The core area of Shanghai's Hongqiao International Central Business District, which is at the heart of the Hongqiao International Opening-up Hub. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District, a portal for China's deepened two-way opening-up, will further improve its strength in commerce, exhibition, transportation and technology innovation to prepare for high-quality development during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, local officials said.
Kong Fu'an, Party secretary of the district's administrative committee, said during a news conference on Monday that the district has made much progress since its inception five years ago. The district's GDP topped 200 billion yuan ($28.9 billion) last year. Its tax revenue reached 51.8 billion yuan in 2025, up from 26.8 billion yuan in 2020. The number of registered companies has now approached 100,000 from 49,000 in 2020, he said.
The district is now home to the regional headquarters of 283 companies, among which 210 established their base in the district during the past five years. Forty-five companies set their regional headquarters in the district last year, with their combined sales revenue reaching 280 billion yuan.
To better address companies' outbound reach, the district has rolled out a number of policies and government services, facilitating the overseas expansion moves of over 9,000 companies. The district has also gathered more than 50 investment trade service providers, facilitating trade and connecting industries in over 150 countries and regions, according to Kong.
Over 2,600 professional service providers have set up operations in the district, including 184 legal service institutions and another 324 companies running in the human resources industrial park in the district.
Up to 24,000 technology service enterprises have been operating in the district, including 1,183 high-tech enterprises, 785 national and municipal-level "little giant" enterprises, and 42 "gazelle" enterprises.
Influenced by the China International Import Expo, which is held annually in the district, the number of exhibition enterprises has now reached 534, up from 140 five years ago. The value of imported goods in the district increased from 13.3 billion yuan in 2020 to 68.4 billion yuan in 2025.
The district has also seen a significant leap in its transportation capacity. Hongqiao has become the world's busiest comprehensive transportation hub, receiving a total passenger flow of 422 million last year. In 2025, Hongqiao International Airport's annual passenger volume exceeded 50 million for the first time. Express flights account for 72 percent of its operations, ranking first among airports nationwide.
