Brief Introduction of Fujian

Fujian Province lies in the southeastern coast of China, facing Taiwan across the Straits and close to Hong Kong and Macao. It covers a land area of over 120,000 square kilometers and a sea area of over 130,000 square kilometers and has a population of 32.6 million. Fujian is one of the first provinces in China opened to outside world and, authorized by the Central Government. It has implemented a series of experimental measures for comprehensive reforms towards the establishment of a socialist market economic mechanism. Fujian is a major home town for overseas Chinese and Taiwan compatriots. 8 million overseas Chinese, 800 thousand compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao and 80% of Taiwan compatriots have all traced their ancestral homes to Fujian is an ideal place for tourism, enjoying a rich culture and numerous sites of historical and cultural interests. Both Wuyi Mountains and Meizhou island are state tourist holiday resorts, It is also an important province for forestry and fishery, boasting a forest coverage rate of 57.3%and half of the fish species in China .With a mild climate and green all the year around, Fujian is endowed with abundant water resources ,a long coastline and rich mineral deposits.

Fujian Province is a key area for accelerated development .Since the reform and opening-up policy was initiated, Fujian has witnessed historical changes in its social and economic development .Its GDP has increased by eight folds against 1980, currently ranking number 12 against number 23 in 1978, while its per capita GDP is now ranking number 8 against number 22 in 1978. Urban and rural residents income has notably increased and their living standard has been remarkably improved .The opening-up drive is developing in width and depth and a comprehensive pattern of opening has taken shape in Fujian Province ,covering a special economic zone ,coastal open cities, economic and technological development zones, Taiwan investment zones ,bonded zones and high-tech zones. Fujian has establishment economic and trade contacts with over 150 counties and regions in the world .Up to now it has attracted nearly US $ 20 billion of foreign investment and its annual exports are valued at over US $10 billion .With the socialist market economic mechanism in the process of forming, Fujian has nurtured and cultivated commodities and factors markets that are adapted to market economy and conform to international practice. Fujian 's infrastructure is constantly improving .It has a developed highway network ,a criss-crossing railway system , a convenient water transportation network with three ports in Fuzhou ,Xiamen and Meizhou Bay ,four airports in Fuzhou, Xiamen, Wuyi Mountains and Jinjiang, the first two being international airports ,and a number of large and medium-size power stations such as Shuikou Hydro Power Station and Xiamen Songyu Thermal Power Plant. Program-controlled telephone service is available in every county of the province and direct dials can reach over 170 countries and regions in the world.

Water and electricity supply

Fujian is abundant in water resources. The per capita water resources in Fujian amounts to 4,400 cu m, 1. 7 times that of the national average, with its annual precipitation average 201.1 billion cu m. Theoretical water energy reserve of Fujian is 10. 46 million kw, generating 96.6 billion kw/h annually. More than 1000 sites have been identified suitable for hydropower stations each with an installed capacity of over 500 kw. A total installed capacity of 7.05 million kw and an annual generating capacity of 32 billion kw/h make the province rank number one in East China . While Fujian takes advantages of rich water resources to develop hydroelectricity industry, it has not forgotten the development of thermal power. As a result, a number of large-and-medium-sized thermal power plants such as Huaneng and Shongyu power plant were built. With the efforts of past 40 years, Fujian has already established a fairly large- scale and complete system of electric power industry. Up to the end of 1996, the total installed capacity reached 7.4 million kw/h. By the end of the year 2000, a total installed capacity of 11.5 million kw/h shall have been realized with an advanced reliable moderm grid consisting of a group of backbone thermal power plants in the coast big cities of Fuzhou , Xiamen , Zhangzhou, Quanzhou and Putian, supported by a few waterpower stations in the Inner land.

Communications and Transportation

Since the reform and opening up, the communications and transportation industry of Fujian has seen rapid development. A comprehensive transportation network, with railways, highways, waterways and airways as its backbone, has basically been set up. Railways：There are 2 main lines, namely, Yingxia and WaiFu. Besides the Hengnan Railway and the Zhang-Quan-Xiao Railway will also be coppleted in 1997. The construction of the third railway connecting with the rest of China , from Longyan to Meizhou and the railways of Wen(zhou) Fu(zhou) lines and Zhang(zhou) Chao(zhou) Shan(tou) line also starts one after another.

Highways：There are mainly 5 national highways in Fujian Province . They are Line 104,205,316,319 and 324 which make up the framework of the highways in south-east coastal areas of China and also the main land transportation artery of Zhejiang , Fujian , Guangdong Provine and the coastal areas. So far, there are 29 highways connecting all the prefectures and cities of the province with its neighbouring provinces. In addition, the roads in the rural area extend to all towns and townships of the whole province. In recent years, the 'Priority Project' has been widely carried out in highway construction.

Waterway：In terms of water transportation, Fujian processes a coastal port system, with Fuzhou , Xiamen and Meizhou Bay as the main ports. There are more than 130 various berths. In 1996, the total volume of ioaded and unloaded in the coastal ports was 30.526 million tons plus 598452 TEU of containers. There are over 200 shipping companies and more than 5,000 vessels in Fujian with a total tonnage of one million. 254 domestic and international routes link the province with 126 ports of various countries and regions, including Japan , Korea , Russia , Yugoslavia and South-east Asia .

Aviation Service：There are four airports in Fujian：They are Fuzhou , Xiamen , Wuyi Mountains and Jinjiang. Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport has developed 43 airlines with 256 flights a week, and it handled a volume in 1996 of 3.594 million person times of passengers and 91589.22 tons of cargoes. The Fuzhou Changle Intemational Airport , rated 4E for its flyable area, can handle the landing and take-off of large planes such as Boeing 747 and an annual passenger volume of 8. 95 million person times, and has gone into operation since June 23, 1997 . The Jinjiang Airport , after reconstruction and expansion has resume its civil aviation service with an annual passenger handling capacity of 1 .34 million person times.

Post and Telecommunication

Telecommunication： Fujian is the first province of the country to install IDD system. Its switch-board capacity reached 3963 thousand terminals by the end of 1996. Fujian is the pioneer province to have digitalized its telephone network above the county level and more than 60％ of the rural area are equipped with automatic telephone system. Radio pager service is now available in all the cities and counties of the province. Mobile telephone service has 480 thousand subscribers and popularity of telephones reaches 9.39％.

Postal Service：Within the province, there are 7 central bureaus in the postal areas of Xiamen , Quanzhou etc. with Fuzhou as its hub. The PC network for provincial-wide newspaper and magazine subscription is applied. The application of the comprehensive postal PC system in all the cities and prefectures and some counties has greatly improved the efficiency and quality of the postal services. The delivery of mail, newspaper and magazine has been further sped up and the EMS service is now available in all the cities or counties within the province is delivered on the next day of posting. The no-fault rate of the city mail reaches 80％ while in the rural area, the rate tops 90 ％ for the letters and magazines.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　[Origin:Fujian Government Website]