Yangshan Deep-Water Port

Yangshan Deep-Water Port

In June 2002, construction began on the Yangshan Deep-Water Port and Donghai Bridge projects. By May 2005, the first phase was completed. On December 10, 2006, the second phase was finished. Since then, the bridge has cut through the waves of the East China Sea, and Yangshan has built a major port to welcome and send off vessels. The five deep-water berths of the first phase of Yangshan Port cost approximately 10 billion yuan, while the entire project’s estimated budget may exceed 100 billion yuan. On April 1, 2006, water tourism at Shanghai’s Yangshan Port and Donghai Bridge officially began receiving visitors, launching a harbor and land sightseeing tour project.

The first and second phases of the Yangshan Port area were mainly built on Xiaoyangshan Island. Xiaoyangshan was formerly called “Yangshan” (Sheep Mountain) because of the many sheep on the island. Legend has it that Zheng Chenggong’s troops once cooked and ate sheep there, and due to the island’s small size, it was later renamed “Xiaoyangshan” (Little Sheep Mountain), which evolved into Yangshan or Xiaoyangshan. Other names include Santashan (Three-Pagoda Mountain) and Houshan (Monkey Mountain). Xiaoyangshan has a long history—written records about the island date back to the fourth year of the Dazhong era of the Tang Dynasty (850 AD), when it was said to have even had a temple dedicated to Emperor Yang of Sui. From the Song Dynasty through the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the fishing season around Yangshan flourished. As a key coastal defense site for the Ming and Qing navies, Yangshan once had military boundary markers, and on the eastern side of the island, there is also a Tin Hau Temple. In the early Qing Dynasty, the large-scale anti-Qing maritime resistance movement often passed through Yangshan.

Yangshan Port is located 32 kilometers northwest of Lu Chuan Port in Nanhui (now part of Pudong New Area), 90 kilometers south of Ningbo Beilun Port, and extends eastward through the Huangzeyang Channel directly to the open sea, only 45 nautical miles from international shipping routes, making it the nearest deep-water port to Shanghai. The first phase of the port area has a 1,600-meter quay line with five container berths capable of accommodating fifth- and sixth-generation container ships, as well as 8,000-TEU container vessels, with an annual designed throughput capacity of 2 million TEUs. In fact, as of January 10, 2006, the cumulative throughput had already reached 2.501 million TEUs. The second phase of Yangshan Deep-Water Port, launched on December 10, 2006, has a 1,400-meter quay line with four dedicated container berths for ships between 70,000 and 100,000 tons, with a designed annual throughput of 2.1 million TEUs. In the long term, the overall plan for the Yangshan Port area envisions over 20 square kilometers of land area and more than 50 large deep-water berths. By 2020, the northern port area (on the Xiaoyangshan side) will have over 10 kilometers of deep-water quay lines, with more than 30 deep-water container berths and a designed annual throughput capacity exceeding 13 million TEUs.

Yangshan Port employs advanced unmanned intelligent gates. As containers pass through the gates, cameras automatically scan the labels attached to them and weigh the container trucks. After scanning, the computer records the dimensions and weight of the container. Then, based on factors such as the destination distance, size, and weight of the container, an accurate calculation determines the parking position for the truck. As a result, even without supervision, container trucks entering and leaving the terminal can still proceed with clear direction.

Climbing to the observation deck on Xiaoyangshan Island within the port area, you can take in the bustling scene of the port terminals. A massive rock at the observation deck bears five bold, golden characters: “Yangshan Deep-Water Port.” To its left stands a large iron anchor sculpture, and on the rock to the right of the sculpture is engraved “Ode to Yangshan Deep-Water Port,” written by author Zhao Lihong: *Gazing at the sea from Yangshan, sky and water stretch boundless, Big and small islands lie in lonely, wistful silence, scattered afar. A thousand years of time flow by, tides rise and fall; Listen to the waves crashing on reefs, and fishermen’s evening songs. In the new century, talents gather, and Yangshan Island stirs with momentum. A decade—a fleeting moment—unfolds a breathtaking grand vision, Chasing stars and the moon to build a port of epic scale. With each hammer strike on the piles, echoes resound across the seas, Heroes from all directions gather for the great endeavor, Filling sand to enclose the sea, calming the waves to build the harbor. Exploring deep waters, carving out channels, spanning the East China Sea, erecting bridges. Watch dragons soar, cleaving waves and skies, laying aerial highways sixty miles long. New docks vast, inhaling and exhaling goods from all over, Towering cranes welcoming and sending off giant vessels. What was once a lonely fishing island now connects the world. From on high, the spirit soars. The Chinese dare to dream and act, writing a magnificent chapter in a new era, Builders etched into history, entrepreneurs immortalized forever. Looking back at the mainland, the giant of China strides forward boldly, The pier like a long arm welcoming guests from afar; Gazing out to sea, friends from distant lands ride the waves, Ships like pods of whales gathering toward the rising sun. Majestic is the great port of Yangshan, the embrace of our nation, the gateway of China. Magnificent is the great port of Yangshan, the awe of the world, the story of humanity.*