Clang! That’s the sound of history echoing in Haimen, a district of Nantong. We are standing at what was once the very edge of the Yangtze River. This “sea gate” as it’s known, boasts a story etched in silt and shaped by the relentless flow of time.
Haimen’s story begins with the river itself. Silt deposits from the Yangtze gradually formed sandbanks. These banks eventually joined the mainland. This process shaped the land we stand on today.
In 958 CE during the Later Zhou dynasty Haimen County was officially established. Imagine a small town bustling with early settlers. They were building their lives on this newly formed land. For a while Haimen was merged into Tongzhou District.
However the mighty Yangtze wasn’t always kind. During the Ming Dynasty the river’s mouth shifted northward. This caused devastating floods. Lüsi, Yudong and Sijia were among the areas destroyed.
The seat of Haimen moved several times reflecting the changing landscape and fortunes of the region. In 1672 the seat moved to Jinghai Township. Later in 1768 it moved to Maojia Town.
Then fast forward to 1912 one year after the Republic of China was founded Haimen became a county again. In 1949 Haimen was placed under the administration of Nantong Prefecture. County-level governments reappeared in 1983. Haimen was reinstated as a county. Then in June 1994 Haimen achieved the status of a county-level city. Most recently in 2020 Haimen became a district of Nantong.
Haimen is not just a place defined by its geography and administrative changes. It’s a place of resilience. The people of Haimen adapted to the challenges and opportunities presented by their unique location.
Haimen’s location is quite special. It sits opposite Shanghai on the Yangtze River and directly north of Chongming Island. It’s a vital part of Nantong’s urban area. The district has a 61 kilometer coastline along the Yangtze and another 25 kilometer coastline along the Yellow Sea.
Interestingly Haimen has easy access to major transportation hubs. Shanghai Pudong International Airport is less than two hours away by car. Nantong Xingdong Airport and Nantong Railway Station are also nearby. The railway station opened in 2019 providing access to the Nanjing Qidong railway.
Today Haimen is a modern district. It’s a place where history meets progress. You can feel the echoes of the past in the streets and buildings around us. Remember the story of the river the floods and the people who persevered.