Zhuhai

Archeological evidence suggests human inhabitation in the Zhuhai region from at least the Neolithic Age. Numerous sites, including Baojingwan on Gaolan Island and Houshawan on Qi'ao Island, have yielded artifacts including pottery, rings, tools, and discs made of stone and jade that date between the Late Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Baojingwan also contains petroglyphs and paintings from the Late Neolithic period. Zhuhai's prehistoric cultures demonstrate similarities with others discovered in the Pearl River Delta, and indicate the presence of maritime, hunter-gatherer, and agricultural societies. Sites such as Tangxiahua have also revealed bronze casts, indicating the existence of regional bronze manufacturing that was contemporary with the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties. …

Zhuhai is positioned along the southwest bank of the Pearl River Delta. The prefecture-level cities of Jiangmen and Zhongshan are located to Zhuhai's west and north, respectively. Zhuhai is directly adjacent to Macao, with which it has 3 border crossings at Wanzai, Gongbei, and Hengqin. In total, Zhuhai covers an area of 7,836 square kilometers; 1,711 square kilometers of this is land surface, while the rest consists of its ocean territory in the South China Sea that borders Hong Kong. Zhuhai's terrain consists of mountains and alluvial plains, with hills concentrated in its more inland areas. Various rivers, lakes, and ponds are distributed especially in its western regions. Major waterways include the Xi River, which bisects Zhuhai and separates Xiangzhou District from Jinwan and Doumen Districts. The urban core of Zhuhai has historically been concentrated in Xiangzhou and Jinwan. …

In 1980, the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) announced that the city of Zhuhai would be one of four special economic zones. Those doing business in the SEZ are eligible for a range of incentives provided by the PRC. Zhuhai became a city in 1979, a year before it was designated as one of the first Special Economic Zones of China (SEZ). Similarly to neighbouring Shenzhen, which became the first Special Economic Zone of China in 1978, the implementation of Zhuhai as an SEZ was largely due to its strategic position adjacent to Macau, a capitalist trading center similar to Shenzhen's position with Hong Kong. The establishment of Zhuhai as an SEZ allowed the Chinese Central Government and economy to have easier access to the Macau and consequently, global market. …