As the region's boom continues apace, far-flung cities line up to be included
Geographical limitations are not being allowed to stand in the way of the expansion of the Yangtze River Delta area.
An increasing number of cities are lobbying to be designated as part of the booming region, even though some are hundreds of kilometres away from the river itself, according to reports in state media.
Jinhua city, in the middle of Zhejiang province, is the latest to win entry to the coveted group, joining 16 other members of the Yangtze River Delta Cities Economic Co-ordination Association, the Oriental Morning Post said. The group was set up by local governments under the authority of Beijing in 1992.
Other hopefuls still seeking membership are Jiangsu province's Yancheng and Huai'an; Zhejiang's Quzhou and Lishui; and Anhui province's Ma'anshan.
In 1992, 14 cities were designated as part of the Yangtze River Delta region, including Shanghai, which lies at the mouth of the river that stretches 6,000km across China.
The number rose to 15 in 1997 and 16 in 2002. Apart from Shanghai, Yangtze River Delta cities include Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Yangzhou, Taizhou, Changzhou, Wuxi, Nantong and Suzhou in Jiangsu. In Zhejiang, they are Huzhou, Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan and Taizhou.