Where is the Yangtze River Delta?
If we're talking about China, you might not have heard of the Yangtze River Delta, but you've certainly heard of Shanghai and Yiwu. Shanghai is the economic and financial center of China, much like New York is in the United States.
Yiwu is known as the world's "supermarket." It has an international sourcing center, and its products are sold to more than 230 countries and regions around the world. These two cities are located in the Yangtze River Delta, which I'll introduce to you today.
1. Where is the Yangtze River Delta?
Located on China's southeastern coast, the Yangtze River Delta is an estuarine plain formed by sediment deposition caused by the slowing of the Yangtze River , China's longest river. The terrain is flat and low-lying, and the soil is fertile, which allowed for agricultural development in the past.
The Yangtze River Delta region mainly includes the municipality of Shanghai and the three provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui (the provinces of China are similar to the states of the United States, but the names of both are different).
The total area is 350,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of Germany. With the exception of Anhui, the other three are located on the coast, with a total coastline of more than 3,000 kilometers.
2. Why is the Yangtze River Delta the best for China's economy?
After China's shift from land to sea trade, the Yangtze River Delta became China's first open trading port from 1842. During the Qing Dynasty, large quantities of Chinese porcelain and tea were shipped from here around the world.
In the 20th century, affordable industrial products from China began to reach the world. Since the Yangtze River Delta region lies at the mouth of the river, it boasts numerous important ports and developed maritime transport.
Furthermore, its flat terrain, dense rail and road network, and extensive river system greatly facilitated transportation. Many goods from mainland China were transported to the ports of the Yangtze River Delta by land or water.
Gradually, Chinese factories settled here, forming dense industrial belts. For example, to purchase an electric car, you don't need to leave the Yangtze River Delta; suppliers of components for the initial and final stages of production can be found practically here, significantly improving production efficiency.
Currently, the Yangtze River Delta is China's most developed region, contributing more than 20% of the country's GDP year-round. Its share of total imports and exports exceeds one-third of China's. Per capita income is 1.5 times the national average. In terms of economic status, technology, culture, and education, this region occupies a leading position in China.
3. What products are produced in the Yangtze River Delta?
The Yangtze River Delta has a large population and abundant labor force. Its industrial development began early, and traditional industries such as textiles, food, chemicals, and engineering machinery are well developed.
In recent years, high-tech industries have also grown rapidly, leading the country in new energy (such as electric vehicles, solar cells, lithium batteries), electronic information (such as integrated circuits), biopharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence.
At the same time, the different areas of the Yangtze River Delta have distinctive industries. Below, we'll specifically describe some of the key industries in the three provinces and one municipality.
Carry off
Shanghai's GDP is driven by the services sector, which contributes more than 70% of its total economic output. Shanghai is the economic, financial, and technological center of China.
Currently, Shanghai's traditional heavy industries, such as chemicals, steel, and equipment manufacturing, are relocating to other regions of China, leading to a significant decline in the proportion of heavy industry.
However, high-tech industries such as new energy vehicles and computer electronics remain at the forefront nationwide.
Automobiles
Shanghai's automotive industry is well-developed, bringing together numerous world-renowned automotive companies and auto parts groups, such as Tesla and SAIC . Shanghai's exports of new energy vehicles are enormous, accounting for more than 20% of China's total automobile exports, mainly to the United Kingdom, Belgium, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and other countries.
electronic information products
Shanghai is a major production hub for electronic information products, such as integrated circuits and microcomputers. Integrated circuit production in Shanghai accounts for 10.2% of China's total output, and industrial scale accounts for a quarter of that output. Shanghai is home to numerous leading companies, including Primarius Electronics S2C and Shanghai Advanced Silicon, among others.
biomedical products
Shanghai has more than 6,000 biopharmaceutical-related companies, including internationally renowned pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis, Pfizer, and Medtronic , accounting for 1/5 of the country's industrial scale.
It mainly exports antibiotics, physical and chemical analysis instruments, and other pharmaceutical products, and its products are sold to the United States, Germany, India, Japan, and other countries.
Jiangsu
Jiangsu's light and heavy industries are relatively developed, with heavy manufacturing concentrated mainly in southern Jiangsu. Electronic products, machinery, chemicals, household appliances, automobile manufacturing, and metal casting are Jiangsu's main industries. Light industries include textiles, furniture, and other industries.
Main export products include mechanical and electrical products, high-tech products, automatic data processors and accessories, clothing and accessories, etc.
Heavy industry products and technological products
Mechanical and electrical products
The range of mechanical and electrical products is very broad, including mechanical equipment, electrical equipment, transportation, electronic products, electrical products, instrumentation, metal products, etc.
Jiangsu's integrated circuit industry ranks first in the Yangtze River Delta, especially in Wuxi, Jiangsu. Exports of mechanical and electrical products account for more than half of its total exports, mainly to the United States, ASEAN, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.
Automobiles
Jiangsu has more than 2,500 automotive companies, and its auto parts production ranks first in China. Jiangsu also produces large-scale new energy vehicles and related products, and is currently China's largest battery producer. Production areas are mainly located in Suzhou and Wuxi.
biomedical products
Jiangsu's biomedical industry has an annual output value of over US$70 billion, ranking first in China. Half of this output comes from the pilot free trade zones in Suzhou, Nanjing, and Lianyungang, which are home to over 4,000 biomedical enterprises and a complete set of upstream and downstream industrial chains.
chemical fiber
Jiangsu's chemical fiber production is second only to that of Zhejiang Province, and producing companies are generally concentrated in Suzhou, Wuxi, and Nantong. Polyester, nylon, and viscose staple fibers are the most produced.
Daily products
Textiles and clothing
Jiangsu's textile and apparel industry has a long history of development and is one of the cradles of the Chinese textile industry. It has founded numerous famous clothing brands such as Bosideng and Heilan Home , and currently has more than 2,500 textile production companies. Garment production accounts for one-tenth of national output. Changshu, Jiangsu, is a renowned textile production base.
Plastic
Jiangsu ranks among the top three in China's plastics industry in terms of production, with a full range of plastic production, and Jiangsu Province has the largest number of plastic packaging manufacturing enterprises.
Furniture
Jiangsu's furniture industry is among China's top three, with an annual output of over 17 billion pieces and nearly 10,000 enterprises, mainly located in Nantong and Suzhou. The largest furniture factory in eastern China, Chengdong City in Hai'an, is located in Nantong, where numerous furniture factories are located.
These are the main industrial clusters in the cities of Jiangsu.
| Changzhou | Car parts, masks |
| Nantong | Home textiles, furniture |
| Wuxi | Electric vehicles, steel and metal plates, textiles and clothing products (such as knitwear) |
| Suzhou | Fabric materials, textile and clothing products (such as sweaters, down jackets), maternity and baby products. |
| Xuzhou | Electric two-wheelers, construction machinery |
| Yangzhou | Toothbrushes, automotive parts and components, mechanical equipment. |
| Zhenjiang | Home textiles, glasses |
| Lianyungang | Glass products, seafood |
Zhejiang
Zhejiang's main exports include electrical and mechanical products, clothing, textiles, and other high-tech products, which are typically exported to the European Union, the United States, ASEAN, Japan, and Russia. Yiwu Commodity City in Zhejiang is China's leading specialized market for commodities and a prestigious international sourcing center.
Heavy industry products and technological products
Machinery and electrical products
Machinery and electrical products are the region's most important exports, with an export value approximately three times that of textiles and clothing. Different cities in Zhejiang specialize in different types of production; for example, Jinhua is known for the manufacture of automobiles and their components, Ningbo focuses on machinery and electrical equipment, while Wenzhou primarily produces household appliances, instruments, and meters.
Artificial intelligence
In Zhejiang Province, the artificial intelligence industry is mainly concentrated in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, and Shaoxing. Products include facial recognition, facial editing, powerful image recognition, intelligent customer service, autonomous driving, and more. These types of products find wide applications in fields such as healthcare, autonomous retail, intelligent connected vehicles, and smart home appliances.
Chemical fibers
Chemical fibers play a key role as raw materials in textile products, and Zhejiang Province ranks first in China in annual chemical fiber production. Numerous chemical fiber manufacturers are scattered across cities such as Hangzhou, Shaoxing, and Jiaxing, accounting for approximately half of China's total chemical fiber production.
Daily products
Textiles and clothing, furniture
Jiangsu's textile and apparel industry has a long history of development and is one of the cradles of the Chinese textile industry. It has founded numerous famous clothing brands such as Bosideng and Heilan Home , and currently has more than 2,500 textile production companies. Garment production accounts for one-tenth of national output. Changshu, Jiangsu, is a renowned textile production base.
Plastic
Jiangsu ranks among the top three in China's plastics industry in terms of production, with a full range of plastic production, and Jiangsu Province has the largest number of plastic packaging manufacturing enterprises.
Furniture
Jiangsu's furniture industry is among China's top three, with an annual output of over 17 billion pieces and nearly 10,000 enterprises, mainly located in Nantong and Suzhou. The largest furniture factory in eastern China, Chengdong City in Hai'an, is located in Nantong, where numerous furniture factories are located.
These are the main industrial clusters in the cities of Jiangsu.
| Changzhou | Car parts, masks |
| Nantong | Home textiles, furniture |
| Wuxi | Electric vehicles, steel and metal plates, textiles and clothing products (such as knitwear) |
| Suzhou | Fabric materials, textile and clothing products (such as sweaters, down jackets), maternity and baby products. |
| Xuzhou | Electric two-wheelers, construction machinery |
| Yangzhou | Toothbrushes, automotive parts and components, mechanical equipment. |
| Zhenjiang | Home textiles, glasses |
| Lianyungang | Glass products, seafood |
Zhejiang
Zhejiang's main exports include electrical and mechanical products, clothing, textiles, and other high-tech products, which are typically exported to the European Union, the United States, ASEAN, Japan, and Russia. Yiwu Commodity City in Zhejiang is China's leading specialized market for commodities and a prestigious international sourcing center.
Heavy industry products and technological products
Machinery and electrical products
Machinery and electrical products are the region's most important exports, with an export value approximately three times that of textiles and clothing. Different cities in Zhejiang specialize in different types of production; for example, Jinhua is known for the manufacture of automobiles and their components, Ningbo focuses on machinery and electrical equipment, while Wenzhou primarily produces household appliances, instruments, and meters.
Artificial intelligence
In Zhejiang Province, the artificial intelligence industry is mainly concentrated in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, and Shaoxing. Products include facial recognition, facial editing, powerful image recognition, intelligent customer service, autonomous driving, and more. These types of products find wide applications in fields such as healthcare, autonomous retail, intelligent connected vehicles, and smart home appliances.
Chemical fibers
Chemical fibers play a key role as raw materials in textile products, and Zhejiang Province ranks first in China in annual chemical fiber production. Numerous chemical fiber manufacturers are scattered across cities such as Hangzhou, Shaoxing, and Jiaxing, accounting for approximately half of China's total chemical fiber production.
Daily products
Textiles and clothing, furniture
Zhejiang province is renowned in China for its textile and clothing industry. There are numerous famous textile centers in the province, such as Lanting in Shaoxing, known for its knitting ; Datang in Zhuji, famous for its socks; and Heshan in Tongxiang, famous for its silk production.
Zhejiang's main textile products include fabrics, various types of clothing, socks, ties, and more. Furniture production here is among the best in China, making it the country's largest furniture manufacturing center, home to leading companies such as Kuka Home and Henglin Group .
Plastic
Zhejiang Province leads the production of plastic films in China, accounting for approximately 22% of the national output. In addition, large quantities of plastic packaging products are produced, including everyday packaging, industrial packaging, and packaging for electronic materials, offering a wide variety.
Paper
Zhejiang's paper industry is among China's top five, accounting for more than 10% of the country's total paper production. The main production areas are Jiaxing, Ningbo, and Quzhou.
These are the major industrial clusters in cities in Zhejiang .
| Hangzhou | Artificial intelligence, textiles and clothing, chemical fibers |
| Ningbo | Textiles and clothing, cardboard, household appliances, integrated circuits, plastics |
| Yongkang, Jinhua | Metal products, household appliances, automotive components, doors |
| Yiwu, Jinhua | Various everyday products, sports and outdoor products, and more. |
| Shaoxing | Textiles and clothing, umbrellas, chemical fibers |
| Jiaxing | Cardboard, Computer Electronics, Chemical Fibers |
| Wenzhou | Shoes, packaging materials, machinery and electrical products |
| Quzhou | Cardboard, Mechanical Equipment |
| Taizhou | Plastic and rubber products, molds |
| Huzhou | Textile products, Cosmetics |
Anhui
Anhui is rich in mineral resources, with a particular emphasis on heavy industry. Its main exports include automobiles, household appliances, textiles, steel, and rubber products.
Automobiles
Anhui is home to a variety of automakers, including Chery, NIO, Volkswagen, BYD , and more than 1,200 affiliated companies. In recent years, Anhui's automobile production has experienced rapid growth. By 2023, the province's automobile production would rank second in the country, with the second-largest export volume. New energy vehicle production reached 780,000 units, ranking fourth in China.
Lithium batteries
Lithium batteries are environmentally friendly, have a high energy storage capacity, and are indispensable power sources for devices such as phones, computers, automobiles, and outdoor lighting. Driven by the new energy industry, lithium battery production and export in Anhui is growing steadily, with Europe and the Americas being the main export destinations.
Household appliances
Anhui serves as a manufacturing center for many well-known home appliance companies. As early as 2011, Anhui's production of three major categories (refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners) ranked second in China. Among these, refrigerator production ranked first in China, washing machine production surpassed that of the Pearl River Delta and the Bohai Sea region, and air conditioner production ranked second, only behind the Pearl River Delta.
4. What are the major ports in the Yangtze River Delta?
The Yangtze River Delta port complex can be roughly divided into three parts: Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, each with its own ports. The main seaports are the ports of Shanghai, Lianyungang, and Dafeng in Jiangsu, and the ports of Ningbo-Zhoushan and Wenzhou in Zhejiang.
Port of Shanghai
The Port of Shanghai is a major hub along the Chinese coast, the second-largest port in the world with the largest container throughput. It operates more than 300 international shipping routes, facilitating the transport of goods to destinations around the world.
The main cargo categories handled include containers, coal, metallic minerals, petroleum and its products, steel, construction materials, machinery and equipment.
The Port of Shanghai encompasses numerous port areas, with Yangshan Port currently being the largest deepwater port and handling half of the total container throughput at the Port of Shanghai.
Established in 1991, the Waigaoqiao Port Area was Shanghai's largest deepwater container port before the completion of Yangshan Port. It primarily serves international shipping, focusing on container and oil transport, and also handles bulk and general cargo shipments.
Ningbo Zhoushan Port
The Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, formed by the merger of the ports of Ningbo and Zhoushan, is the world's largest port in terms of cargo throughput. With nearly 170 berths capable of handling vessels of over 10,000 tons, it facilitates the distribution of large vessels.
The Port of Ningbo ranks third in the world in terms of container throughput, with more than 300 routes connecting to over 600 ports in over 100 countries and regions around the world. The port handles a variety of commodities, including containers, minerals, crude oil, liquid chemicals, grain, and coal.
The Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan consists of 19 port zones, with the Beilun, Chuanshan, Daxie, Meishan, and Jintang port zones being the most used for container transport. The port zones specialized in bulk and general cargo transport include the Beilun, Chuanshan, Liuhen, and Cengang port zones.
Port of Lianyungang
Lianyungang Port, located in northeast Jiangsu Province, is one of China's most important ports for international trade and transportation.
Commodities such as coal and raw materials from central and western China, as well as some Central Asian countries, are frequently shipped via Lianyungang to destinations such as Europe, the Persian Gulf, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and other countries and regions.
Lianyungang Port has 85 berths with capacity for vessels over 10,000 tons, and the largest deepwater berth accommodates vessels up to 400,000 tons. The annual cargo volume exceeds 300 million tons.
In addition, Lianyungang Port operates 86 container routes, 29 roll-on/roll-off general cargo routes, two China-Korea passenger and cargo ferry routes, and six international railway routes.
The port comprises five port areas, the main one being Lianyungang Port Area, which specializes in the transport of containers and bulk cargo, while also hosting passenger and general cargo transport.
Port of Wenzhou
The Port of Wenzhou, located in southern Zhejiang Province, handles an annual cargo volume of nearly 90 million tons. Of this volume, foreign trade exceeds 5 million tons, with major products such as coal, petroleum, metallic minerals, steel, cement, and grain. The Port of Wenzhou trades with countries such as Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Russia, Singapore, and North Korea.
The Zhongyangao port area is the main deepwater port and has established 10 ocean routes to destinations such as the Philippines and Vietnam, in addition to one route to Russia.
Port of Yancheng
Yancheng Port is located in the central coastal region of Jiangsu and handles a cargo volume of over 100 million tons.
The port has four seaports, with Dafeng being the most crucial for foreign trade. Dafeng Port benefits from its strategic location, with a deep natural channel with a water depth of approximately 15 meters, which remains ice-free year-round.
It focuses primarily on container transport, bulk and general cargo, grain and oil, petrochemicals, and containerized automobile shipments. It maintains frequent trade relations with countries such as Japan, Russia, and South Korea.
Port of Nantong
The Port of Nantong, operational since 1980, is located in eastern Jiangsu Province. Serving as a major transportation hub for domestic and international trade, it specializes in the transport of bulk cargo from the Jiangsu region and the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
Currently, it has established navigation connections with more than 300 ports in over 100 countries and regions, including Japan, the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong. Among the port areas, Yangkou and Lusi are the main seaports.
The end
The Yangtze River Delta is one of China's three major economic zones. If you'd like to read more articles about China's economic regions , check out this article .
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