Ninghai County

Ninghai County (simplified Chinese: 宁海县; traditional Chinese: 寧海縣; pinyin: Nínghǎi Xiàn; literally: "peaceful sea") is a county under the administration of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. It is located midway up the East Zhejiang's coastal line, adjoining Hangzhou and Shanghai on the south. It was one of the first regions in China that opened itself to the outside world. It covers an area of 1,931 km² (746 sq mi) and has a 176 km (109 mi) coastline. It has 17 towns and a population of 580,000.

Ninghai is located in the eastern part of Zhejiang and on the southern flank of the Yangtze Delta. It is part of the Shanghai Economic Development Region. It is 70 km (43 mi) away from the Ningbo urban area, 66 km (41 mi) away from Ningbo International Airport, 90 km (56 mi) away from Beilun port. 210 km (130 mi) and 380 km (240 mi) separate Ninghai from respectively Hangzhou and Shanghai. From a meteorological standpoint, it belongs to the subtropical monsoon zone, and is under the influence of perennial southeast winds. Ninghai enjoys a comfortably warm and humid climate, rainfall and sunshine. Temperature and relative hygrometry average 15.3-17 Celsius and 78% respectively, while the average annual rainfall registers at 1000–1600 mm. Ninghai County was established as a trial county for the state ecological preservation program. As a result, its air quality is comparatively fresh and clean, and the water quality of the five major rivulets is excellent.

In the late Stone Age, Ninghai was already home to primitive settlements. In 280 AD (during the West Jin Dynasty) it was recognized as a county, whose seat was at Baijiao. Later, during the Sui Dynasty (589 AD), it ceased to be an independent county and instead became part of the Linhai County. The year 621 AD saw it restored as a county, with its seat at Haiyou (part of the present Sanmen County), subsequently merged into the Zhang’an County. In 689 AD, as Empress Wu Tse-Tien rose to power, Ninghai's administrative status was once more restored o county level, with its seat placed at Guangduli (the present Chengguan Town). During the year 706 AD, the eastern land expanse of the county was put under the jurisdiction of the Xiangshan county.

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