International Cargo Seaport: Port of Xiamen
Posted in International Seaport - 18 Oct 2021, 9:26 AMThe Port of Xiamen is the 13th busiest port globally, one of the most important facilities in China. It is also a part of the new Maritime Silk Road, serving over 50 countries. It is also one of the most developing areas in the southeastern part of China, supporting the bustling economic activities in the surrounding region.
About of Port of Xiamen
The Port of Xiamen is located next to Taiwan Strait in Xiamen, also known as Amoy Island in the Hokkien dialect. The island is a part of Fujian Province in southeastern China, a diverse region with a bustling economy and GDP among the top 10th list. The port serves 68 shipping routes in the Maritime Silk Road, extending from the Chinese coast to the Mediterranean, Central Europe, and the North Sea.
The History
The Port of Xiamen has a long history, extending to the Jin Dynasty in 282 AD. It grew into an international trading port during the Song Dynasty, especially from the 10th to the 13th Centuries. The most notable history of the port happened during the Ming Dynasty in 1387 when it was turned into a naval base for combating pirates.
The year 1541 saw the first entry of European ships into the port, which resulted in trade and cultural exchanges. However, the British trading ships only started entering the port after 1842, after the Treaty of Nanjing ended the First Opium War between the Qing Empire and the British force.
In 1912, the port was named Siming, which means “Remember the Ming.” The area later became Xiamen City and finally achieved the status of Special Economic Zone in 1980. Today, it serves cargo ships from 50 routes worldwide, and an average of 500 ships call at the port every month.
Volume of Transactions in Port of Xiamen
The Port of Xiamen is the 13th busiest port in the world and the eighth largest in China. In 2020, it transported 11.41 million TEUs. Covering 73 hectares of area and more than 10 acres of warehouses, the port also serves direct shipments between Taiwan and mainland China. It has facilities to process and store all types of cargo, including special bagging equipment for fertilizer and seeds.
The numbers of transactions are likely to increase with the rising economy of China and the surrounding Asia Pacific regions. It mostly deals with important export and import goods, such as chemical products, fertilizer, cement, sugar, coal, salt, and rolled steel.
Interesting Facts
As a port surrounded by a busy and diverse region, the Port of Xiamen is a sightseeing location, especially at night. It is surrounded by night markets, public parks, restaurants, and small streets adorned with colonial-era houses.
Xiamen Port is also close to Huandao Road, also known as the Island Ring Road. It is a 43 km-long road that loops around Xiamen Island, first constructed in 1991. The road is a favorite route for sightseeing, and it goes past two notable bridges, Yanwu and Wuyuan.
The Port of Xiamen may not be the biggest in the world. However, it is one of the busiest and most important facilities in Chine, which contributes a lot to the country’s economy.