Wenzhou

views updated

Wenzhou or Wenchow (both: wŭn-jō), city (1994 est. pop. 449,700), SE Zhejiang prov., SE China. It is a small deep-sea port on the Ou River 12 mi (19 km) from the East China Sea and a major trade center for an area producing tea, cotton, and oranges. It has a variety of light manufactures and maintains a large export trade, benefiting from its close trade relations with Shanghai. Founded in the 4th cent. AD, Wenzhou retains many ancient buildings.

More From encyclopedia.com