Innovation and Industry Upgrading Drive Jinshan Throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan

Shanghai's Jinshan District is accelerating its push toward modern, sustainable growth, moving away from its previous reputation as a chemical and agricultural backwater, Party Chief Liu Jian stated during a city press conference on Thursday.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), the district has focused on industrial upgrading, innovation, and urban-rural integration.

Jinshan's GDP in 2024 was 120 billion yuan (US$16.6 billion), with a GDP per capita of US$21,500. Industrial output above the designated size exceeded 300 billion yuan, driven by sectors such as fiber materials, drones, and photoelectric transmission materials – now recognized as national-level SME clusters.

As many as 20 major investment projects have been launched, each with investments exceeding 1 billion yuan, including four projects that surpass 10 billion yuan.

Landmark projects, such as SINOPEC Shanghai Petrochemical's technology upgrade, the Lexus new energy vehicle project, Alibaba Cloud's East China Intelligent Computing Center, and the opening of Legoland Shanghai Resort, have been fueling growth.

Innovation has also gained pace. The number of high-tech firms rose 39.5 percent, "specialized and innovative" SMEs increased 375 percent, and PCT patent filings jumped nearly elevenfold.

The Shanghai Innovation Bay now hosts nearly 1,000 enterprises.

Jinshan has also been advancing urban–rural integration. Agricultural tech projects such as Syngenta's Global Crop Protection Innovation Hub and the International Center for Water-Saving and Drought-Resistant Rice have taken root in the district, while new national 4A-level scenic areas, including Huakai Haishang Ecological Park and Caojing Shuike Scenic Area, and 35 model villages have boosted rural revitalization.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan, Jinshan aims to cement its role as a hub for advanced manufacturing, a pioneer in rural revitalization, and a gateway for high-quality integration in the Yangtze River Delta.