The GDP growth rate of 57 counties (cities) in the province has exceeded the provincial average for two consecutive years, as announced at the seventh press conference in a series on Guangdong's achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, held on December 16.
Since the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, particularly with the implementation of the High-quality Development Project for Guangdong Counties, Towns, and Villages, Guangdong has adhered to a county-focused approach and tailored measures to local conditions.
These efforts have achieved initial success within three years. The population in counties has experienced a net inflow overall, and the urbanization rate of the permanent population in counties has increased from 44.72% to 46.48%. In the first half of 2025, the per-capita disposable income of rural residents reached RMB 14,624, a 5.7% increase year-on-year.
In recent years, Guangdong has coordinated the development of industries that strengthen counties and enrich residents, as well as traditional and emerging sectors, promoting specialized, scaled, and clustered industrial development in counties, thereby injecting new vitality into the county-level economy.
In terms of regional industrial collaboration and transfer, notable results have been achieved. Sixty-four provincial-level industrial parks and 13 provincial-level characteristic industrial parks have been established in the 57 counties (cities).
The total output value of industries above a designated size in the 15 main platforms for orderly industrial transfer has exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan, cumulatively undertaking over 2,200 new industrial transfer projects with a planned total investment exceeding 720 billion yuan.
Modern agriculture and the marine economy are also accelerating. Guangdong has built 12 national advantageous and characteristic industrial clusters and 24 national modern agricultural industrial parks, fostering eight 100-billion-yuan agricultural industrial clusters (including grains and vegetables) and seventeen 10-billion-yuan clusters (including tea and flowers). In 2024, the province's gross marine product surpassed 2 trillion yuan, maintaining the top position in China for 30 consecutive years.
In the towns and counties, the integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries is advancing. Nineteen county-wide pilots for the integrated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism have been launched. Initial results are evident in the high-quality development leading zone for counties, towns, and villages around Nankun Mountain and Luofu Mountain, where a 618-kilometer scenic tourism highway has been fully connected.
Public services and infrastructure construction have significantly improved. Close assistance programs in education and healthcare have been implemented, with 155 senior high schools in the Pearl River Delta region paired to support 227 weaker senior high schools in counties. Additionally, 104 provincial-level top-tier hospitals have been organized to assist 172 county-level hospitals.
Counties in the province have generally achieved access to expressways within 20 minutes, and all have established connectivity to provincial-level or above industrial parks via secondary or higher-grade roads.
Guangdong is witnessing more balanced development with improved assistance and refined collaboration mechanisms. Full coverage of county-level assistance has been achieved between the Pearl River Delta region and the eastern, western, and northern regions of Guangdong, featuring horizontal collaboration, vertical assistance, and coordinated town-level support.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
