The Beilun Port area of Ningbo Zhoushan Port was a small river wharf in 1978. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Li Zhedong, a photographer based in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, has been photographing Ningbo Zhoushan Port every year since 1978, and has documented how the port has developed from a small river wharf to one of the world's busiest ports.

Li's photo that was captured in 1989 shows a night view of Beilun Port area in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Cargo is being loaded onto a containership berthed at Ningbo Zhoushan Port in 2005. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An aerial photo taken on Nov 11, 2021 shows containers piled up at Ningbo Zhoushan Port. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]