Shining beacon for growth

Named after a temple built for a concubine of Emperor Tang Taizong of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), Caofeidian sat as an untapped sandbar in Bohai Bay for centuries.

But its deep port and geographical advantages were destined to be discovered as the country progressed in the modern age, while Sun Yat-sen, the "father of modern China", was even credited with identifying the natural potential of Caofeidian a century ago.

As such, local authorities launched plans to develop the area as early as the 1990s and the State Council ratified the project at the end of 2004.