Zhejiang

Zhejiang 浙江 Chekiang
Province
Province of Zhejiang
Name transcription(s)
• Chinese	浙江省 (Zhèjiāng Shěng)
• Abbreviation	ZJ / 浙 (pinyin: Zhè)
• Wu	Tsehkaon San
Views of Yandang Mountains
Map showing the location of Zhejiang Province
Coordinates: 29°12′N 120°30′E / 29.2°N 120.5°E / 29.2; 120.5
Country	China
Annexation by the Qin dynasty	222 BC
Jiangnandong Circuit	626
Liangzhe Circuit	997
Zhejiang Province formed	1368
Republican Period	1 January 1912
Division of territory	7 January 1949
Conquest of Yijiangshan	20 January 1955
Named for	Old name of Qiantang River
Capital and largest city	Hangzhou
Divisions  - Prefecture-level  - County-level  - Township- level	11 prefectures 90 counties 1364 towns and subdistricts
Government
• Type	Province
• Body	Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress
• Party Secretary	Wang Hao
• Congress Director	vacant
• Governor	Liu Jie (Acting)
• Provincial CPPCC Chairperson	Lian Yimin
• National People's Congress Representation	99 deputies
Area
• Total	101,800 km2 (39,300 sq mi)
• Rank	26th
Highest elevation (Huangmaojian)	1,929 m (6,329 ft)
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	64,567,588
• Rank	8th
• Density	630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
• Rank	8th
Demographics
• Ethnic composition	Han: 99.2% She: 0.4%
• Languages and dialects	Wu, Huizhou, Jianghuai Mandarin, Southern Min (in Cangnan County and Pingyang County)
GDP (2023)[2]
• Total	CN¥ 8.255 trillion US$ 1.172 trillion (4th)
• Per capita	CN¥ 125,043 US$ 17,745 (5th)
ISO 3166 code	CN-ZJ
HDI (2022)	0.814[3] (4th) – very high
Website	www.zj.gov.cn (in Chinese) English version

Zhejiang
"Zhejiang" in Chinese characters
Chinese	浙江
Wu	Tseh-kaon Wu Chinese pronunciation: ['t͡səʔ'kɑ̃]
Postal	Chekiang
Literal meaning	"Zhe River"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhèjiāng Bopomofo ㄓㄜˋ   ㄐㄧㄤ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Jehjiang Wade–Giles Chê4-chiang1 IPA [ʈʂɤ̂.tɕjáŋ] ⓘ Wu Romanization Tseh-kaon Wu Chinese pronunciation: ['t͡səʔ'kɑ̃] Hakka Romanization Tset-kông Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Jit-gōng Jyutping Zit3-gong1 IPA [tsit̚˧.kɔŋ˥] Southern Min Hokkien POJ Chiat-kang Tâi-lô Tsiat-kang Eastern Min Fuzhou BUC Ciék-gŏng

Zhejiang^[a] is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiangsu and Shanghai to the north, Anhui to the northwest, Jiangxi to the west and Fujian to the south. To the east is the East China Sea, beyond which lies the Ryukyu Islands. The population of Zhejiang stands at 64.6 million, the 8th largest in China. It has been called "the backbone of China" because it is a major driving force in the Chinese economy and being the birthplace of several notable people, including the Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek and entrepreneur Jack Ma. Zhejiang consists of 90 counties (incl. county-level cities and districts).

The area of Zhejiang was controlled by the Kingdom of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period. The Qin Empire later annexed it in 222 BC. Under the late Ming dynasty and the Qing dynasty that followed it, Zhejiang's ports became important centers of international trade. It was occupied by the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese war and placed under the control of the Japanese puppet state known as the Reorganized National Government of China. After the establishment of the PRC, Zhejiang's economy became stagnant under Mao Zedong's policies.^[7] Nevertheless, after China's economic reform, Zhejiang has grown to be considered one of China's wealthiest provinces, ranking fourth in GDP nationally and sixth by GDP per capita, with a nominal GDP of US$1.14 trillion as of 2022.

Zhejiang consists mostly of hills, which account for about 70% of its total area, with higher altitudes towards the south and the west. Zhejiang also has a longer coastline than any other mainland province of China. The Qiantang River runs through the province, from which it derives its name. Included in the province are three thousand islands, the most in China. The capital Hangzhou marks the end of the Grand Canal and lies on Hangzhou Bay on the north of Zhejiang, which separates Shanghai and Ningbo. The bay contains many small islands collectively called the Zhoushan Islands.

Hangzhou is a historically important city of China and is considered a World City with a "Beta+" classification according to GaWC.^[8] It includes the notable West Lake. Various varieties of Chinese are spoken in Zhejiang, the most prominent being Wu Chinese. Zhejiang is also one of China's leading provinces in research and education. As of 2024^[update], two major cities in Zhejiang ranked in the world's top 200 cities (Hangzhou 13th and Ningbo 123rd) by scientific research output, as tracked by Nature Index.^[9]

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