City in Guangdong, China
About Zhanjiang
Zhanjiang is a coastal city in southern China, located on the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province. It is a prefecture-level city which administers the entire Leizhou Peninsula and 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.
History
During the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), the area of modern Zhanjiang was part of the Xiang Shire administrative division. Under the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), 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 (960–1270 AD), many Putian (Hinghwa) 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. 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 (historically Kwangchowan or Kwangchow Wan). …
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. Zhanjiang has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), 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.
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 (Guangdong) 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. …
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