Zhanjiang
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Zhanjiang (湛江) is a city in Guangdong province, in southeast China. Its most recent census had the population at 1,048,720.
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Geography
Zhanjiang is located to the southwest of the city of Guangzhou on an inlet of the South China Sea. It is located on the eastern coast of the Leizhou Peninsula.
History
Zhanjiang was a small fishing port when it was occupied by the French in 1898. The next year, the French forced the Chinese to lease Zhanjiang to them for 99 years. The French wanted to develop the port, which they called Fort Bayard, to serve southern China, in parts of which France had exclusive rights to railway and mineral development. Their efforts, however, were hindered by the poverty of the surrounding land. The French retained control of the region until 1943, when the Japanese occupied the area during World War II. The Japanese relinquished control to the Chinese in 1945.
Economy
It is a seaport and trade center having many varied industries, including shipyards, textile plants, and sugar refining.
The port is the headquarters of the South Sea Fleet of the Chinese Navy.