Zhanjiang
Zhanjiang is a port city in southern China, located on the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province. The prefecture-level city administers the entire Leizhou Peninsula, which lies directly opposite to Haikou, the capital of the Hainan province, across the Qiongzhou Strait. It is the southernmost port on the coast of mainland China, serving as a centre of commerce and navigation for much of southwestern China. The city’s built-up urban centre consists of four districts: Chikan, Xiashan, Potou, and Mazhang.
According to the 2020 census, the city’s resident population was 6,981,236, down slightly from 6,994,832 in 2010—the highest decade-census figure to that date. More recent estimates place the total resident population at about 7,078,400, an all-time high, while the urban population of the built-up centre is estimated at roughly 3,402,700, also an all-time high.
In 2007, the Chinese Cities Brand Value Report ranked Zhanjiang among China’s ten most livable cities.
Zhanjiang's culture is shaped by the Leizhou Peninsula, home to the distinctive Leizhou Opera. The city also hosts a major base of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
History
The Imperial China era
During the Qin dynasty, the area of modern Zhanjiang was part of the Xiang Shire administrative division. Under the Han dynasty, Xuwen County was established as the administrative seat for the entire Leizhou Peninsula. The port of Zhanjiang became one of the earliest departure points on the Maritime Silk Road, fostering trade and the growth of the urban center. During the Song dynasty, many Putian colonists settled in the region, later forming the ethnolinguistic majority of the Leizhou Peninsula. Other significant groups included the Baiyue, Cantonese, Tanka, and foreign merchants.French-leased territory
In 1898, the region was a small fishing port when the French established control, forcing China to lease a 99-year concession known as Guangzhouwan. Much of the local population had fled, so Cantonese peasants from north of Leizhou were brought in to repopulate the area, making Yue Chinese the dominant local language. The French developed the port, calling it Fort Bayard, intending it as a logistical center for their southern China concessions, including railway and mineral projects. However, the surrounding poverty and underdevelopment limited these efforts. The French held the enclave until 1943, when the Japanese occupied it during World War II. After the war, the enclave was briefly returned to France before being formally ceded to China in 1946 by General Charles de Gaulle.Return to China
After reclaiming the territory from the French, the Republic of China renamed the area Zhanjiang, a historical variant of Zhanchuan, which had been under the jurisdiction of Zhanchuan County. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Zhanjiang grew in strategic and economic importance. By 1957, it developed into a major modern deep-water port, capable of handling ships up to 50,000 tons.As part of Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening-up policy in 1984, Zhanjiang was designated as an open city, attracting foreign investment and promoting industrial growth. Key industries included shipbuilding, engineering works, automobile manufacturing, electrical manufacturing, textiles, sugar refining, and chemical production.
In the early 1990s, a rail line connected Zhanjiang to Guangzhou, later extended to Hai'an at the southern tip of the Leizhou Peninsula. This line integrated with the Guangdong–Hainan Railway, allowing trains to be ferried across the Hainan Strait to Haikou city, further strengthening regional connectivity.
Zhanjiang's culture is distinct within Guangdong, heavily influenced by the Leizhou Peninsula. The local opera, Leizhou Opera, is a unique art form with a history of over 300 years. The city is also a major base for China's South Sea Fleet, adding a significant naval element to its identity.
Geography
Zhanjiang is located on the eastern coast of the Leizhou Peninsula, southwest of Guangzhou, along an inlet of the South China Sea. The city’s linguistic landscape reflects its history. In Potou District and other areas, Yue Chinese is spoken, brought by Cantonese peasants who settled during the French period, while the original Min-speaking population largely fled. Leizhou Min remains the prestige language in Xiashan District, Mazhang District, Xuwen County, and Leizhou City, and Hakka is spoken in Lianjiang County.Climate
Zhanjiang has a humid subtropical climate, with short, mild, overcast winters and long, very hot, humid summers. From April to September, rainfall is the heaviest and most frequent. The summer and winter temperatures are moderated due to the influence of the nearby ocean.Administration
Zhanjiang has direct jurisdiction over nine county-level divisions:Military
Zhanjiang serves as the headquarters of the South Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy. It also serves as the home base of and 2nd Marine Brigades of the People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps.Economy
Zhanjiang is a major port city and trade center with a diversified industrial base that includes shipbuilding, textiles, petrochemicals, automobiles, chemicals, electrical appliances, and rice processing. Since the mid-2010s, the city has rapidly developed into a modern manufacturing and export hub. By 2022, the Zhongke Refinery and Petrochemical Project processed 14.55 million tons of crude oil and produced 834,600 tons of ethylene, with an output value exceeding 100 billion yuan.In 2024, investment in key projects topped 487 billion yuan, while industrial investment rose 56% year-on-year. Zhanjiang’s strategy now focuses on high-quality growth, expanding industries such as green steel, new energy, AI, marine equipment, and port logistics, alongside its vital role in the South China Sea oil and gas sector. By 2025, manufacturing is projected to contribute nearly 30% of GDP.
Port of Zhanjiang
The Port of Zhanjiang, historically known as Guangzhouwan, is one of China’s key maritime gateways. Built in 1956, it was the first modern port designed and developed after the founding of the People’s Republic of China and today serves as the headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s South Sea Fleet.Recognized as one of China’s eight major ports, Zhanjiang handles an annual throughput exceeding 260 million tons. As a natural deep-water port, it has an average depth of around 15–20 meters and is protected by three outer islands that provide safe anchorage and shelter for large vessels. The port connects southern and western China to the global market, enabling trade with over 100 countries and supporting major industries in the region—particularly steel manufacturing and petrochemicals.
Agriculture
Zhanjiang has long been a hub of agricultural production, historically dominated by sugarcane, which reached over 10 million tons in 2007. The city also produces pineapples, bananas, papayas, seafood, farmed prawns, fish, and Akoya cultured pearls.By 2025, Zhanjiang’s agriculture had modernized and diversified, integrating eco-friendly farming, aquaculture, and high-tech greenhouses. New agricultural enterprises continue to expand, while collaboration with Taiwan and Guangdong supports advanced techniques in tropical fruit cultivation, fisheries, and ecological agriculture, strengthening both domestic supply and exports.
Industry
Zhanjiang’s industrial base has transitioned from rapid growth in the early 2000s to modern, high-value clusters by 2025. While in 2007 its total industrial output reached about 112 billion yuan, with 714 major enterprises and 132 firms each generating over 100 million yuan in output, today the focus is on large-scale advanced manufacturing and green industries. The Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone, founded in 1984 and covering roughly 9.2 km², remains a key hub for automobile manufacturing, biotechnology, and software development.By 2024, key projects in Zhanjiang achieved aggregated investment exceeding 487 billion yuan in the first seven months, and major clusters such as green petrochemicals, advanced materials, and new energy each approached or surpassed 100 billion yuan in annual output.
Business
In 2007, the total value of retail sales of consumer goods in Zhanjiang reached 38.216 billion yuan, marking a 19.5% increase over the previous year.Transportation
Air
By 2025, Zhanjiang has strengthened its role as a regional aviation hub. Zhanjiang Wuchuan International Airport, opened in 2022, features a 3,200‑meter runway and handles around 5 million passengers and 30,000 tons of cargo annually. A nearby city-terminal in Maoming improves access via shuttle connections, while ongoing infrastructure upgrades integrate the airport with expressways and rail networks.Domestic flights connect Zhanjiang to major Chinese cities, and regional international routes link it to Northeast Asia. The expanded air network supports tourism, logistics, and trade, reinforcing Zhanjiang’s position in the modern coastal economic belt and its connectivity with Hainan Island.
Rail
Zhanjiang is a key railway hub in southern China, served by five major railways: the Lizhan Railway, Shenzhan Railway, Luozhan Railway, Yuehai Railway, and Hezhan Railway. These railways connect the city with major urban centers in Guangdong province, as well as other regions in southwestern China, supporting both passenger travel and freight transport.The city has two main railway stations:
- Zhanjiang Railway Station – serving the Lizhan, Luozhan, and Hezhan Railways, it functions as the primary station for conventional rail services and regional freight movement.
- Zhanjiang West Railway Station – serving the Yuehai Railway and the Shenzhan High-Speed Railway, this station provides fast passenger connections to major cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and other high-demand destinations across Guangdong.