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China economy
OpinionChina Opinion
Ningrong Liu

Opinion | China’s ‘trillion-yuan districts’ reveal gains and gaps of its hi-tech push

China’s pivot to a tech-driven economy is thrilling, but its success will be judged by how it improves people’s everyday lives

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The Shenzhen Talent Park in the city’s Nanshan district. Nanshan is poised to join Shanghai’s Pudong and Beijing’s Haidian as the only districts in the country with a GDP of more than 1 trillion yuan (US$143 billion). Photo: Getty Images

The anticipated rise of Shenzhen’s Nanshan district to a “trillion-yuan district” marks a monumental milestone, placing it alongside Shanghai’s Pudong and Beijing’s Haidian as the only districts to reach such a GDP threshold.

Beyond a mere numerical benchmark, the “trillion-yuan” label signifies China’s transition into a technology-powered economic era. This achievement underscores more than local success – it amplifies the resilience of China’s economy, increasingly driven by hi-tech innovation. The pace and quality of the nation’s future growth will depend on the ability of these knowledge-intensive hubs to innovate, navigate global headwinds and seize opportunities in emerging industries.

Nanshan district exemplifies China’s shift from “Made in China” to “Created in China”. Looking at the broader “trillion-yuan club”, a common thread emerges: each district is powered by the knowledge economy and technological innovation.
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Across China’s hi-tech parks, energy is palpable. Passionate entrepreneurs turn fresh ideas into viable ventures; debates fill cafes, focused on the next breakthrough. This dynamism reflects economic vitality, as evidenced by a steady surge in new tech firms.

Official statistics show more than 1 million new enterprises were established in China’s emerging and future industries from January to November 2025. This included 775,000 firms in sectors such as information technology and advanced manufacturing. Future industries – a category spanning healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) and energy – saw growth of 35.8 per cent, adding 283,000 new companies.
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China’s strategic shift towards hi-tech innovation as a primary economic driver showed early success in 2025. Sectors such as new energy vehicles, industrial robots, AI and advanced electronics are contributing substantially to GDP.
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