In the past, cargo between Anqing and Taiwan had to be transhipped via a third port with a total journey time of 10 days. Anqing is one of five major Yangtze ports in Anhui province, situated between Jiujiang and Chizhou. In 2008 the Hong Kong shipping magnate Gui Sihai, who originally came from Tongcheng, a suburb of Anqing, agreed to invest in Anqing port via a joint venture in which he took a 55% stake. His shipping company, Hong Kong Yuanhang Shipping, is one of the largest private shipping lines in Hong Kong.
Anqing reported a throughput of general cargo of 17.52 million tonnes by the end of July, up 14% compared to the same period last year, and container throughput of 10,392 TEU – up 21%.