There are 30 islands in Zhanjiang, whose coastline is as long as 1,556 kilometres, accounting for 46 per cent of Guangdong Province's total coastline.

The city's marine industry, including transportation, offshore oil-gas industry, aquiculture processing, shipbuilding and seashore tourism, has reached a relatively large scale.

Total output of the marine industry and gross economic volume in this sector are among the top in Guangdong.

The city was host to the Fifth Ocean Economic Work Meeting of Guangdong Province in late 2005, which boosted Zhanjiang's efforts to build a powerful marine industry.

Besides such industrial strength, the city also has surprisingly large amounts of energy and mineral resources.

The South China Sea is one of the world's top four oil-gas conglomeration centres in the ocean. (The other three are the Persian Gulf, the North Sea in Europe and the Gulf of Mexico.) The west of South China Sea, which neighbours Zhanjiang, is one of China's top four oil-gas conglomeration centres in the ocean. (The other three are the Bohai Bay, the Yangtze River Estuary in the East China Sea and the Pearl River Estuary in the east of the South China Sea.)

Explorations prove that there are three oil-gas rich aggradations on the continental shelf in the South China Sea. The number of conformations for oil storage exceeds 400, and nine oil fields and three natural gas fields have also been discovered in the area. And the South China Sea West Company, a subsidiary of CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation), is developing the resources.

According to surveys in recent years, there are rich mineral resources in the shallow water areas near Zhanjiang, with proved reserves of 5.25 million tons.

The long hours of sunlight in Zhanjiang makes it one of the richest regions in terms of light and heat resources in the country. With high salinity and excellent light conditions, the city is the major salt producing area in Guangdong.

The long coastline has made the city a favourable destination for seashore tourism.

There are 104 islands and submerged reefs. The far-flung and twisting coastline, clear water, billows, the ocean, beaches, rocks and forests form a beautiful tropical seashore destination in south Asia.

Along the 1,556-kilometre coastline, there are 13 beaches that can be developed for tourism, with a length of more than 150 kilometres.

The vast aquatic breeding base for pearls, prawns, abalones and precious fish is also of significant value for tourism development. The use and development of these resources will inevitably enrich seashore tourism.

(China Daily 10/31/2006 page16)