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| Introduction |
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Lishui, whose name means “beautiful water” in Chinese, lies in the southwestern part of Zhejiang Province. Situated on the intersection point of Zhejiang Province and Fujian Province, the city is adjacent to Wenzhou to the southeast, Ningde and Nanping to the southwest, Quzhou to the northwest, Jinhua to the north and Taizhou to the northeast.
It is 126 km from Wenzhou, 122 km from Jinhua, 292 km from Hangzhou and 512 km from Shanghai. It is a transport hub in Zhejiang Province. The Jinhua-Wenzhou Railway, the Jinhua-Wenzhou Highway, the Longli Highway and the Lihua Highway run across the city. It takes merely 1 hour to travel from the city center to the Wenzhou Airport or Yiwu Airport, 2.5 hours to the Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, and 4.5 hours to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is 2.5 hours’ drive from Lishui. The port handled 577 million tons of cargo in 2009, ranked the largest port in mainland China in terms of cargo throughput in 2009,
There are over 3,800 species of plants and 57 kinds of mineral resources in Lishui. The phrophyllite reserve in Lishui accounts for one third of China’s total. The Suicang gold mine is the largest gold mine in Zhejiang.
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| Economic Features |
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Lishui is the second smallest economy in Zhejiang in terms of GDP in 2009. The city's GDP rose 12.5% to RMB 64.4 billion in 2010. The value-added output from the agriculture, industry and service sectors amounted to RMB 6.28 billion, RMB 32.22 billion and RMB 25.89 billion, made up 9.8%, 50% and 40.2% of the city's GDP, respectively.
The value-added industrial output in the city amounted to RMB 27.24 billion in 2010, with a rise of 31.8% year on year.
Metal mining and dressing, chemicals and petrochemicals, machinery, tools and office equipment manufacturing, and electricity production and supply are the major heavy industries in Lishui, while textiles is the major light industry in the city. The leading firms in the city include Nice Group, Zhejiang Qingshan Steel and Iron, and King Dragon Group.
Nice Group, the former Lishui No. 57 Chemical Plant, was set up in 1968. Specializing in the manufacture of hygiene products, it is a leading soap and washing power producer in China. It is capable of producing 1 million tons of washing powder, 0.3 million tons of detergent and 250 million tubes of toothpaste annually. The most well-known brands of the group are "NICE" and "DIAO". Zhejiang Qingshan Steel and Iron, set up in 2002, is a private steel maker. In 2009, the sales revenue of the group exceed RMB 10 billion.
The city's foreign trade value totaled US$1.5 billion in 2010, an increase of 38% year on year, of which the export value up 44.3% to US$1.34 billion.
In 2010, Lishui attracted US$120.08 million in FDI, an increase of 287% from a year earlier, while the utilized FDI in the city hit US$37.51 million, up 28.8% year on year.
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| Cultural Highlights |
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Lishui’s history extends to 4,000 years ago, when the ancient tribes started dwelling in this city. In AD 589, during the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618), Chuzhou was founded in the current territory of Lishui. Several counties were under its administration. In AD 592, it was called Kuozhou, and in AD 607, Yongjia County. Its name was changed to Lishui in AD 779. Subsequently, its name was changed several times, but during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644), it was changed back to Lishui.
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| Tourist Attraction |
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Lishui is well-known in China for its long history and beautiful landscapes. Yan Yu Lou (misty rain tower) was built during the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 960-1127). Many famous ancient poets praised the tower’s beauty. Other recommendable scenic spots are Fengyangshan-Baishanzu National Natural Resort, Xiandu National Park, and Shishi Temple. Shishi Temple is a wooden structure built during the Song and Yuan Dynasties (AD 960-1368). The most characteristic local dishes are Jade Mutton Roll, Shan Fen Ball, Anren Fish with Bean-curd and Xian Cai Hot Pot.
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| Honors |
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Provincial Hygienic City (2002)
-Zhejiang Provincial Committee for Patriotic Sanitation Campaign
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