The Yangtze River Delta is a powerful economic region in China. It includes Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. Despite covering only 4% of China’s land area, it contributes around 25% of the country’s total GDP.
Originating from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Yangtze River is China’s longest waterway, stretching over 6,300 km and passing through 11 different regions before reaching the East China Sea.
Along the river basin, you can find many of China’s biggest cities, thriving industries, and important rice-producing areas. This region plays a significant role in driving the growth of China’s economy.
The integration of the Yangtze River Delta became a national-level strategy in 2018. It is China’s third national-level regional integration plan, following the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei development and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cooperation.
After five years of integrated development, the Yangtze River Delta region has made practical achievements in various aspects, such as improving infrastructure, fostering collaborative technological innovation, and promoting ecological green development.
Industrial clusters aid regional economic growth
The Yangtze River delta region in China focuses on strengthening and supporting its industrial chains, particularly in the areas of energy-saving and new energy vehicles, robots, new power equipment, and new displays. In 2022, the delta region produced over 40% of the total production of new energy vehicles in China, amounting to approximately 2.9 million units.
This region has successfully built an extensive industrial chain that encompasses various fields related to the manufacturing of vehicles. For instance, there are numerous manufacturing companies in Jiangsu’s Changzhou City, specializing in transmission systems, braking systems, steering systems, lighting, and automobile accessories. The close proximity of the new energy vehicle industry cluster within a 4-hour drive reduces transportation costs and allows for quick and flexible supply chain responses. Companies like Tesla have benefited from this industrial chain foundation, achieving high localization rates of parts and stimulating the growth of suppliers, jobs, and orders.
The Yangtze River Delta region, where the delta region is located, is recognized for its resource sharing, talent cultivation, and innovative environment, making it a significant contributor to the high-quality development of China’s economy.
Enhanced connectivity
The Yangtze River Delta in China has made significant progress in terms of infrastructure connectivity and economic development. With port clusters centered around Shanghai and Ningbo Zhoushan, and additional ports in Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Suzhou, the region has created a strong network of ports. In 2022, the container throughput of Yangtze River Delta ports accounted for approximately 38 percent of the country’s total, while the cargo and mail throughput of major airports accounted for about 35 percent of the country’s total.
The region is also known for its integrated transportation network, with an extensive high-speed rail network linking cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou. This efficient transportation system allows for quick and convenient intercity passenger travel.
The Yangtze River Delta continues to advance its integrated development, with a total economic volume exceeding 22.1 trillion yuan in the first three quarters of the year, demonstrating a strong momentum of high-quality development.