(Photos by Fang Pei, english.eastday.com)

On Aug.5-6, representatives from Expo 2010 participants visited Zhoushan, a city with a population of about 1 million in the east of Zhejiang Province. This activity was organized by the local government of Zhoushan City. Participants visited Putuo Island, enjoyed the fantastic views of beaches in Zhujiajian area, and expressed their kind wishes on the message wall for Expo 2010 Shanghai Zhoushan Friendship Day. The Local Government also hosted a nice banquet for the visitors.

Zhoushan is famous for its Putuo Island, one of China's four most well-known Buddhist sanctums, and Shenjiamen Fishing Port, one of the world's three largest fishing ports. It is 135 sea-miles south from Shanghai, and 34 sea-miles east from Ningbo.

Zhoushan is China's largest archipelago with a total area of about 22,200 square kilometers, in which the sea area is 20,800 square kilometers and the land area 1,371 square kilometers. As many as 1,339 islands are scattered amidst Zhoushan's vast sea. Rich natural resources make the city competitive in industries of fishery, ports, and tourism. It is China's largest center for seafood processing, production and selling. In addition, the city boasts many good ports, thanks to its numerous harbors and ship-channels which are deep and calm.

On Dec 25, 2009, Zhoushan Cross-sea Bridge was put into use. The city was connected with the continent. Nowadays, Zhoushan is on the way towards its ambitious goal of building a garden city on the sea that is advanced in marine economy and famous for marine culture.

With fantastic scenery and natural resources, Zhoushan City could be a typical case of "Better City, Better Life".

By Fang Pei