Overview

An aerial view of the Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao WCNA) in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/VCG]

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao WCNA) reached historic milestones, becoming Shandong's first district to exceed a GDP of 500 billion yuan ($72.6 billion). This economic center is supported by a robust innovation ecosystem, featuring 12 national key laboratories and a talent pool of 960,000 individuals.

In 2025, the area pivoted toward high-quality development through strategic project construction and consumption stimulation.

To maintain steady growth, Qingdao WCNA launched specialized events like Mini Beer Festival and upgraded major commercial hubs, attracting over 43 million tourists and driving social retail sales beyond 170 billion yuan.

Industrial momentum remained strong with the introduction of 129 major projects and the completion of 117 projects, along with over 100 market-expansion activities for foreign trade enterprises.

As a maritime hub, the area accelerated 63 key marine projects and established three provincial-level industrial clusters. Notably, the launch of international ship refueling services bolstered the maritime service sector, helping Qingdao Port maintain its global ranking in cargo and container throughput.

Innovation continues to lead the area's transformation, with nine inventions receiving Chinese Patent Awards and the establishment of a low-altitude marine tourism demonstration base.

Beyond economic gains, Qingdao WCNA prioritized public welfare by installing 8,000 charging piles, launching 63 local employment projects, upgrading facilities across nine schools and operating six new kindergartens.

These integrated efforts ensure that technical and industrial progress translates directly into enhanced livelihoods for its residents.