How did the opening of Ningbo as a treaty port change Zhejiang's commerce?

The opening of Ningbo as a treaty port in 1843 marked the beginning of foreign penetration into Zhejiang province.12

This development significantly altered the region's commercial landscape as Ningbo merchants began to establish extensive commercial networks that extended into Shanghai and along the coast. While Ningbo had previously served as a vital commercial center and outport for the Yangtze River delta, its prominence as a primary trade hub eventually declined as Shanghai emerged as the dominant center for foreign trade across Hangzhou Bay.21