General situation of Taizhou

Taizhou is located in the central coastal area of Zhejiang Province, with a land area of 10,072 square kilometers and inland water and maritime area of 6,910 square kilometers. It administers three districts — Jiaojiang, Huangyan, and Luqiao — three county-level cities — Linhai, Wenling, and Yuhuan — and three counties — Tiantai, Xianju, and Sanmen. It is one of the 27 cities in the core area of the Yangtze River Delta, and a regional coastal central city and modern port city in Zhejiang as approved by the State Council.

Taizhou is known as a place of “seven parts mountain, one part water, and two parts farmland,” and its landform is a microcosm of Zhejiang Province. The area features undulating hills, crisscrossing rivers, interlacing capes, and scattered islands. With a total coastline of 651 kilometers, it has three bays — Taizhou Bay, Sanmen Bay, and Yueqing Bay — and 12 island groups consisting of 691 islands, making it one of the prefecture-level cities in China with the largest number of islands.

Taizhou faces the sea with blossoms in spring. It has a subtropical monsoon climate, with rarely intense heat in summer and no severe cold in winter. It is rich in heat, abundant in rainfall, mild and humid, and enjoys a pleasant climate. The annual temperature mostly remains between 15–20 degrees Celsius, and the annual precipitation ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 millimeters.

Taizhou has abundant resource endowment advantages. It has 4 national-level forest parks and 2 national-level wetland parks. Taizhou is also an important power energy base in East China, an important fishing area in Zhejiang Province and even the whole country, and is very rich in wind energy, tidal energy, and marine fishery resources.

Administrative Divisions

Taizhou administers 3 districts (Jiaojiang, Huangyan, and Luqiao), 3 county-level cities (Linhai, Wenling, and Yuhuan), and 3 counties (Tiantai, Xianju, and Sanmen). It is divided into 61 towns, 24 townships, and 45 subdistricts, with a total of 3,024 village committees, 288 communities, and 86 neighborhood committees.

On August 22, 2016, on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of Taizhou's upgrade from a prefecture to a city, the Municipal Party Committee held an urban work conference. It was proposed that by 2030, Taizhou will be built into a uniquely charming “Mountain-Water City,” “Harmony Holy Land,” and “Manufacturing Capital” with national and even global appeal.

Focusing on creating these three golden cards of the city — “Mountain-Water City,” “Harmony Holy Land,” and “Manufacturing Capital” — the conference proposed to solidly promote the coordinated development of the entire city, the synergistic development of the “Three Districts and Two Cities,” and the integrated development of the urban area, so as to comprehensively enhance the city’s level and build a modern city with Taizhou’s characteristics. Specifically, efforts should start from the following aspects:

— Accelerate the Integrated Development of the Urban Area to Improve the Concentration and Primacy of the Central City

Deepen institutional reforms, strengthen municipal-level coordination, and stimulate district-level vitality. The way out for the development of the urban area lies in integration, and the key lies in reform. To vigorously develop science, education, culture, health, and other undertakings, the focus should be on improving the happiness index and cultural quality of citizens. In view of the four major problems in the urban social undertakings — “weak educational strength, low medical and health level, poor public cultural services, and weak scientific and technological innovation capability” — efforts should be made to make up for the shortcomings in the development of the urban social undertakings and enhance the city’s soft power.

— Promote the Coordinated Development of the “Three Districts and Two Cities” to Strengthen Development through Strong Collaboration

In accordance with the Several Opinions of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government on the Coordinated Development of the “Three Districts and Two Cities,” further implement the eight key tasks, focusing on planning coordination, transportation coordination, industrial coordination, public facility coordination, and ecological protection coordination, so as to promote the coordinated development of the “Three Districts and Two Cities.” Efforts should be made to build a coordinated development pattern featuring complementary urban functions, supporting industrial division, smooth flow of factors, reasonable commuting time, and integrated public services.

— Promote the Coordinated Development of the Entire City to Build a Unified Greater Taizhou

It is necessary to plan for a greater Taizhou, comprehensively optimize the urban spatial structure, scale structure, and industrial structure, and promote the coordinated development of land and sea, urban and rural areas. Promote grouped layout, improve industrial integration, promote all-for-one tourism, and play the characteristic card of harmony.

— Deepen Regional Cooperation and Participation in the Belt and Road Initiative to Promote Open Development

With an open vision, the awareness of integration, and the concept of unification, build an internal and external transportation network, strengthen cross-regional exchanges and cooperation, accelerate “going global” and “bringing in,” and further integrate the city into the whole province, the Yangtze River Delta, and even the whole country and the world.

— Strive to Create a New Situation in Urban Planning, Construction, and Management

Strengthen planning guidance and scientifically draw the blueprint for the city. It is necessary to further enhance planning concepts, improve the planning system, optimize planning management, scientifically plan and formulate plans, strictly manage and implement plans, and give full play to the strategic guiding role of planning in urban development.

Improve the level of construction and highlight the charm and image of the city. It is necessary to firmly establish the concept of building a premium-quality city, quickly improve urban functions, accelerate the construction of key areas, deeply promote the integration of industry and city, strive to shape the personality of the city, and build a modern metropolis with distinctive characteristics, clear cultural context, and profound heritage.

Innovate urban management and create a livable and business-friendly environment. It is necessary to put people first, adhere to law-based management, focus on refined management, achieve long-term management, and forge a high-quality urban life.