Where is Yancheng, Jiangsu?

Introduction to Yancheng

Located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, Yancheng is the largest maritime city in Jiangsu Province. The coastline stretches for 582 kilometers, accounting for 61% of the province’s coastline length. Among the 9 counties (cities and districts) under its jurisdiction, 5 counties (cities) including Dongtai, Dafeng, Sheyang, Binhai and Xiangshui are close to the sea. Historically, the Yellow River entered the sea in Yancheng City for more than 700 years, and combined with the Yangtze River, accumulated a large amount of sediment along the coast, creating a vast coastal plain. The interaction between sea and land has formed a diverse and unique coastal tidal ecological environment, which makes the natural resources here have the characteristics of many types, large reserves, and high development and utilization value.

The land resources are unique. To the east of the seawall built in the 1950s (known as the old seawall in the past), there are currently 4,559 square kilometers of coastal tidal flats, which is equivalent to 4.26 times the area of ??Hong Kong, 70% of the tidal flat area of ??Jiangsu Province, and one-seventh of the national tidal flat area. one. As the Yangtze River continues to transport sand to the sea, part of it accumulates outside the shore of Yancheng, causing the Yancheng tidal flat area to continue to swell toward the sea at a rate of adding 1,300 hectares of land every year. According to the natural landform characteristics, the coastal beaches of Yancheng City are divided into three parts: supratidal zone, intertidal zone and offshore radiating sandbar. Among them, the supratidal zone is located between the old seawall and the average high tide level, with a total area of ??1,677 square kilometers; the intertidal zone is between the average high tide level and the spring low tide line, with a total area of ??1,614 square kilometers; between Gang Town, Dongtai City In the eastern shallow sea area, there are more than 70 radiating sandbars such as Dongsha, with the harbor as the radiating point, radiating to the east and southeast, with a total area of ??1,268 square kilometers. This natural phenomenon is rare in the world. The beach along Yancheng City is a muddy coast with flat terrain, superior natural attributes, rapid natural desalination and rapid natural evolution of halophytes, making it a gifted land with huge development potential. Mr. Li Zhensheng, former vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, visited the Yancheng coastal beach and concluded: "The Yancheng coastal beach is the first choice area for my country to increase cultivated land on a large scale and significantly increase the effective supply of grain, cotton, oil and meat."

There are many kinds of biological resources. The coastal tidal flats of Yancheng City are vast, with lush natural vegetation. More than 10 large rivers flow into the sea through the tidal flats. The offshore water is fertile and is a good place for various plants to grow and various animals to inhabit, feed, reproduce and grow. More than 160 types of offshore pelagic and sessile plants have been identified; terrestrial resource plants are divided into five categories: fiber, medicinal, spice, oil and feed, with more than 500 species in total, belonging to more than 100 species and more than 400 genera. The more expensive ones include polygonum multiflorum, spearmint, apocynum, lemongrass, etc. There are more than 550 species of fish, shrimps, crabs, and shells in offshore and intertidal areas, including many rare species. The reserves of molluscs in the intertidal zone reach more than 40,000 tons. The main economic species include four-cornered clams, green clams, mud snails, Xishi tongues, razor clams, etc. , which was praised by Emperor Qianlong as: "the most fresh in the world" clams have large reserves and high economic value. In addition, there are plum fish, hairtail fish, large yellow croaker, four-gill bass, swimming crab, hasidian shrimp, and Japanese shrimp. The production of eel fry with extremely high economic value ranks first in the country, with an average annual catch of 7 tons, with the highest year reaching 15 ton. There are 357 species of terrestrial vertebrates. The internationally recognized endangered species include red-crowned crane, black-billed gull, white-billed gull, white stork, white-naped crane, etc. Two nature reserves covering an area of ??12,000 hectares for red-crowned cranes and elk have also been established on the tidal flats. The number of red-crowned cranes wintering here every year has increased from more than 300 to more than 1,000, accounting for about half of the world's total; they are shipped back from the United Kingdom. The 39 elk have been bred to more than 400, making it the largest wild free-range population in the world.

The light and hot water conditions are superior and unique. Yancheng Tidal Flat is located in the humid monsoon climate zone transitioning from the northern subtropical zone to the warm temperate zone. It is significantly affected by the oceanic climate. It has a mild climate, abundant light and heat, a long frost-free period, and rain and heat in the same season. The annual average temperature is 14 degrees, the annual sunshine is 2,300 hours, the annual rainfall is about 1,000 mm, and the frost-free period is 220 days. It has a versatile climate, which is conducive to soil desalination and improvement. It also provides conditions for the growth and development of animals and plants, overwintering and summer, and high-quality and high yields. In addition to a huge amount of seawater resources, Yancheng City's coastal beaches are very suitable for the development of sea salt, seawater aquaculture and marine biochemical industry. It is also rich in freshwater resources. It belongs to the Huaihe River system and the Yishu River system. The river network is densely covered, with an average annual rainfall of 6.5 billion. cubic meters, the total amount of surface runoff and transit water resources can meet development needs, and there is basically no water shortage in normal years and ordinary drought years.

Port and shipping resources have huge potential. Yancheng City has 12 sea ports. According to expert certification, most of the ports have wide and deep coastal waters, straight channels and good bottom quality. They are not frozen all year round, have small waves, and have good berthing conditions, which are resistant to typhoons and sea fog. The impact is not significant. Most of the shore sections have vast land areas, abundant land for building port warehouses, and good distribution conditions. Many ports with berths of 50,000 to 100,000 tons can be built. Guanhe River, located in Xiangshui County, is known as the "Huangpu River of Jiangsu Province". It is the only river in northern Jiangsu that has not been closed by a gate. It has a wide port and deep water, and little change in river bed erosion and siltation. It has been the Huaiyan channel to the sea since ancient times. Currently, Chenjiagang, Binhai Port, Sheyang Port, Dafeng Port, etc. are all under construction.