Zhejiang Information

Overview

Zhejiang is one of the country’s wealthiest provinces while also being home to impressive rural landscapes and a number of subtropical islands. Located in southeastern China, the province covers roughly 39,000 square miles (101,000 km sq), placing 25th in the nation. Its large population ranks 11th in the nation with 47,200,000 people. The capital and largest city is Hangzhou, which is located at the innermost point of the aptly titled Hangzhou Bay.

Zhejiang Geography

Zhejiang province is located in southeastern China with the East China Sea as its pelagic border. There are over 3,000 islands dotting the coastline. The coast is scattered with inlets and bays well suited for fishing and trade ports. Hills cover about 70% of the province. Zhejiang is highest in altitude in the southwest and lowest north of the Hangzhou Bay and along the northeast-running Fuchun River, which empties into Hangzhou Bay. The Grand Canal enters from the north and ends at Hangzhou. The province borders Fujian, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces, as well as Shanghai municipality.

Zhejiang Demographics

Zhejiang’s population is comprised of primarily of Han Chinese who make up 99.2% of the residents. She constitute 0.4%. Hui, Manchu, and Miao are also present.

Zhejiang History

Zhejiang province entered Chinese dynastic history in the first unification of China at the onset of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC). The northern invasions beginning in the 4th century spurred a massive influx of Han from the north, which marked the beginning of the indigenous culture’s deterioration. The Sui Dynasty (581 AD – 618 AD) helped pull Zhejiang from the outskirts by building the Grand Canal, linking Hangzhou to the North China Plane, the center of Chinese civilization. The south prospered during the beginning of the Song Dynasty (960 AD – 1279 AD) and when the north was conquered by the Jurchen Jin Dynasty (1115 AD – 1234 AD) in 1127, the Southern Song Dynasty established its capital in modern Hangzhou. The region continued to flourish even after the fall of the Song Dynasty through subsequent invasions and dynasties. The Taiwan based Republic of China held onto some of Zhejiang’s islands and for a short time established a provincial government there. Unlike those offshore of Fujian to the south, the People’s Republic of China was able to secure these islands for the mainland in 1955.

Zhejiang Industry

Zhejiang is traditionally known as the Land of Fish and Rice. The province’s main crop is rice, but the amount of arable land per capita is low. The province’s deep shorelines aid the existence of a number of high output fisheries, including China’s largest. Zhejiang is also famous for its Longjing tea, a product of Hangzhou. The islands, coast, and culture have proven to be attractive for tourism. Zhejiang’s northern border with Shanghai helped spur a unique process of development in China, which focuses on entrepreneurship and small business. The resulting infrastructure and low cost goods exports have proven highly beneficial.