Ningbo is located at the middle part of China's coastline and southern flank of the Yangtze River Delta, bordering on
Shanghai and Hangzhou.
Ningbo is one of the cities opening up to the outside world, an independently- planning- city enjoying the same rights as
those of a provincial government in economic management, "a large city" entitled to formulate local laws and regulations,
and a famous historic city with rich cultural heritage. It covers an area of 9,365 sq.km and has a population of 5.65 million
. The jurisdiction of Ningbo City encompasses two counties (Xiangshan and Ninghai), three county-level cities (Yuyao, Cixi
and Fenghua) and six urban districts (Haishu, Jiangdong, Jiangbei, Zhenhai, Beilun and Yinzhou).

  Ningbo boasts a long history. It is the birthplace of the "Neolithic Hemudu Culture" dating back more than 7,000 years.
It has been a well-known key port for foreign trade ever since ancient time, ranked with Yangzhou and Guangzhou as the three
 biggest ports for foreign trade in Tang Dynasty and with Guangzhou and Quanzhou in Song Dynasty. After the First Opium War,
Ningbo was opened as one of the five commercial ports linking to the outside world. Nowadays, Ningbo port has become one of
the most important ports in China. Its cargo handling capacity amounted to 344 million tons in 2007, ranking second both
among the ports in China and in the world; its container handling capacity of the year exceeded 9.35 million TEU, ranking
11th in the world.

  Partly owing to the sound conditions, the social economy of Ningbo has been developed rapidly since opening up to the
 outside world. In 2007, the city GDP reached 343.31 billion RMB yuan, with GDP per capita USD 8026. Ningbo has become an
important industrial city and foreign trade port in east China, a key city and chemical industrial base in Yangtze River
 Delta and an economic center of Zhejiang Province.

  Ningbo enjoys subtropical monsoon climate featuring mild temperature, moderate humidity and distinctive seasons. The city
is an ideal tourist place with culture monuments and historical sites.

  By the year 2010, Ningbo will be developed into an international port city featuring modernization, socialization, strong
economic strength, further opening, advanced science and culture, comfortable life, fine social morality and beautiful
 environment.

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