Shipping industry of China

The Chinese government also invested heavily in water transport infrastructure, constructing new ports and rebuilding and enlarging older facilities.

China's shipping industry and container transportation have reached international standards both in handling efficiency and building networks.

The throughput of cargo and containers at China's ports has been the largest in the world for the past five years, with an annual growth rate of 35%.

During the 1990s, the industry experienced rapid growth, with China surpassing the United States in 2002 to become the world's largest handler of containers.

China's extensive coastline stretches over 14,000 kilometers (8,700-mile), featuring 100 bays and 20 deepwater harbors, most of which remain ice-free year-round.

Major ocean-going routes originate from key ports such as Dalian, Qinghuangdao, Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Huangpu, Zhanjiang, or Hong Kong.