According to a report in China Daily on February 10, 2026
Shenzhen, in Guangdong province, posted a 5.5% GDP growth in 2025, the highest among China’s first-tier cities, according to the city’s annual government work report. The city’s GDP rose from 2.83 trillion yuan ($408.8 billion) in 2020 to 3.87 trillion yuan in 2025, reflecting strong economic resilience fueled by technology and innovation.
Mayor Qin Weizhong highlighted that the added value of Shenzhen’s strategic emerging industries reached 1.67 trillion yuan, accounting for 43% of GDP. Key sectors such as networks and communications, software and information services, and intelligent connected vehicles each surpassed 800 billion yuan. Production of integrated circuits, industrial robots, and smartphones represented over 10% of China’s national output.
Home to major tech players including Huawei, Tencent, and DJI, Shenzhen is recognized as China’s “Silicon Valley,” hosting more than 2,600 AI enterprises and over 1,000 core robotics companies. The city aims to become a global AI pioneer, targeting over 10% growth in AI industry value in 2026 and strengthening a self-reliant AI software and hardware ecosystem.
Shenzhen’s R&D investment jumped from 151.08 billion yuan in 2020 to 245.31 billion yuan in 2024, with enterprise R&D accounting for more than 93% of total investment. The city’s R&D intensity reached 6.67%, the highest nationwide, and is projected to exceed 7% by 2030.
Experts note that Shenzhen’s success lies in policy support, talent attraction, and a stable business environment, which foster a thriving innovation ecosystem. Companies such as XtalPi and Shenzhen Yifei Hongtian Drone Tech credit government guidance and consistent support for enabling innovation, growth, and industrial competitiveness.
Looking ahead, Shenzhen aims to surpass 5 trillion yuan GDP during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), reinforcing its position as a leading hub for high-tech industries and innovation-driven economic growth.