Huangpu District is the major innovation carrier for the Greater Bay Area which aims to make Guangzhou China's national core city and an integrated gateway. It will cultivate as a technological, educational, and cultural center, and develop as an international metropolis . A series of innovative reforms were introduced, establishing national-level import trade promotion zones and enhancing the business ecosystem. This led to over 400 signed projects with investments exceeding 350 billion yuan, reinforcing Guangzhou's appeal to domestic and international investors. In the first half of 2025, Guangzhou's Huangpu District continued to play a central role as a hub for technological innovation and advanced manufacturing in the Greater Bay Area. In manufacturing, Huangpu accelerated the development of key sectors such as high-end equipment, semiconductors, and new materials. Industry leaders including GAC AION, GE, Sany, SMIC, and Foxconn have established strong operations in the district, contributing to a robust ecosystem in smart vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, and green energy. The district has introduced a "Manufacturing First" policy suite to promote digital transformation and sustainability in its industrial base. In 2023, Huangpu District in Guangzhou reported total research and experimental development (R&D) expenditure of RMB 29.383 billion, with R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP) reaching 6.81 percent, ranking highest among all Guangzhou districts. In 2024, Huangpu District recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) of 433.89 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.2% in real terms according to unified GDP accounting results for Guangzhou.
Improving livelihood and infrastructure Huangpu district is one of the developing industrial districts in Guangzhou. According to a 2020 study by
Deloitte, the district is already especially competitive in the industries of automobiles, electronics, energy, high-end chemicals, food and beverage, and electrical machinery. Emerging industries in the district include
ICT, intelligent equipment, biomedicine, new energy, new materials, and services. Huangpu district is an important area for international trade and investment. In 2019, the district recorded the highest volumes in exports and imports among the districts of Guangzhou, with an export volume of US$24.766 billion and an import volume of US$19.878 billion. Foreign investment in actual use for Huangpu district was US$2.28 billion the same year, prompting it to rank first among all development districts within China. The actual utilization of foreign investment reached in2021 $2.57 billion while the district's foreign trade value exceeded 326 billion yuan. Moreover, Huangpu is home to the Guangzhou IP Court, offering reliable and effective
intellectual property (IP) right protection to every company and institution invested. It also provides newcomers and those looking for expansion with a fast approval and application process. Founding and registering a new company or branch is possible within one day. The rapid procedure is also referred to as Huangpu Speed. Annual GDP growth of 1.2%, the region's fixed asset investment exceeded 200 billion yuan, an increase of 4.1%, the total amount of investment to maintain the national economic development zones and the province's first districts. General public budget revenue of 20.81 billion yuan, an increase of 14.3%, of which 16.78 billion yuan of tax revenue at the district level. Market players have flourished, with 49,000 newly registered market players, an increase of 91.5%, and 247,000 market players, an increase of 14.2%. The company has held 3 focused activities to start construction and put into trial production, with 183 projects started construction and 120 projects put into trial production. It has completed 8,630 acres of industrial land storage and introduced 402 new high-quality projects.
Industry Sectors The division between primary, secondary and tertiary sectors has shifted since 2015. Back then, the tertiary sector accounted for 29.1% of Huangpu District's GDP, while the secondary sector accounted for 70.6% and the primary sector for only 0.3%. In 2019, the tertiary sector accounted for 35.7% of Huangpu District's GDP, with the secondary sector accounting for 64.1% and the primary sector having fallen to 0.2%. Thus, although the share of the tertiary sector has been growing, the dominating industry in Huangpu is still the secondary industry.
Automotive Industry Huangpu district's automotive industry achieved a total industrial output value of RMB 167.88 billion in 2019. Companies present in Huangpu include
Magna,
Webasto,
JATCO,
Honda,
Xpeng Motors,
Stanley Electric, and Baoneng Motor.
Electrical Machinery Industry Huangpu district's electrical machinery industry achieved a total industrial output value of RMB 22.56 billion in 2019. The industry is, for instance, processing equipment, measurement and control devices. Notable companies include
Panasonic,
Hitachi,
Siemens,
Schneider, Guangzhou Nanyang Cable, and Guangzhou Zhiguang Electric. Second,
Blockchain. According to a 2020 report by Deloitte, the district has applied blockchain technology to a variety of services, including finance, manufacturing, QC and government services.
Low-Altitude Economy and Aviation Innovations The district is pioneering in the low-altitude economy, which includes the development of aerial innovations. Notably, EHang Holdings, based in Huangpu, received the first certification for crewed eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, positioning the district at the forefront of the urban aerial transportation sector. Huangpu is actively integrating low-altitude economic activities with urban management and tourism, and the district boasts 45 enterprises involved in the low-altitude industrial chain. EHang, headquartered in Huangpu, has led global developments in eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. The district now hosts over 45 companies across the low-altitude aviation supply chain, offering applications in logistics, inspection, cultural tourism, and intra-city mobility. Huangpu’s ecosystem includes testing bases, operational platforms, and UAV manufacturing clusters. Huangpu District is actively developing its low-altitude economy, primarily focusing on general aviation and related industries, including the research, manufacturing, operation, and services of low-altitude aircraft such as drones and helicopters. The growth of the low-altitude economy in Huangpu District plays a significant role in diversifying and modernizing the regional economy :
Industry Foundation and Advantages Huangpu District, as an economic and technological development zone in Guangzhou, boasts a strong industrial foundation and policy support. The district has attracted a number of companies specializing in aircraft manufacturing, drone research and development, and aviation services, forming a relatively complete industrial chain. Its advantageous geographical location, combined with robust logistics, technology, and manufacturing capabilities, provides substantial support for the development of the low-altitude economy.
Policy Support The Guangzhou municipal government and the Huangpu District government have introduced several policies to support the development of the low-altitude economy, such as the "Guangzhou Low-Altitude Economic Development Plan (2020-2035)" and "Several Measures to Promote Low-Altitude Economic Development in Huangpu District and Guangzhou Development Zone." These policies aim to promote the construction of low-altitude economic infrastructure, enhance technological innovation, optimize industrial layout, and encourage investment and innovation in the low-altitude economy sector.
Technology and Innovation Huangpu District is actively promoting technological innovation in the low-altitude economy, focusing on the development of core technologies for drones, general aviation aircraft, and smart flying vehicles. For instance, drones are increasingly used in logistics, inspection, agriculture, and emergency rescue. Multiple high-tech companies and research institutions in the district are dedicated to advancing technological breakthroughs and industrializing the low-altitude economy.
Key Projects and Companies The district hosts several key projects related to the low-altitude economy, such as drone R&D and manufacturing bases and general aviation industry parks. Additionally, a number of leading companies and startups, like DJI and EHang, are actively engaged in the low-altitude economy in Huangpu, making the district an important hub for innovation in this sector.
Expansion of Application Scenarios The application scenarios for the low-altitude economy in Huangpu District are expanding, covering areas such as logistics distribution, urban management, environmental monitoring, emergency rescue, and tourism. Particularly, the application of drone technology in urban logistics and emergency rescue offers new solutions for smart city management.
Future Development Prospects With the national policy's further opening up of low-altitude sectors and the maturity of technologies like drones, the low-altitude economy in Huangpu District is expected to play an increasingly significant role in the economic structure. In the future, the district may see further breakthroughs in smart manufacturing of low-altitude aircraft, the construction of low-altitude transportation systems, and the development of related service industries. Overall, the low-altitude economy in Guangzhou's Huangpu District is in a stage of rapid growth and shows great potential for development, driven by policy support and technological innovation.
Industry Clusters Huangpu district is home to four industry clusters. First, the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC) focused on knowledge-intensive economy and future industries. Second, Huangpu Lingang Economic Zone focused on service industries. Third, Guangzhou Science City focused on innovation and research and development. Fourth, Guangzhou International Biotech Island focusing on biomedicine. All of them are supported through national subsidies and preferential policies. CSGKC is located around 35 km northeast of
Guangzhou city centre and around 25 km from
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The area was started in 2010 as a greenfield master development by Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Investment and Development Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Singapore-based
CapitaLand and the district government of Huangpu. In 2018, the initiative was elevated to a bilateral state-level cooperation project between
Singapore and the
People's Republic of China. Since its inception, a total of 1,803 enterprises have registered in the area by 2020, with registered capital reaching US$21.35 billion and fixed asset investment reaching around US$20.35 billion. CSGKC is home to several companies and projects. Notable among those is for instance Guangzhou CanSemi Technology, which runs the only 12-inch
wafer production line in Guangdong province in the CSGKC. GSGKC is also home to several academic institutions. First, the Sino-Singapore International Joint Research Institute jointly set up by the CSGKC Administrative Committee,
South China University of Technology,
Nanyang Technological University, and Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Investment and Development Co., Ltd. The institute is staffed with Singaporian and Chinese professionals and focuses on the key industries of CSGKC detailed above. It engages in the research and development of new products and processes. In doing so, it cooperates with local companies and investors and incubates enterprises. Second, Huangpu Institute of the university of the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS), which was set up in 2020. A Concept Master Plan has been developed for CSGKC, which aims to integrate comprising hi-tech business parks, residential, commercial, recreational and public amenities in one area – including neighbourhood centres. green connectors and water parks. This Master Plan embodies a network through the entire City, with large green belts dividing it into the Northern, Central and Southern Towns. This Concept Master Plan has been approved and given considered weight by the Municipal Government
. It covers an area of 27 square kilometres of landmass and 15 square kilometres of water, and it focuses on modern service industries. Situated right at the
Yangtze River, the cluster is home to coastline ports, Its foci include port and shipping services, industrial finance, SciTech innovation, human resources, high-end and e-commerce,
cultural tourism and cruise industry. It is envisioned to become an integrated service centre for international shipping and it is expected to become a key linking point for the Maritime Silk Road part of the
Belt and Road Initiative. as well as companies such as
Samsung,
LG,
Sony,
Hitachi, Cedar Center,
Skyworth,
Baoneng, Bio-Thera, Wondfo, and Xiangxue Pharmaceutical. According to a report by
Deloitte, GSC will be involved in the construction of CASICloud, Ali feilonglink and the Smart-IC of
China State Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd. It forms the centre of the biotechnological industry base of Guangzhou. By 2020, around 130 pharmaceutical companies had settled on the island, among those KingMed Diagnostics or Riton-Biomaterial. In 2021, Geneseeq Technology Inc. and
AstraZeneca announced their plans to establish a Bio-Diagnostic Innovation Center on the island. The island brings together domestic and international high-end biomedicine companies and research and development centres. Among those are biotechnological research and development institutions, as well as biological service providers. A study commissioned by the
German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action predicts that the island will develop into a multifunctional biotechnology centre of the
GBA, as it is located within the city centre of Guangzhou and well-integrated into its trade- and business systems. Bio Island is home to 500+ life science companies, which include enterprises operating in the fields of biomedicine, medical devices, genetics & protein engineering, and medical testing & diagnostics. In addition, the Bio Island offers Abundant medical resources with the highest coverage rate of tertiary hospitals in China. Bio Island is home to one of the three China major medical centers and offers 6 hospital beds per 1,000 people by 2020 (worldwide average 2.38)
Foreign economic activities In 2021, the total import and export volume of Huangpu District reached US$48.12 billion, an increase of 17.3% year-on-year, accounting for 30.2% of the city's total import and export volume. The share of imports and exports in emerging markets continued to grow, with increased imports and exports activities mainly to ASEAN, the EU, South Korea and Mexico. Regarding foreign investment activities, Huangpu District received US$5.625 billion in 2021, an increase of 26.6% year-on-year. There were 317 projects with contracted total foreign investment of US$3.801 billion in the tertiary sector, accounting for 67.6% of the total amount in the district, mainly concentrated in scientific R&D and experimental projects, leasing and business services, accounting for 47.5% and 24.2% of the total tertiary sector respectively.
Financial Institutions The district is home to several different financial institutions. Among these are traditional banks (such as Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank) and venture capitalists (such as Baidu Ventures or Korea Investment Partners). Nevertheless, banks amount to the most significant number (27 in December 2020), followed by insurers (25), financial lease (22), and others (19). Among these institutions, the Guangdong Equity Exchange is particularly noteworthy. Being the only securities exchange in Guangdong Province, companies from all across the province are listed and displayed there. At the end of November 2020, their number totalled 19,726, with total financing and trading transactions of RMB 120.707 billion. ==Transportation==