries that produce different types of products and ship them all over the world. It is a major financial center with several global banks and companies based in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shenzhen.
China’s shipbuilding industry is also very strong, and it is the world’s largest shipbuilding nation that has overtaken South Korea.
Ports in China have played an important role in the development of the country. The country’s coastline is dotted with numerous ports and small ports dealing with trade, fishing, containerized goods, ores and minerals, automobiles, and agricultural products. In this article, we will analyze the top 5 ports in China.
1. Shanghai port
Shanghai Port is the largest port in China and the world. It has consistently topped the rankings since 2010 when it surpassed the Port of Singapore.
Due to the large volume of trade through this port and its effect on the local population, Shanghai has been designated as one of the 4 major port megacities in the world. It is a river port and deep water.
At present, it is exclusively managed by the Shanghai International Port Company (Group). It took over from the current Shanghai Port Authority in 2003, and its majority shares are owned by the Shanghai Municipal Government.
The port is built along the crossing of the Yangtze, Huangpu and Qiantang rivers. It is flanked by Hangzhou Bay to the south and the East China Sea to the east.
Overall, Shanghai caters to a vast hinterland and is spread over an area of more than 3,500 square kilometers. It is naturally protected due to its location and is also very close to China’s industrial and manufacturing zones. These factors have contributed to the rapid growth of the Port of Shanghai.
2. Shenzhen port
This port ranks second nationally and third worldwide in terms of cargo route. Made up of several smaller ports, it is one of the most developed ports in the region.
It functions as a feeder port, serves more than 50 global shipping lines, has more than 130 international routes, and serves almost 10,000 vessels a year.
The port is classified into several zones that process different types of goods and cargo. Da Chan Bay, Donjiaotou, Neihe, Shayuchong, Yantian, Shekou, etc. are the main areas that have more than 140 moorings.
Shenzhen has more than 250 kilometers of coastline and is part of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor that is used for road transport across the border of the provinces.
3. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port
With over one billion tons of cargo a year, this is the world’s busiest cargo port. Comprised of the ports of Ningbo and Zhoushan, this port is located on the east coast of Shanghai in Hangzhou Bay. It is well connected through inland waterways, railways, and highways with the interior of China.
There is a terminal dedicated to the processing of crude oil that handles supertankers of more than 250,000 tons. There is a terminal for liquid chemical products with a capacity of 50,000 tons and a special terminal for sixth generation container ships. The port has one of the largest mineral handling yards.
4. Guangzhou port
One of the busiest ports in China is Guangzhou; a seaport in the Pearl River Delta. It is the largest port in southern China. It operates with more than 80 countries and 300 ports. It was merged with the Huangpu Regional Port, making it one of the largest comprehensive ports.
The port is well connected by rail, road, air, and inland waterways. It is located on the Dongjiang, Beijiang and Xijiang rivers and is connected to the industrial centers around it.
The port is equipped with more than 4,500 berths and 2,400 anchor points. The port is near the base of the Nansha Wetland Park. There are large storage spaces, customs warehouses, customs controls and logistics centers. Products that are commonly shipped include agricultural products, food products, industrial products, machinery, oil, fertilizers, steel ore, minerals, auto parts, etc.
5. Hong Kong port
Hong Kong is a major deep-water seaport located in South China’s Victoria Harbor. It is one of the largest and busiest ports in the world. Although it is part of China, Hong Kong is treated as a special region that comes with its own administration.
The region is famous for being a financial and commercial center. For this reason, Hong Kong has expanded from a small fishing village to one of the main ports in the world.
It receives about 0.5 million ships a year, more than 250 million tons of cargo and more than 25 million passengers a year. It has one of the lowest response times in the region, averaging 10 hours for container ships and 47 hours for tankers anchored off-site.
Hong Kong Harbor is also famous for midway operations, where ships don’t have to approach the harbor during peak or dangerous conditions. There are regular ferry services to Macau and other mainland Chinese ports. The port serves more than 15 million passengers on these services.