At the mouth of the Yangtze River, the sea and sky merge as one. A car carrier ship over 200 meters long slowly approaches the dock. As the ramp descends, domestically produced vehicles emerge in an orderly procession, loading and unloading before merging into the port's grand vehicular flow—this spectacular scene unfolds daily.
On September 12, following the "Vibrant China Research Tour" themed interview group, reporters arrived at the Haitong Terminal in Shanghai's Waigaoqiao Port area, where thousands of domestic automobiles "drive" toward global destinations.
As the nation's largest roll-on/roll-off transport port, Zhao Zhiguo, General Manager of Terminal Operations at Shanghai Haitong International Auto Logistics Co., Ltd., proudly informed reporters that in 2024, Waigaoqiao Haitong Port achieved an annual automobile throughput of 2 million vehicles, while Haitong Company's "two ports, three locations" recorded a total annual throughput of 3.63 million vehicles, ranking first globally in annual automobile throughput.
A series of institutional and operational innovations ensure the safe and efficient operation of Waigaoqiao Haitong Terminal. Chen Jia, Section Chief of Customs Inspection Division Nine at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port Area Customs, explained that Shanghai Customs actively serves as "customs-enterprise liaisons," utilizing online business coordination mechanisms to obtain ro-ro ship docking schedules in advance. Working collaboratively with Haitong Terminal, they ensure seamless connectivity across all customs clearance logistics processes—from vehicle entry, storage, inspection, and vehicle movement to final release. They have established automobile customs clearance reservation and emergency response mechanisms while continuously optimizing customs supervision procedures to ensure safe, smooth, and efficient automobile exports.
Currently, Waigaoqiao Haitong Terminal operates 15 international automobile ro-ro shipping routes, connecting 289 ports across 131 countries and regions, weaving a maritime network that reaches the world. The terminal actively leverages its strategic location advantages to build itself into a strategic hub linking domestic and international dual circulation.
Through adopting a "water-water transport mode," they connect Yangtze River ports with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port as an integrated system, achieving integrated development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and further optimizing Shanghai's position as an international shipping center hub. From January to August 2025, Waigaoqiao Customs facilitated the export of 339,000 vehicles through the "water-water transport" method, accounting for 35.2% of total exports.
Where do the large ro-ro ships carrying automobiles come from? The answer is also "Made in China." China State Shipbuilding Corporation's Waigaoqiao Shipyard is the construction site of China's first domestically-built large cruise ship, "Adora Magic City." Currently, China's second domestically-built large cruise ship, "Adora Flower City," also completed its float-out at this location in April this year, marking a new milestone in China's large cruise ship construction technology.
Additionally, China State Shipbuilding Corporation's Waigaoqiao Shipyard has created multiple "firsts" in China's shipbuilding industry. From China's first 3,000-meter deepwater semi-submersible drilling platform "CNOOC 981" to the first 18,000 TEU and 20,000 TEU ultra-large container ships; from the world's first 2.3 million barrel generic offshore floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) to the first 400,000-ton intelligent ultra-large ore carrier, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone Group Co.,Ltd. continuously breaks through technical barriers in high-end vessel design and construction, breaking long-term international monopolies and becoming a symbolic force in China's shipbuilding industry's march toward high-end manufacturing. As of the end of August 2025, the company has delivered a total of 600 various ships and offshore engineering products, exceeding 100 million deadweight tons, continuously leading global trends in marine and offshore equipment development.
One port, one shipyard—together they converge the surging momentum of Chinese manufacturing venturing into the deep blue and reaching the world, showcasing the hard-core strength of Chinese manufacturing.
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