Geographical Location
Ningbo is situated in the Yangtze River Delta where there are many cities and all kinds of industries with huge market, perfect market system and high consumption level. It is close to Shanghai, the economic and financial center of China. Ningbo Economic & Technological Development Area is located to the northeast of its mother city and to the rear area of the Beilun Port, the biggest natural deep-water port of China. It is 27 kilometers away from downtown Ningbo.

Climate
Ningbo is of subtropical monsoon climate with mild and humid weather and distinctive four seasons. The average annual temperature is 16.3 centigrade with the highest standing at 38.5 centigrade and the lowest, -6.6 centigrade. The average annual rainfall is 1297.2 milimeters.

Communication and Transportation
Harbor
Ningbo Port is located in the middle part of China's coastline and to the west of Hangzhou Bay. At present, Ningbo Port has opened to navigation for trade and transportation with over 500 ports in more than 80 countries and regions in the world. It has a specialized dock for storage of liquidized chemical products, the biggest of its kind in China.

The Hangzhou-Ningbo canal, 252 kilometers long, is connected to Nanjing-Hangzhou canal, with a capacity of holding vessels of 40 tons in weight. Hangzhou Bay Grand Bridge, a bridge crossing over the Hangzhou Bay, is to be completed in 2006. When finished, it will shorten the distance between Shanghai and Ningbo by more than 130 kilometers.

Landway
Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo highway runs directly to and from Ningbo Economic & Technological Development Area with only three hours' drive from Shanghai.

Railway
Beilun Railway starts from this area and is connected to the national railway network through Xiaoshan-Ningbo Railway, Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway and Zheliang-Jiangxi Railway.

Airport
Ningbo Yueshe Airport has opened more than 30 airlines linking Ningbo and Hong Kong, Ningbo and Macao and Ningbo-Shanghai-Fukushima air route.

Human Resources
There is a population of over one million people around Ningbo which can satisfy the demand for different kinds of talents and labor. There are 8 universities and professional colleges and 3 adult universities in Ningbo with over 30,000 students at school. There are 24 vocational schools and 22 adult vocational schools with 40,000 students at school. There are more than 170 research institutions of natural sciences and more than 200,000 technical professionals altogether.

Industrial Structure
An industrial cluster of chemical, steel and iron, food, light textile, papermaking and automobile manufacturing has been shaped.

Development Planning
The current policy of the Development Zone is to introduce foreign capital first, and pay attention to the construction of industrial projects and foreign exchange-earning enterprises as well as the development of high technology.

The main task is to develop the industry in relation to harbor as well as high tech industry in order to push the overall scope and make the products more competitive in the area market and world market. The task will be obtained by taking advantage of the port, infrastructural facilities and industrial base available. The extension effect of the industry and production factors will not be ignored either.

Administration Committee
Tel: 86-574-86850225
Fax: 86-574-86885325
Email: webmaster@netd.com.cn
Website: http://www.netd.gov.cn/english/e_zy.asp

(Source: Ministry of Commerce)