Geographic Environment

Currently Chongming County is made up of Chongming Island, Changxing Island and Hengsha Island. Land area of the island is 1411 km².
Chongming Island is located in the central point of Chinese coastal of West Pacific Bank, at the estuary of Yangtze River, the biggest river in China. It is the largest river alluvial island and the third largest island of China that is only second to Taiwan Island and Hainan Island. It enjoys the title of “Gateway to Yangtze River and Yingzhou of the East Sea”. The island is encircled by rivers on three sides and by sea on one side. It is linked to the billowy Yangtze River in the west; faces to the vast East Sea in the east; opposite to Pudong New Area, Baoshan District and Taicang City of Jiangsu Province in the south across the river; and is at a narrow strip of water of distance with Haimen City and Qidong City of Jiangsu Province. The island covers an area of 1267km². It is 80km from west to east and 13 to 18km from north to south. The island has flat land and is free from mountain and hill. It is relatively higher in the northwest and middle parts and lower in the southwest and east parts. Elevation of over 90% of land (with the elevation of 0m in Wusong as reference) is between 3.21m and 4.20m. Location of the island is between 121°09′30〃 to 121°54′00〃E and 31°27′00〃 to 31°51′15〃N. It is situated in the north subtropical region, where climate is mild and moistening. Average annual temperature is 15.2℃. Sunlight and rainfall are plentiful and four seasons are distinct. The island has clean water, soil and fresh air. Ecological environment is fine and average life expectancy of the residents is 76.7 years.

Changxing Island is located at the South Waterway of Yangtze River at Wusong Estuary. It is adjacent to Hengsha Island in the east and close to Chongming Island in the north. The island takes the shape of belt, 26.8km from east to west and 2 to 4km from north to south, with an area of 88km². Tidal-flat area is 8.5km² and arable area is 26.2km² (excluding Qianwei Farm). In the south border there is deep water bank line of nearly 20km and the general water depth is -12m to -16m, with -22m as the deepest. It is fit for berth of 300-thousand-ton ship.

Hengsha Island is at the east end of Yangtze River Estuary. The island is encircled by rivers on three sides and by sea on one side. Back on Changxing, it echoes at far distance with Chongming Island in the north and opposite to Pudong in the south across the river. It is 12km in length from south to north and about 8km from east to west. Average altitude is 2.8m and total area is 56km². Arable land is 26.8km². At present there are 200 thousand mu (13340 hectares) of tidal-flat area resource above 0m and 670 thousand mu (44689 hectares) above -5m. Surrounding bank line is over 30km. At the south end is 2km of deep-water bank line, with approximate water depth of -12m.