The development of Shenzhen Longgang Industrial Park is a transformative journey from low-end processing trade to nurturing world-class industrial leaders and creating a diversified high-end industrial cluster. Industrial parks at different stages have served as core platforms, witnessing and driving Longgang's evolution from farmland to the top of China's industrial powerhouse rankings.
1. **Initial Stage (1993–2000): Establishing an Industrial Framework and Attracting Key Enterprises** In 1993, when Longgang was established, its economy relied on export-oriented processing trade. To overcome backwardness, Longgang planned and built early industrial parks such as Baolong, Bantian, and Longcheng, aiming to create a large-scale industrial base. Leveraging Shenzhen’s policy shift away from approving new processing trade enterprises, Longgang aggressively attracted global investment, bringing in 924 foreign-funded enterprises by 1994. By 1997, the district hosted over 3,700 processing trade firms, forming an industrial system centered on electronics, telecommunications, and sporting goods. A pivotal moment came in 1998 when Huawei established its headquarters in Bantian and BYD settled in Longgang, injecting vitality into private-sector growth and laying the groundwork for future high-end industrial transformation.
2. **Upgrading Stage (2001–2017): Focusing on High-Tech Industries and Park Modernization** In the 21st century, Longgang shifted its focus to private and high-tech industries, transitioning from labor-intensive to technology-intensive models. In 2003, Longgang allocated an annual special fund of 50 million yuan to support private enterprises, which numbered 5,263 that year. Electronics and information technology became pillar industries, with Bantian (Huawei) and Baolong (BYD) forming dual industrial hubs. The 2007 Universiade accelerated urban infrastructure development, enabling Longgang to phase out low-end enterprises. By 2013, Bantian Tech City was designated a key development zone, and Baolong Industrial Park upgraded to a high-tech park, fostering modernization and clustering. Early transformations, such as Tianan Cloud Valley and Universiade Software Town, set the stage for high-end industries. The inclusion of digital creative industries in China’s strategic emerging sectors in 2016 further positioned Longgang for a "culture + technology" integration.
3. **Cluster Development Stage (2018–2021): Creating Specialized Corridors and Tackling Industrial Challenges** Longgang topped China’s industrial district rankings in 2018 and maintained this position for seven consecutive years. During this phase, industrial parks evolved into collaborative clusters. In 2017, Longgang proposed a Digital Creative Industry Corridor, linking 35 cultural parks into a multi-format industrial belt. To address technological bottlenecks, Longgang established Luoshan Tech Park and partnered with Huawei to launch the largest industrial internet innovation center in China. By 2021, the province’s first industrial software and cloud R&D base was completed, solidifying Longgang’s role in core technological breakthroughs. Traditional industries like eyewear also began tailored upgrades.
4. **High-Quality Stage (2022–Present): Diversified Industrial Structure and New Industry Empowerment** Longgang’s industrial parks now feature a "3 + 4" diversified structure, with enhanced functions supporting emerging industries. Eyewear industrial parks, backed by 25 million yuan in annual funding, transitioned to creative culture and fashion design—a model extended to jewelry and apparel sectors. In AI, Bantian and Universiade areas were named among Shenzhen’s "Top 10 AI Clusters," hosting over 200 AI firms by 2024. Low-altitude economy also gained traction, with Pingdi Street emerging as a key hub. Park operations innovated through public-private partnerships, targeted subsidies, and mixed-use "production-living" complexes.
**Key Highlights of Longgang’s Industrial Parks:** - **Distinctive Clusters & Strong Core Sectors:** AI and robotics form a pillar industry, with 350+ firms spanning chips to applications. Huawei’s Ascend chips and YITU Technology’s AI models anchor the ecosystem, supported by a dedicated government agency and billion-yuan funding. Semiconductor parks in Pinghu Street target global innovation, housing 215 firms and a national third-generation semiconductor R&D center. - **Expanding Space & High-Quality Facilities:** AI Town Phase II added 248,000 sqm of space in 2024, while semiconductor parks will deliver 1.23 million sqm. Efficient land use models like "vertical industrial parks" cater to precision manufacturing. - **Robust Investment & Enterprise Agglomeration:** In 2024, Longgang attracted 130 new firms, including 115 large-scale, 87 specialized "Little Giant," and 140 high-tech enterprises. Landmark projects like the SME Global Hub in Fenglong Tech Park boosted cross-border investments. - **Enhanced Services & Industry-Academia Collaboration:** Policies like the AI Three-Year Action Plan (10 billion yuan fund) and corporate satisfaction initiatives (89.35% approval in 2024) optimize the business environment. Partnerships with Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology and CUHK-Shenzhen accelerate R&D commercialization.
Longgang’s industrial parks exemplify high-cluster capacity, scalable space, dynamic investment, and deep industry-academia integration, reinforcing its status as China’s leading industrial district.
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