Xinghua, a county-level city in Taizhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]
Xinghua, a county-level city known for its water towns in Jiangsu province, has cemented its position as an economic powerhouse by surpassing 100 billion yuan ($14.41 billion) in GDP during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25). The city achieved a 6.9 percent annual GDP growth rate, with industrial output doubling and industrial sales reaching 123.9 billion yuan, growing 9.1 percent annually.
Driving this growth, Xinghua's specialty industries shone brightly. The marine equipment alloy materials cluster earned national recognition, while companies like Xingda Group and Haoxianglai exceeded 10 billion yuan in revenue. Xingda's factory was also named a top-tier smart manufacturing facility, signaling a shift toward high-end, tech-driven production.
Investment and innovation drove growth, with the city attracting $126 million in foreign capital — more than non-coastal regions in Taizhou — and obtaining 701 million yuan in state funding for key projects. High-tech enterprises doubled, supported by 540 million yuan in tech loans and a talent influx of 306 experts, including eight national-level innovators.
Beyond economics, Xinghua prioritized sustainability and infrastructure. Pollution controls reduced emissions, with 80 percent of waterways meeting national quality standards. Transportation upgrades, including expressways and railways, improved connectivity, while renewable energy projects added 20 MW of solar capacity.
As Xinghua enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), it aims to sustain its vision of "industrial strength, town prosperity, and people's well-being", blending economic vigor with ecological preservation.