Its a mountainous and vast regions, with major plains situated along the coast and at the river mouths, of which the Hangjia Lake plain in the South Yangtze River delta is the largest in area.



Throughout its history, Wenzhous traditional economic role has been as a port giving access to the mountainous interior of southern Zhejiang Province. In 1876 Wenzhou was opened to the foreign tea trade, but no foreign settlement was ever made there. In 1937 to 1942 during the war with Japan, Wenzhou became an important port due to its being one of the few Chinese ports still under Chinese control. It declined in the later years of the war but began to recover after coastal trade along the Zhejiang coast was re established in 1955.

Wenzhou is one of the first 14 Chinese cities which have been open to the outside world and one of the 13 experimental areas of rural reform as well as a pilot city in which the comprehensive reform and the reform of financial systems are being carried out. At present, Wenzhou has established trade relation with 121 countries and regions. Its export commodities cover more then 500 varieties in 26 categories.

The people of Wenzhou are carrying out their second undertaking which is centred on the fundamental transition of economic growth modes and economic systems, and are offering a series of projects for investment. Whereas other booming cities in China have relied on foreign investment or government funding to fuel their economies, Wenzhou has done it on its own.

The official language is Mandarin Chinese, however numerous dialects are also spoken throughout the mainland. English is not widely spoken, therefore a phrase book would be extremely useful to point to key phrases written in Chinese characters. Another useful item would be a map with place names written in both English and Chinese.

Wenzhou is the capital of the worlds cigarette lighter manufacturing industry, among other things. The people of Wenzhou are also seriously into real estate. They are buying up real estate all over China, and it is the only city where city development is Marjory funded by public subscription.

The city is famous for its commerce, handicrafts, and arts and crafts.

A place to come and see.