Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai
Yangshan port is a new port in Hangzhou Bay south of shanghai. Built to circumvent growth limitations for the port of Shanghai as a result of shallow waters, it allows berths with depths of up to 15 metres to be built, and is capable of handling the largest container ships today.
English Name: Shanghai Yangshan Deep Water Port
Chinese Name: 上海洋山深水港
Theme: One of the largest port in China
Best Time to Visit: All year round
Recommended Visiting Time: 1 or 2 hours
Opening Hours: All day
Admission Fee: Free
Address in English: Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China
Address in Chinese: 中国上海浦东新区
Yangshan Deep Water Port
Yangshan Deep-Water Port is a deep water port for container ships in Hangzhou Bay south of Shanghai. Connected to Shanghai’s Pudong New Area by the Donghai Bridge and forming part of the Port of Shanghai, the islands of Greater and Lesser Yangshan are administered separately as part of Zhejiang’s Shengsi County.
Built to allow the Port of Shanghai to grow despite shallow waters near the shore, it allows berths with depths of up to 15 metres (49 ft) to be built and can handle today’s largest container ships. The port is built on the islands of Greater and Lesser Yangshan, part of the Zhoushan archipelago, with fill from land reclamation.
In 2015, the port handled 36.54 million Twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) up 3.5% over 2014. In 2013 the volume was 33.6 million TEU. In mid-2011, port officials said the port was on track to move 12.3 million TEUs during the year, up from 10.1 million TEUs in 2010.
Why is Yangshan Deep Water Port So Special?
The Yangshan Deep Water Port is one of the three major constituents of the Shanghai Port, one of the busiest port facilities in the world. Considered as the world’s biggest deep water port, Yangshan is built on the islands of Greater and Lesser Yangshan and is connected to the mainland through the world’s largest sea bridge – Donghai Bridge.
The decision to construct the port was taken at the start of the 21st century and accordingly the construction was planned to be carried out in four specific stages. The first stage in the construction of the Yangshan Port was completed in the year 2004 following which the port began its commercial operations.
Where is Yangshan Deep Water Port Location
The Yangshan Deep Water Port is located close to a chain of islands between the Hangzhou Bay and the mouth of the Yangtze River. A natural and superb deepwater port, it’s just 45 nautical miles from international waters and about 27 kilometers away from the Luchao Port in Nanhui District. The Donghai Bridge links the port with Shanghai’s network of communication lines and gives it good connections with the economic hinterland of the Yangtze River Delta.
Introduction of Yangshan Deep Water Port
Construction phases
In 2000 and 2001, the decision was made to commence construction on the first of four phases. The first two phases have nine berths in total along a 3 km (1.9 mi) quayside. The first phase, which opened in 2004, can accommodate 2.2 million containers annually and includes 10 quay cranes. The second phase was opened in December 2006 and comprises 72 hectares (180 acres) with 15 quay cranes. The third phase, opened in stages, was completed in 2010 with seven berths. The fourth phase, expected to open in 2015, will add 4 million TEUs to the port’s annual capacity.
The total cost of building the port may reach US$12 billion over 20 years. When complete, the port will have 30 berths capable of handling 15 million TEUs annually.
Highway access
The Yangshan Port is connected to the mainland via the 32.5 km (20.2 mi) Donghai Bridge, opened on 1 December 2005 as the world’s longest sea bridge. The six-lane highway bridge took 6,000 workers two and a half years to construct.
Donghai Bridge
As the only route that links Yangshan Deep Water Port to other places, 32.5-kilometer-long Donghai Bridge is China’s first pelagic cross-sea bridge, which its function is expectable. With a total length of 32 kilometers and a bridge width of 31.5 meters, the Donghai Bridge is an integral part of the Shanghai International Shipping Center’s deep-water port project. It spans the northern part of the Hangzhou Bay and connects the Luchaogang Town in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area with Xiaoyangshan Island in Zhejiang Province.
Rail access
There is no direct railway connection to the Yangshan Port. The port is served by Luchaogang railway station of the Pudong Railway (浦东铁路), which was opened in 2005 near the mainland end of the Donghai Bridge.
What to Do
- Enjoy a nice hike, take lots of pictures, and have a picnic under the pagoda or gazebo for some shade cover.
- A well-paved path made mostly of stairs leads you up along the rocky formations and across the highway entrance to the main observation deck overlooking the harbor port. Take the path up to the pagoda to enjoy the view from the first observation platform, then enjoy the downhill climb and pass an interesting shrine tucked in the valley just above the roadway tunnels. Informational signs scattered throughout tell the story of the geological formations and noteworthy landmarks.
- The main viewing deck sits atop one of the small peaks with a large antenna tower that overlooks the harbor port. Benches are scarce along the path, but you can stop at a few lookout points to catch your breath and take in the scenery.
How to Get There
There is no public transportation, so going out there is pretty much all by car. Drove or hiring a car from the Pudong district of Shanghai without much traffic, and it took us nearly 90 minutes. The drive over the Donghai Bridge takes around 20 minutes. Once you get to the island, look for brown signs leading to the Yangshan Shenshui Sightseeing Excursion Area.There you’ll find the visitor’s center, restaurant, and entrance to the walking path that leads up to viewing decks.
