Lianyungang's multifunctional harbor is the soul of the city.
Found in the middle of China's eastern coast, Lianyungang port has big plans for the future and is building new facilities to meet rising sea transport demand.
"By 2010, the port will handle over 100 million tons, making it one of the country's most active ports," said Cao Xiaohua, vice director of the President Office of Lianyungang Port Group.
The cargo handling capacity this year is expected to exceed 43.5 million tons, including 500,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of containers, up by 16 and 66 percent on last year.
The port is expected to generate revenue of 1.2 billion yuan (US$144.58 million) this year, which is more than triple what it earned three years earlier.
More than 64 percent of the port's income is from foreign trades.
Cao said the harbor is at the leading sea ports in terms of the annual increase in handling capacity.
Lianyungang port, richly endowed by nature, is a land of exceptional advantages.
The longhai-Lanxin railway, which runs from China east coast to its west border, links Lianyungang with the inland.
The port is at the crossing point of two national highways, making it the most convenient sea outlet for the foreign trade from more than ten inland provinces including Gansu, Qinghai and Shaanxi.
The eurasia Continental Land Bridge, the cheapest and fastest land rail route from Asia to Europe, starts in Lianyungang and ends at Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The "New Silk Road" has brought benefits to the port, with statistics showing it now handles over 90 percent of the trans-border rail container cargo volume for China.
With a 71-year history, the port is divided into three areas: old port, Miaoling port and Xugou port.
The port owns 31 productive berths, including 25 for vessels of over 10,000 tons.
As a port offering comprehensive services, it can handle a variety of general and bulk cargo, and even large-scale equipment.
Containers, coal, ore and bulk grains are a major part of the exported cargo.
About 60 percent of the country's annual imported alumina, 1.8 million tons, is transferred through the port.
More than 140 shipping routes are in operation linking nearly 1,000 ports home and abroad.
The conditions outside the port are excellent.
"A broad range of services are offered to take care of all our customers' needs, which we consider a key concern," said Cao.
He said the efficiency of handling and shipping have been improved with the completion of the auxiliary facilities for storing, stacking and repairing.
The group has also been making efforts to cut transportation costs by up to 60 percent in the last few years.
Fuelled by surging exports and rising demand, the port is strategically engaged in its new-round development.
According to the plan, two more port areas will be constructed.
And a container dock with eight berths and a capacity of 3 million tons will be built.
The next phase of construction includes an upgrading of the sea-route for receiving vessels of 150,000 tons, which will cost more than 1 billion yuan, and will be scheduled for completion by the end of next year.