Nantong

Located on the north bank of the Yangtze River, Nantong is a vital river port in Jiangsu Province. The prosperity of Nantong has traditionally depended on salt production on the nearby seacoast, as well as rice and cotton agriculture. Currently, the city is making more efforts to upgrade its agricultural industry and increase the production of organic foods.

A container ship docks at Nantong

Nantong was one of 14 port cities opened to foreign investment two decades ago; it has been an important industrial hub ever since.

Nantong is one of the fast-growing coastal cities in China with the opening in April 2008 of the Sutong Yangtze Bridge that connects Suzhou and Nantong; and the opening in 2009 of the Chonghai Yangtze Bridge that connects Nantong with the Shanghai area. The city has also been listed as the best city in the Yangtze Delta Economic Zone for foreign investment, even surpassing the major cities of Suzhou, Hangzhou and Nanjing.