Zhuhai, a coastal city in Guangdong, is turning to the ocean to fuel its economic expansion. With over 100 islands and a sea area five times larger than its landmass, the city aims to transform marine resources into a core growth engine.
In August 2025, Zhuhai unveiled 108 marine projects under a "Marine New Infrastructure" initiative, totaling 110 billion yuan in investment. The plan focuses on building digital and physical infrastructures such as undersea data cables, ocean monitoring networks, and low-altitude drone routes to support businesses operating at sea.
From Fishing Village to Modern Coastal Hub
Zhuhai's ties to the ocean date back millennia, with ancient rock carvings in Gaolan Port depicting early fishing activities. Since becoming a special economic zone in 1980, the city has evolved from an agrarian base into a regional player with strengths in port logistics, offshore engineering, and tourism.
In 2024, Zhuhai's gross domestic product reached 447.9 billion yuan, with the marine economy surpassing 100 billion yuan, accounting for 22.4% of the total. The city now hosts over 3,600 marine-related enterprises, including 140 high-tech firms focused on sectors like unmanned ships and marine biomedicine.
Solving Problems with New Infrastructure
While Zhuhai benefits from rich marine resources, it faces challenges typical of the sector: high costs, technological barriers, and a need for larger projects. To address this, the city is implementing a new system that connects air, surface, underwater, and island infrastructure.
Important projects include bringing 5G internet to islands, using autonomous cargo drones, and establishing special zones for deep-sea fish farming and equipment testing. Of the 108 new projects, 65 have already been signed, worth 29.21 billion yuan. Another 33 projects are in the planning stages, valued at 80.8 billion yuan. The aim is to attract private companies to invest.
Invitation for Global Collaboration
As one of China's earliest special economic zones, Zhuhai positions itself as a regional marine center. "We welcome global enterprises, research institutes, and talent to join us in exploring marine-based growth," the city government stated.
Author: Feng Huiting
Photo: Nanfang Daily
Editor: Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
