Decode China: The smart port

David W. Ferguson, honorary chief English editor at Foreign Languages Press, believes that Zhejiang has done a good job in playing to its geographical strengths. He used several "impressive" in his book China's Development in the New Era - the Zhejiang Experience, recording his visit to Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

At the port's Jintang Harbor District, one of its core areas, Ferguson witnessed highly automated operations: 117 unmanned container trucks, 64 fully automated gantry cranes, and 22 remotely controlled bridge cranes—all operating with minimal human presence. Containers were seamlessly transported between ships and trucks, while cargo vessels brimming with global aspirations set sail. The port's role as a pivotal hub for bulk commodity allocation is rapidly expanding.

In 2024, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port achieved a historic cargo throughput of 1.37 billion tons, ranking first globally. Its container throughput reached 39.3 million TEUs, up 11.3 percent year-on-year.

These new benchmarks and transformations showcase Zhejiang's commitment to high-level openness and international engagement.

As the world's largest port, what defines Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's core strengths? Join Ferguson in this edition as he unravels its story.