Press Release for Media Briefing of the Shanghai Municipal Government on August 27, 2025

2025.08.27

This year marks the conclusion of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period. The Information Office of Shanghai Municipality has launched a series of themed press briefings under the banner “Delivering Solid Results through Action, Advancing the New Blueprint,” highlighting the vivid practices and substantial achievements of high-quality development across all 16 districts. The second session in this series was held on the morning of today (August 27), focusing on the theme ‘Striving to Build a New Benchmark for Functions and Quality in Shanghai’s Core Urban Area.’ Gao Yun, Secretary of the CPC Huangpu District Committee, presented the district’s development achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Xu Huili, deputy Party Secretary and district chief, Qiu Wen, director of the Huangpu District Commission of Commerce, Xu Yanqing, director of the Huangpu District Administration of Culture and Tourism, and Yang Guowei, director of the Huangpu District Investment Promotion Office, attended the press briefing and answered questions from reporters.Huangpu District is home to Shanghai’s economic, administrative, and cultural center. During his tenure in Shanghai, General Secretary Xi Jinping described Huangpu as the city’s ‘heart, window, and hallmark.’ Since the launch of the 14th Five-Year Plan, Huangpu has pursued its goals of building a core leading area under the development theme of ‘new peaks in functionality and new benchmarks in quality.’ The district has worked to advance high-quality development, foster a high-quality life, and achieve efficient governance, with steady improvements in urban development and overall competitiveness. By the end of 2024, Huangpu’s GDP had reached 334.4 billion yuan, representing an average annual growth of about 4.5% over the first four years of the plan. Its regional economic density stood at 16.3 billion yuan per square kilometer, ranking first in the city and among the highest nationwide. District-level general public budget revenue rose to 29.9 billion yuan, with an average annual growth of more than 6%. Notable progress has been made across six key areas:First, reform and innovation unleashed new vitality. The district advanced reform to drive innovation and leveraged innovation to guide development, generating strong momentum for Huangpu t0 better play its role as Shanghai’s core district. A series of major initiatives were rolled out to deepen openness and strengthen core functions. Huangpu secured approval to establish one of Shanghai’s first pilot innovation zones linked to the Free Trade Zone, pioneering bonded exhibition and trading models. The Huaihai Xintiandi Import Trade Promotion Innovation Demonstration Zone was fully developed, and the city’s first Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Advanced Validation Guidance Center was established. With economic capacity in Huangpu further bolstered, since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan, 30 new regional headquarters of multinational corporations were added, bringing the total to 83. In 2024, these headquarters contributed nearly 6 billion yuan in tax revenue, around 10% of the district’s total. Cumulative contracted foreign investment reached approximately US$8.3 billion, maintaining steady growth. The district fostered a world-class business environment through a new round of ‘1+7+N’ industrial support policies, together with innovative measures such as ‘unintrusive oversight, ubiquitous support’ precision supervision and services. The ‘Business-Friendly Huangpu’ brand gained greater influence, ranking first in Shanghai in both business environment evaluations and enterprise satisfaction in 2024. At the same time, the district built a robust talent ecosystem under the initiative ‘The Light of the Lintel.’ The Bund International Talent Service Center was operated to the highest standards, ensuring that talent of all kinds could ‘come, stay, thrive, and move freely.’ Market entities were further energized. The district deepened SOE reform, established the Huangpu Science and Technology Innovation Group and the Culture and Tourism Group, delivered tangible results under the ‘Double Hundred Action,’ and accelerated the renewal and upgrading of time-honored brands. Ten major initiatives were introduced to support the private economy, SME service stations were set up across all subdistricts, and sustained efforts were made to unlock the vitality of private enterprises.Second, the development of high-end industries ignited a powerful growth engine. The district strengthened the Four Functions and supported the building of Five Centers for Shanghai, working to create a new highland for high-quality development. The Bund’s financial cluster grew steadily, with the added value of the financial sector rising at an average annual rate of 6.5% from 2021 to 2024. In 2024, the sector’s added value reached 128.6 billion yuan, accounting for 38.5% of Huangpu’s GDP and nearly one-sixth of the city’s total financial added value. Total financial market transactions in the district remained the highest citywide, reaching 2,601 trillion yuan in 2024 and representing more than 70% of the city’s total. High-profile events such as the Inclusion Conference and the Bund Summit were successfully hosted, while approval was obtained to establish Shanghai’s first equity investment and fintech clusters, laying the foundation for a globally oriented fintech ecosystem. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Shanghai Regional Center was also successfully established. The district’s capacity for supporting scientific and technological innovation was further enhanced. The Central Science and Technology Innovation Zone was planned and constructed in the Puxi section of the Shanghai Expo site, while advancing the development of a ‘1+N+1’ industrial system centered on financial technology, focused on future industries, and supported by technology services. Landmark initiatives such as the Robotics Industry Base and the Brain-Computer Interface Innovation Center were inaugurated. Municipal-level incubation and technology platforms increased year by year within the district, accelerating the clustering of innovative enterprises. Consumption also expanded and upgraded. The three major commercial hubs of Nanjing Road, Middle Huaihai Road, and Yuyuan Garden accelerated their transformation. The district took the lead in creating the city’s demonstration zone for refined nighttime economy management. Functional platforms such as the Shanghai International Jewelry Fashion Zone and the Global New Product Launch Site made steady progress, while key projects such as Century Square and the CPIC Xintiandi Commercial Center were completed. New consumption formats and scenarios integrating culture, tourism, commerce, sports, and exhibitions developed rapidly, with projects like the Bailian ZX Creative Center taking shape. Events including the Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai and the Shanghai International Flower Show generated strong appeal, while cultural IPs such as Blossoms Shanghai and the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival fueled a consumer boom. Huangpu also promoted new models of consumption facilitation. Departure tax refunds and refund-upon-purchase were vigorously advanced, centralized refund points were set up in all major business districts, and Shanghai’s first ‘citywide refund point’ was set up in Huangpu to offer one-stop tax refund services for overseas travelers. As a result, the district’s departure tax refund business volume achieved a leapfrog increase.Third, urban renewal entered a new phase of accelerated transformation. The district consistently placed urban renewal at the forefront of public well-being and development, raising the urban functional quality to new heights. The comprehensive renovation of large-scale, second-level old neighborhoods and below was completed in July 2022, marking the successful conclusion of Shanghai’s 30-year-long large-scale urban renewal program, an achievement widely recognized as a landmark project for the people. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, more than 37,000 households benefited from renewal initiatives. Old area redevelopment and old residential buildings upgrading were accelerated. By coordinating resources, overcoming financing challenges, and tackling sporadic renewal and “toilet-upgrading” projects, the district advanced improvements for households across the district. Renovation of substandard low-rise housing made steady progress, with projects such as the north side of Penglai Road, Lane 211 Baotun Road, and Lane 565 Middle Fuxing Road moving forward effectively. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, more than 7,000 households benefited from the overall upgrading program. Urban renewal also advanced in key functional areas. A comprehensive action plan for the Bund’s second façade area was formulated, pioneering the implementation of a ‘three-in-one’ model involving responsible planners, architects, and assessors. The historic former City Hall was renovated and restored to its original grandeur. Meanwhile, major projects in areas such as Grand Xintiandi, the South Bund, and Jinling Road advanced in an orderly manner, creating new urban spaces infused with heritage, vitality, and distinctive character.Fourth, the district strengthened people’s livelihood and built a solid foundation for well-being. Huangpu deeply implemented the principle of the people’s city, mobilizing the best resources to enhance residents’ wellbeing, quality of life and happiness. Huangpu was recognized as one of ‘China’s Happiest Cities’ for two consecutive years, in 2023 and 2024. In education, the district ensured high-quality and balanced development. It successfully established Shanghai’s Children-Friendly Pilot Practice Zone and a High-Quality and Balanced Development Zone for Compulsory Education, and received approval as a national pilot zone for compulsory education reform, making ‘excellent education’ Huangpu’s most vibrant public welfare initiative. In healthcare, the district improved accessibility and quality of medical services. Huangpu deepened the development of integrated medical alliances, innovated telemedicine services through ‘cloud clinics’ at community health centers, piloted building-level health services, optimized medical services, and strengthened the tiered diagnosis and treatment system. Elderly care services were also enhanced. The district expanded the ‘Five-Sided Elderly Care’ service system, achieved the highest number of family care beds in the city, and provided 63 district-wide dining assistance facilities for senior residents. Employment and entrepreneurship services were upgraded. A ‘15-minute employment service circle’ was established, and the ‘Huangpu Entrepreneurship Card’, the city’s first worry-free entrepreneurship channel, was launched, promoting a wider range of higher-quality employment opportunities.Fifth, cultural empowerment enhanced Huangpu’s status as a ‘city hallmark.’ Leveraging the district’s rich cultural heritage, Huangpu became a core demonstration area for the best practices of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. The ‘Red Open-Air Museum’ brand was strengthened, creating one-stop destinations for revolution-themed exploration and study, including the Nanchang Road Theme Street. Over 140 revolution-themed sites and relics were transformed from scattered displays into integrated exhibitions, forming a cohesive cultural chain. The “Show Life” brand was further developed. By bringing together renowned artists, troupes, premieres, and a series of outstanding festivals, exhibitions, and events, such as the Shanghai International Musical Festival, the district consistently delivered cultural highlights. In 2022, Show Life was named one of Shanghai’s Top 10 Cultural Brands. The district now hosts 27 professional theaters and 101 new performing arts spaces, and since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan, over 190,000 domestically registered performances have been completed. The ‘Art on the Bund’ brand was refined. The development and integration of art industry spaces brought together nearly 60 art museums, art center, galleries, auction houses, and art space, leading the city in quantity, quality, and density. The ‘Bookish Huangpu’ brand was also promoted. The district was recognized as one of China’s first ‘Cities Promoting Universal Reading,’ cultivating a vibrant reading culture where the stories of buildings can be told, neighborhoods can be explored, and bookstores can be enjoyed.Sixth, meticulous efforts were devoted to urban governance. With the care, patience, and precision, Huangpu developed exemplary models for the modernization of urban governance in the central districts of megacities. Smart urban governance was advanced. Digital transformation was accelerated, with pilot projects for digital governance implemented in the city’s smallest administrative units, including Tianzifang and the Digital Bund. Integration of the Government Online-offline Shanghai platform and the integrated network for urban operations was deepened, enhancing efficiency and coordination. A more beautiful urban environment was created. The initiative of developing beautiful communities, scenic areas and street blocks in an integrated manner was furthered, public seating was expanded in key scenic spots, and the quality of public spaces along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek was consolidated and upgraded. A ‘10-minute community life circle’ was established, the Street and Road initiative advanced, and a number of distinctive neighborhood renewal models were completed. Effective grassroots governance was promoted. Significant progress was made in the ‘Zero Distance Home’ project. Huangpu led the city in implementing the visits to learn people’s needs and demand, and pioneered the ‘Tough Action’ initiative. Practical applications of the ‘Three Meetings’ system for grassroots governance in the new era — hearings, coordination meetings, and evaluation meetings — alongside ‘Baoxing Ten Measures,’ were continuously expanded. The ‘multi-grid integration’ governance model, led by Party-building efforts, was deepened, effectively generating strong synergy for urban governance.Huangpu District is now concentrating on the drafting of its 15th Five-Year Plan, a critical phase for seizing new opportunities, forging competitive advantages, expanding growth space and achieving high-quality development. The district will fully align with the central and municipal government’s 15th five-year plans, keeping the long-term vision for 2035 in focus. Efforts will be made to comprehensively strengthen Huangpu’s role as Shanghai’s core hub, enhance the urban vitality and core competitiveness, expand access to high-quality living, and ensure safer, more efficient urban governance, thereby contributing to Shanghai’s accelerated transformation into a modern, socialist and international metropolis with global influence.