Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province has become the second largest port on the Chinese mainland, after Shanghai. 

The volume of imports and exports handled at the port of Qingdao exceeded more than 100 million tons last year.

Imports and exports through Qingdao were valued at US$41 billion in total last year, up almost one third year-on-year.

The great increase is mainly due to efforts to increase customs efficiency and expand local harbors, the airport and logistics bases.

(CRI March 15, 2004)