The Xihoumen Bridge, an important part of the Zhoushan Cross-Sea Bridge. [Photo/Tide News]

The Zhoushan Cross-Sea Bridge celebrates its 15th anniversary on Dec 25, 2024.

Over the past 15 years, the bridge has seen a total traffic volume of 116 million vehicles, with an increase in traffic every year. In 2024, average daily traffic reached 38,900 vehicles, with 27 vehicles per minute entering or leaving Zhoushan, and the highest single-day traffic volume exceeded 110,800 vehicles.

Since the bridge's opening on Dec 25, 2009, Zhoushan has bid farewell to its isolated past, where boats were the only mode of transportation.

The bridge, which spans 46.29 kilometers, passes through Lidiao, Fuchi, Cezi, and Jintang islands in Zhoushan before terminating in Zhenhai district, Ningbo. This impressive structure connects four islands of Zhoushan like a beautiful thread, offering convenient transportation and transforming Zhoushan's economic geography.

Over the past 15 years, Zhoushan's GDP has soared from 53.99 billion yuan ($7.40 billion) to 210.8 billion yuan last year. The city has evolved from a small coastal town to a strategic national hub.