Hangzhou Bay

bay, China

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June 29, 2026

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Hangzhou Bay is a significant inlet of the East China Sea, located in China. The city of Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, sits at the northern head of this bay, on the estuary of the Qiantang River. This bay is a densely populated region, with a substantial portion of Zhejiang's population concentrated in its coastal areas.12

Historically, Hangzhou Bay was a crucial waterway. However, silting gradually reduced its importance as a port, shifting trade to cities like Ningbo and Shanghai. Despite this, the construction of the Beilun seaport in the 1980s revitalized coastal shipping. The Hangzhou Bay Bridge, opened in 2008, further reduced travel distances between key cities like Ningbo and Shanghai. The bay is also characterized by the Zhoushan Archipelago, a group of islands that includes a major fishing center.134

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Zhejiang
…River at the estuary of Hangzhou Bay but historically called the Zhe Jiang (“Crooked River”). Zhejiang is among the leading Chinese provinces in farm productivity and leads in the production of tea and in fishing. Area 39,300 square miles (101,800 square km). Pop. (2020) 64,567,588.
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…River at the estuary of Hangzhou Bay but historically called the Zhe Jiang (“Crooked River”). Zhejiang is among the leading Chinese provinces in farm productivity and leads in the production of tea and in fishing. Area 39,300 square miles (101,800 square km). Pop. (2020) 64,567,588.
Read More