Nanshan, a district in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, has become one of the few district-level areas in the country to record a gross domestic product (GDP) of more than one trillion yuan.
According to the Nanshan District Bureau of Statistics, the district's GDP surpassed the one-trillion-yuan mark in 2025, placing it alongside Pudong in Shanghai and Haidian in Beijing.
Nanshan's per capita GDP is estimated at about 545,000 yuan, higher than the average level in many developed countries. Its economic output per square kilometer stands at around 5.4 billion yuan—three times the Shenzhen average.
Official data shows rapid growth over the past five years. GDP rose from 652.7 billion yuan in 2020 to over one trillion yuan in 2025, representing an average annual growth rate of more than 5.8%. Despite covering less than one-tenth of Shenzhen's land area, Nanshan contributes more than a quarter of the city's total economic output.
Local officials and analysts point to innovation as the main driver. At the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in the United States, 110 technology firms from Nanshan showcased products in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and smart hardware.
Near the Shenzhen InnoX Academy, a fast-growing "Robot Valley" has developed around the X-Lake Sciensity area. It brings together more than 20 robotics companies and hundreds of upstream and downstream firms, enabling new designs to be turned into working prototypes within a single day.
To support entrepreneurs, Nanshan rolled out a new policy package in 2025, offering targeted subsidies and services to reduce early-stage business costs.
Guo Wanda, executive vice president of the China Development Institute, noted that Nanshan's rise reflects a broader shift in Guangdong towards innovation-led growth.
The district is playing a larger role in shaping China's next phase of industrial development.
Reporter | Zhang Siyu, Huang Qini
Photo | Publicity Department of Nanshan District
