the third largest island in China
Located on the estuary of Yangtze River, Chongming Island is the third largest island in China. Being the largest alluvial island at the estuary of a river and the largest sand island in the world, Chongming Island is also acclaimed as “Door to the Yangtze River, Yingzhou Island (a celestial mountain in fairy tales of ancient China) in the East China Sea”. Chongming Island has been in existence for more than 1,300 years. Now, it covers an area of 1,267 square kilometers (489 square miles), with a population of 635,000.
The whole island is flat in terms of terrain, with fertile soil, luxuriant forests and abundant resources. As a result, Chongming Island has become a famous region where the cultivation of rice and the breeding of fish flourish.
Six things that you need to know about Chong Ming Island
According to a survey by an authoritative institution, the negative oxygen ion amount in the Chongming Island reaches up to 1,000 per cubic centimeter, and more in Dongping National Forest Park between 10,000 and 20,000. In contrast, the negative oxygen ion amount is only between 10 and 20 per cubic centimeter in the public places of the city and between 100 and 200 in the green land of the city.
Wind Power Generation
The average wind speed in Chongming is 6.7 meters per second, while that in the Dongtan area is even higher, making it the place with the highest average annual wind speed in Shanghai. In 2005, three wind-power generating units of Phase I Project of Chongming Wind Farm started the grid-connected generation. The wind farm, to be constructed in three phases, will realize the generating capacity of 70,000KW upon completion.
A Moment of Serenity
The Xisha Wetland will be built into an eco-demo zone of multifunctional wetland integrating science promotion, research, eco-education, leisure and sightseeing.
Dongtan Wetland
The 30,000-hectare Dongtan Wetland in Chongming, appraised as the National Natural Reserve of Birds, has been designated as the major wetland in the world by the “Convention on Wetlands by United Nations” and has built the national nature reserve of Chinese sturgeon. The area of the wetland is still expanding by over 10 square kilometers annually.
Green Lung
Home to Dongping National Forest Park, the 230-kilometer forest belt around the island and numerous forest belts near the fields and rivers, Chongming, by now a State Designated Eco-Demo Zone, the first of its kind in Shanghai, boasts the forest coverage of 21%. It also has the river network water system, accounting for nearly 10% of the total land area, and the ever-growing shoals.
Flight of Migrant Birds
Braving the great changes in over 1,300 years, Chongming, the largest estuary alluvial island in the world, still keeps the natural environment of blue sky, green land and clean water, soil and air. With flowing river, primitive wetland and expanding shoals, it is an important habitat for the migrant birds in the Asian-Pacific region.
How to Get There:
It is only a one-hour drive from the center of Shanghai to Chongming Island thanks to the Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel.
Tourists can go to Shanghai Science &Technology Museum, North Zhongshan Road first. Ships from Gonghexin Road Wharf, Baoyang Road Wharf, Wusong Wharf and Shidongkou Wharf all go to Nanmen Port of Chongming Island.
