 There has been a major port at the location at least since late Han dynasty days.As the port straddled the confluence of the Grand Canal and the Yangtze river, it was a major hub for most Imperial times, its prosperity oscillating with the degree of repair of the Canal.Chingkiang was one of the ports opened to foreign trade in 1858 by the Tianjin Treaties

The Port of Zhenjiang extends over 33.8 km of shoreline, and it is divided into seven main port areas