The enchanting Nanji Islands in Pingyang county. [Photo/CFP]
Registered population: 872,000 (2023)
Area: 1,051 square kilometers (land), 1,300 sq km (sea)
GDP: 71.18 billion yuan (2023)
Located on the southeast coast of East China's Zhejiang province, Pingyang was established as a county in the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316) and has a recorded history stretching back over 1,700 years.
With its profound cultural background, it has been home to a number of notable figures. Among them is painter Huang Gongwang (1269-1354) – whose masterpiece is the renowned Chinese landscape Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains – and Su Buqing (1902-2003), a master of modern mathematics. Within its jurisdictional area are three cultural relic sites under State-level protection, 16 under provincial protection and 98 under county-level protection. It also has four items of national intangible cultural heritage, 21 provincial ones and 110 municipal ones.
Boasting abundant tourism resources, Pingyang county has two national 4A-level scenic spots and eight 3A-level scenic spots. The Nanji Islands, rated as one of China's top 10 most beautiful islands, is situated in the county.
In 2023, the regional GDP of Pingyang was 71.18 billion yuan ($9.84 billion), a year-on-year rise of 7.9 percent. The value of imports and exports that year was 15.31 billion yuan, up 1.4 percent, while the per capita disposable income of permanent residents reached 53,203 yuan, up 7.8 percent on the previous year.
In recent years, Pingyang has developed a strong economy. It has won many honorary titles, including being among China's top 100 counties in terms of scientific development methods and included in the ranks of China's top 100 counties with the most investment potential.
