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Taizhou, Zhejiang

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Taizhou is a major prefecture-level city in Zhejiang province, China. It sits along the middle of the East China Sea coast.

Taizhou City 002
Taizhou City 002

To the north lies Ningbo, while Wenzhou borders the city to the south. To the west, you will find Shaoxing, Jinhua, and Lishui. The city is divided into several administrative parts. It manages three districts, three county-level cities, and three counties. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 6,662,888 inhabitants. A large portion of these people, about 3,578,660, live in the urban areas. These urban areas include the three districts and the largely conurbated Wenling City.

The geography of Taizhou is diverse and varies by location. The eastern coastal areas are generally flat with occasional hills. However, the northern and western regions are much more mountainous. These mountains include the Yandangshan Mountains in the southwest. The Kuocang Mountains sit in the west, and Mount Tiantai is in the northwest. The highest point in Taizhou is Mishailang. This peak is located in the Kuocang Mountains. It is also the highest point in the eastern part of Zhejiang province. The coastline is long and features many islands. The largest of these is Yuhuan Island, located in the south.

Taizhou experiences a humid subtropical climate, known scientifically as Köppen Cfa. This means the area has four distinct seasons. The summers are typically hot and humid. During these months, the coast is occasionally struck by typhoons. The winters are generally drier and cold. Sometimes, the region even sees occasional snow. The mean annual temperature and rainfall vary from the north to the southeast coastal areas. This weather pattern supports a wide variety of local agriculture.

The history of the region spans thousands of years. Ancestors of the modern inhabitants began settling in this area 5,000 years ago. During the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, the area was part of Dong'ou. This was because the Chinese state was mostly confined to the Yellow River basin then. After the Qin Empire's conquests in the 3rd century BC, a local settlement was called Huipu Town. The area later moved from Minzhong Prefecture to Kuaiji during the Han dynasty. On August 22, 1994, the State Council approved the creation of the Taizhou Municipality. In 2003, it became one of the 16 cities in the Yangtze River Delta area.

Taizhou is famous for its unique economic history. It is often called the cradle of private enterprise in China. People use the term "Taizhou Model" to describe its development. This model relies on private sector initiatives supported by the local government. The city is the 4th most populous and 4th largest industrial prefecture-level city in Zhejiang. It is a major hub for automotive manufacturing. For example, the Geely company was founded here. Geely is one of China's top ten automotive manufacturers and acquired Volvo Cars in 2010.

Taizhou City 002
Taizhou City 002

Industry and agriculture are both very important to the local economy. Beyond cars, Yuhuan is a major center for manufacturing auto parts. The city is also home to Yilida, a large HVAC fan company. This company is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Taizhou is also a top producer of many fruits. These include Mandarin, Loquat, Wendan (a type of pomelo), and Myrica rubra. Other crops like rice, canola, and bamboo are also grown.

202403 Taizhou Rail Transit S1 train in Lubei, Luqiao District
202403 Taizhou Rail Transit S1 train in Lubei, Luqiao District

Modern infrastructure has made the city much easier to reach. In the past, the mountains made road travel difficult. This changed with major restructuring in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Today, the G15 Shenyang–Haikou Expressway links Taizhou to Ningbo and Wenzhou. The Shangsan Expressway connects the city to the provincial capital, Hangzhou.

20211003 台州西站 站前广场
20211003 台州西站 站前广场

Taizhou Luqiao Airport provides daily flights to cities like Beijing and Chengdu. High-speed rail also connects the region. The Ningbo–Taizhou–Wenzhou railway opened in 2009. A second line, the Hangzhou–Taizhou high-speed railway, opened in January 2022.

202403 Taizhou Rail Transit S1 train in Lubei, Luqiao District
202403 Taizhou Rail Transit S1 train in Lubei, Luqiao District

Culture and tourism also define the character of Taizhou. Most people speak Taizhou Wu, a dialect of Wu Chinese. This dialect is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin. Some people in the south also speak Min Nan or Wenzhou dialects. Visitors often come to see the Walled City of Taizhou in Linhai. Its walls are called the "Southern Great Wall of China."

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Guoqingsi003r

Another important site is the Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai. This temple is the origin of an important school of Buddhism.

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Guoqingsi005r

Finally, the Shenxianju National Park offers steep peaks and cliffs for hikers.

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Taizhou City 002.jpg
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20211003 台州西站 站前广场.jpg
File:202403 Taizhou Rail Transit S1 train in Lubei, Luqiao District.jpg
202403 Taizhou Rail Transit S1 train in...
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