Nestled along the Xijiang River in western Guangdong, Zhaoqing has long served as a vital gateway connecting the Pearl River Delta with southwestern China. Historically celebrated for its scenic landscapes and cultural heritage—including the famed Duan inkstone and Dinghu Mountain—the city is now forging a new identity as a dynamic hub of industry and innovation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
This transformation was highlighted at a press conference on "Achievements of Guangdong's 14th Five-Year Plan – Zhaoqing Session", held in Guangzhou on January 14, where Mayor Xu Xiaoxiong outlined the city's strategic progress during the 2021–2025 plan period.
A press conference on "Achievements of Guangdong's 14th Five-Year Plan – Zhaoqing Session."
held in Guangzhou on January 14. (Photo: southcn.com)
According to Mayor Xu, Zhaoqing has leveraged its strategic location and natural advantages to shift decisively from traditional manufacturing toward high-growth, technology-driven sectors. "A key pillar of our transformation," he noted, "has been the strategic development of advanced industrial clusters." While maintaining strength in established sectors, the city has firmly captured emerging opportunities in new-energy vehicles (NEVs) and new-type energy storage.
The results are reflected in the industrial landscape. As Mayor Xu shared, Zhaoqing now hosts two clusters, each with annual output exceeding 100 billion yuan—NEVs and metal processing—alongside four additional clusters in energy storage, electronics, green building materials, and new materials, each valued at over 50 billion yuan.
The NEV sector stands out as a particular success. Xpeng Motors produces more than 500,000 vehicles at its Zhaoqing facility—roughly one car every six minutes—and has attracted over 100 major auto parts suppliers. "This has deeply integrated our city into the national NEV supply chain," Mayor Xu emphasized.
Meanwhile, the new-type energy storage industry has grown rapidly from scratch into South China's largest production base, with annual output reaching 40 billion yuan. Leading companies such as CATL, Putailai, and the globally recognized unicorn Jinsheng New Energy have established significant operations in the city.
Traditional industries have also evolved strategically. Metal processing now focuses on high-end components for advanced equipment, with annual output surpassing 120 billion yuan, while the building materials sector is transitioning toward greener, more efficient production, maintaining output above 500 billion yuan.
Building on its strengths as an agricultural and water-rich region, Zhaoqing has cultivated a growing food and beverage industry. Brands such as Nongfu Spring, C'estbon, and Yuanqi Forest have established production bases locally, forming a sector with annual output exceeding 20 billion yuan.
Beyond manufacturing, new growth drivers are emerging. Mayor Xu pointed to cross-border e-commerce as a notable example, where Zhaoqing handles over five million parcels daily to more than 200 countries and regions, accounting for about one-fourth of Guangdong's total volume in this fast-growing trade.
Integration within China's Greater Bay Area has been central to this progress. The city invested approximately 65 billion yuan in transport infrastructure during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, a 31% increase over the previous five years. This supported the completion of major projects, including the Zhaoqing section of the Guangzhou–Zhanjiang high-speed railway and new expressway links, making "one-hour access to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao" a reality. Port upgrades along the Xijiang River have also tripled annual handling capacity to 176 million tons.
Looking ahead, Zhaoqing is promoting the integrated development of its eastern districts—Duanzhou, Dinghu, Gaoyao, and Sihui—with the goal of forming a cohesive metropolitan area of over three million residents, further aligning with the Bay Area's world-class urban clusters.
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Photo: Guo Zedong
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James Campion, Shen He
