Dafeng is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Yancheng which is one of 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu province. Dafeng is located in Jiangsu North Plain with a coastline of 112 km. In its history, Dafeng was one of the largest salt-making areas in China and now is famed for its well preserved eco-system and numerous national conservation parks. The city has the largest national nature reserve for a rare deer species, Pere David’s Deer or Milu in Chinese.

Dafeng borders four counties including Dongtai, Sheyang, Yancheng and Xinghua. The county has a coastline of 112 km and a magnificent size of the wetland along its coastline, which is around near 800,000 hectares, sheltering enormous numbers of species of insects, fish, wild animals, and millions of migrating birds.

Upon the completion of Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge, the city will significantly reduce the driving time to two hours to Shanghai and the south of Jiangsu.

Dafeng has a warm and wet subtropical climate and is influenced by the East Asia monsoon. It has distinct seasons and an abundant sunshine. The average annual temperature is close to 15ºC and the normal precipitation is over 1,000 mm yearly.

Traditionally, Dafeng heavily depended on its agriculture income and its principal agricultural products include rice, cotton, oil seed, cocoon, fruit, livestock and aquatic products. In 2006, its agricultural earning occupied half of the total GTP of the city.

The city has been designated by the national government as one of ecology-pioneering cities and a comprehensive experimental zone in China. Its industrial sectors, including machinery, foods, light and chemical industries, have been developing in a good shape and fast. The incoming investment funds are further improving the city’s economic capability.

Dafeng Port is a sea-orientated port and has been listed by the state government as one of important ports in the east coastline of China. The city has been included in the Shanghai Economical Zone and the Yangtze Delta Economical Circle.

Regardless of its success in rapid industrial growth, Dafeng still emphasizes its eco-balanced development. The city drafted the first comprehensive protocol in China to highlight its ecologic priority in the city’s development scheme and has been selected by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as an experimental area of the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development program. In addition, the city has been working hard to establish its national reputation in produce of diverse organic food, vegetables, fruits, etc.

Dafeng maintains the largest national nature reserve for the unpolluted wetland in China and the reserve has been recognized as a fabulous conservation land for an endangered deer species, Pere David’s Deer or Milu in Chinese. The wild deer perished in the early 19th century in China but was re-introduced to the national park in 1985. The immense coastline and wetland is a paradise as well for other species of insects, fish, animals, and millions of migrating birds.