Yancheng Special: 'Salt City' Yancheng moves to modernize

Yancheng - literally "Salt City"- is named for the many sea salt harvest fields around the city in northeastern Jiangsu province. Collection and production of sea salt in the region began during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 24), which brought early prosperity to the region.

Though still one of the eight largest production centers for sea salt in the nation, Yancheng's development in the 30 years of China's reform and opening up has lagged far behind many other cities along the east coast.

That is set to change after recent State Council's approval of a 12-year development plan for Lianyungang, Yancheng and Nantong - three relatively obscure cities in coastal Jiangsu.