Population: 2.5 million

Nearest Ports: Zhongshan Port is one of the 10 busiest in China and one of the 100 busiest in the world. There are three ports within the region, the other two being Shenwan in the south and Xiaolan in the north.

International Airport: Yes, to a handful of Southeast Asia destinations.

2007 GDP: US$17.3 billion

Notable Foreign Investors: Prime Tanning, Grunenthal, Nike

Description: Zhongshan is the home town to revolutionary fore runner Dr Sun Yat-Sen and was re-named in his honor. Not so long ago Zhongshan was a small farming town on the Zhujiang River Delta, but now the city occupies a central position on the western side of the Pearl River Delta, the important waterway that connects Guangzhou with Hong Kong and Macau, and has been the site of much of China’s leather, tanning and shoe making industries as well as electrical cable and related products.

Weather: Winter Cool, +5 low, Summer +35, humid

Fast Facts

1. Hometown of the great revolutionary father, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen.
2. Over 800,000 overseas Chinese living in 87 countries and regions around the world (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) are able to trace their ancestry to Zhongshan.
3. Migrant population of 1.2 million, 45.7% of total population (2011).

Zhongshan is located south of the Zhujiang River Delta on the west bank of the mouth of the Zhujiang River, bordered by Guangzhou to the northeast, Foshan to the northwest, Jiangmen to the west and the Pearl River to the east. Shenzhen is east, across the river, while Zhuhai and Macau are both to the south.

Infrastructure
Zhongshan is connected to all parts of the Pearl River Delta by canals and waterways. It is also connected by road to Guangzhou to the north and Macau to the south.

Road
Zhongshan is well connected to the region through various highways. The most important one is the Jingzhu (Beijing–Zhuhai) Express Highway which offers excellent connections to China’s eastern and northern areas. Jingzhu Expressway and the No.105 National Highway both pass through Zhongshan.

Rail
There is no major rail network connecting Zhongshan to the nearby trunk lines running to and from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or Kowloon. There is, however, a light-rail passenger line that connects Zhongshan and Guangzhou as well as a branch line that connects Zhongshan and Jianmen. The 114 kilometer main line is already in operation, servicing 13 stations along its route.

Air 
There are five airports in a 90 kilometer radius from the city: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macau.

Ports and waterways
Zhongshan Port – one of the region’s three ports - ranks among the 100 busiest in the world. The foreign trade ports of Zhongshan in the east, Shenwan in the south, and Xiaolan in the north support this region.

There are ten bus lines between the Zhongshan Port and Hong Kong every day. This route takes only 75 minutes.

City infrastructure
Several environmental measures have been laid down by the government such as the promotion of a recycling economy, clean production, and clean energy. Zhongshan is known as a green city, with large plant coverage.

Economy and investment climate
In 2010, Zhongshan’s GDP reached RMB182.63 billion, with year on year growth of about 16 percent. The government projects that Zhongshan will grow into an industrial base harboring a population of more than three million by 2010.

The industrial sector contributes 61 percent of Zhongshan’s output, the service sector 36.1 percent, and the agriculture sector 2.9 percent. The five most important industries are electronics/ information, textiles, electrical appliances and machines, biotechnical and chemical products, and metal products. Zhongshan, together with Dongguan, Nanhai and Shunde, are known as the “Four Little Tigers” in Guangdong. The proximity of Zhongshan to Hong Kong and Macau is an advantage for its economic development, especially for the manufacturing industries.

The economy is dominated by foreign investment, township and village enterprises (TVEs), and various specialized manufacturing towns, each of which specialize in making particular products. Pillar industries can be found in the following locations: Dachong Town (mahogany furniture industry), Dongfeng Town (electric household appliance industry), Guzhen Town (lighting fitting products), Huangpu Town (food industry), Shaxi Town (casual wear manufacturing), and Xiaolan Town (locks and hardware industry, electronic acoustics products). 

Zhongshan is proving to be an attractive city for investors from both home and abroad. More than 20 enterprises from the Fortune Top 500 have set up businesses in the city. At the same time, the local hi-tech industry is developing rapidly and occupies an important place in the national market. Foreign trade is mainly based on exports which grew 27 percent to US$22.51 billion in 2010. Used FDI in Zhongshan increased by 19.8 percent to reach US$730 million in 2010.

Resources
Government organizations
Zhongshan Government Website: www.zs.gov.cn