China home to 7 of top 10 largest ports in world

China currently boasts seven of the top 10 ports in the world based on cargo and container throughput.

“There are at least 34 ports with a handling capacity over 100 million tons in China," said Liu Peng, an official with the Ministry of Transport, on June 12.

The fourth phase of Shanghai Yangshan Deepwater Port is designed to make the port fully automated, the largest and most advanced of any comparable port in the world. It is expected to be put into operation by the end of this year. When construction is completed, the throughput will account for half the total volume that passes through Shanghai, consolidating the Shanghai port's position as the world's largest.

While the volume of throughput is on the rise, Chinese ports are striving to upgrade their functions. Operations have gradually expanded from traditional loading, unloading and storage to professional logistics and commodity transactions.

Cruises have also become a reliable source of revenue for Chinese ports; by 2016, ports in China had received 2.18 million tourists on international cruises, a 79 percent increase year on year.