Marking a decade of profound change, Anhui Province has accelerated its development trajectory. Situated as a pivotal link connecting China's eastern and western, southern and northern regions, Anhui is rapidly advancing.
Over the past ten years, Anhui has achieved multiple historic transitions: shifting from "moderate total economic output with low per capita figures" to "leading total output with moderate per capita metrics," evolving from an "observer" in the Yangtze River Delta region to a "full participant," transforming from a major province for education and science into a source of technological innovation, moving from a traditional agricultural base to a major industrial hub, and transitioning from an energy and raw materials center to a cluster for emerging industries. In the first quarter of 2026, the value-added of industrial enterprises above the designated size in the province grew by 11%, surpassing the national average by 4.9 percentage points.
Amid a complex and volatile global economic landscape, how has Anhui maintained continuous renewal and progress? The transformation in economic scale is evident, moving from pure accumulation to simultaneous improvements in both volume and quality.
Through a decade of striving for advancement, Anhui has leveraged innovation as its primary driver, achieving comprehensive upgrades in economic aggregate, innovation capability, and industrial sophistication. In Hefei during spring, the construction site of Giti Tire's global smart factory in Xiatang Town, Changfeng County, involving a total investment of nearly 10 billion yuan, is a hive of activity. With cranes in operation and engineering vehicles moving busily, completed production lines are undergoing final调试. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of 22.6 million high-end tires. "This year, Anhui's first batch of key projects numbers 1,855, an increase of 271 year-on-year. Currently, 357 have commenced construction, with 212 projects starting ahead of schedule in the first quarter," said Zhong Lan, Deputy Director of the Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission.
The accelerated gathering of landmark major projects, characterized by increased quantity, expanded scale, and superior quality, serves as a vivid testament to Anhui's high-quality development. Looking back over the decade, Anhui's economic aggregate has leaped from 2.4 trillion yuan in 2015 to 5.3 trillion yuan in 2025, crossing three trillion-yuan thresholds, with its national ranking steadily rising. The per capita GDP surpassed the symbolic milestone of $12,000, considered a benchmark for transcending the middle-income stage.
Concurrently with this historic economic leap, Anhui's innovation capacity is rapidly advancing towards international frontiers. On Hefei's Science Island, surrounded by water, the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), known as the "artificial sun," is undergoing a new round of upgrades. "A decade ago, this facility set a record of maintaining 50 million degrees Celsius for 100 seconds. Today, it has achieved high-quality operation at 100 million degrees for 1,000 seconds, leading globally in multiple technologies," said Song Yuntao, Deputy Director of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Director of the Institute of Plasma Physics.
As the region with the densest concentration of global fusion devices, north of Science Island in the Future Grand Science City, 19 subsystems of the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology are nearing completion and acceptance, focusing on R&D for key components of the next-generation "artificial sun." Nearby, construction of the BEST Inc. compact fusion energy experimental装置 is progressing steadily, aimed at demonstrating fusion energy power generation upon completion.
The evolution in innovation caliber is reflected in the emergence of major achievements: the "Jiuzhang" and "Zuchongzhi" series of quantum computing prototypes, steady-state high magnetic fields, and strontium atomic optical lattice clocks have successively broken world records. It is also seen in the rapid rise of high-level platforms: the nation's first National Laboratory was established here, and it was approved as the second Comprehensive National Science Center. Furthermore, the innovation ecosystem has significantly improved, with the number of sci-tech SMEs surging 114-fold over eight years. From April 26 to 28, 2026, the fourth China Science and Technology Exchange Conference, a key window for showcasing China's sci-tech前沿 achievements and an important platform for对接 transactions, will be held here, with over 30% of exhibits being debuted or首次展出.
As technological innovation deeply integrates with industrial innovation, Anhui's emerging industries are experiencing robust cluster development. The output value of strategic emerging industries as a proportion of the total output value of industries above the designated size increased from 22.4% in 2015 to 45.4% in 2025. Currently, approximately 10% of global display panels, one-sixth of China's photovoltaic modules, and one-ninth of the nation's new energy vehicles are "Made in Anhui."
At Chery's Intelligent Manufacturing Plant No. 1 in Wuhu Economic and Technological Development Zone, smart production lines operate efficiently, rolling out a complete vehicle every minute on average. In March just past, a Chery SUV model became the best-selling vehicle in the UK for that month, marking the first time a Chinese automotive brand secured a monthly sales冠军 in the UK.
A decade of focused effort has enabled Anhui to cluster seven整车 enterprises, some rising to 233rd place in the Fortune Global 500, others creating benchmarks for million-unit domestic vehicle production. In 2025, Anhui ranked first nationally in three indicators: total vehicle output, new energy vehicle output, and vehicle (including chassis) exports, with total industry chain revenue exceeding 1.8 trillion yuan. "Anhui's automotive manufacturing sector has maintained double-digit growth for 45 consecutive months," said Wang Wei, Second-Level Inspector of the Anhui Provincial Bureau of Statistics.
Transitioning from "volume expansion" to "structural optimization," Anhui has historically entered the ranks of China's major industrial provinces. Its industrial layout features a vertical梯次: accelerated transformation of traditional industries, vigorous development of emerging industries, and超前布局 of future industries. Horizontally, there is differentiated development among cities: "Hefei leads, with coordinated efforts from other cities." From Wuhu's automotive and aerospace industries to Bengbu's silicon-based new materials, from Huainan's new coal chemical industry to Fuyang's green food industry, each region develops according to its local conditions and strengths. The shift in geographic格局 is evident, moving from an inland hinterland to an open frontier.
Over ten years of riding the momentum, Anhui has seized opportunities presented by multiple overlapping national strategies, strengthening ties with the Yangtze River Delta, accelerating national connectivity, and quickening global integration, significantly elevating its strategic position in the national development landscape.
In the China-Singapore Suzhou-Chuzhou High-tech Industrial Park, a automotive parts enterprise from Shanghai is intensively producing goods destined for clients in Hefei, Nanjing, and elsewhere. This park, a result of cross-provincial collaboration between Jiangsu and Anhui, hosts projects from the Yangtze River Delta region accounting for over 70% of the total. "Chuzhou's locational advantage is obvious; it's 20 minutes by high-speed rail to Nanjing and 90 minutes to Shanghai," said Lin Runmin, Deputy Director of the Park's Science and Talent Bureau, on assignment from Jiangsu, noting that resource synergy between Jiangsu and Anhui creates a "1+1>2" development effect.
Integration into industrial chains is just one example. Since joining the national strategy for integrated Yangtze River Delta development, Anhui has adhered to the principles of "proactively leaning in, precisely connecting, and fully integrating." This includes improving interprovincial highways, building a "Yangtze River Delta on rails," accelerating innovation coordination through joint efforts like the Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta) International Science and Technology Innovation Center for collaborative R&D and shared成果转化, and promoting public service sharing with initiatives like "cross-provincial online services" and "interregional medical insurance settlement" being rapidly implemented.
Based in the Yangtze River Delta, Anhui serves the whole nation. By focusing on the construction of major transport corridors and hubs, Anhui has打通 its "channels," transforming from an "inland province" into a crucial node in the "dual circulation" framework. Within Anhui, the Yangtze River and the Huai River traverse the province, historically posing challenges for north-south water transport. In 2023, the Yangtze River to Huai River Water Diversion Project's Jiang-Huai Canal was fully opened, hailed as the nation's second major north-south waterway after the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, turning Anhui's water transport map from having "breakpoints" to offering "through routes."
At Shou County, Huainan, the confluence of the Huai River's main stream and the Jiang-Huai Canal, the cargo ship "Yu Xin Huo 16326" queues to pass through the lock. Ship owner Zhang Wenyang from Xinyang, Henan, who has been shipping for three years primarily coal and stone materials, said, "Previously, entering the Yangtze via the Yuxikou required a detour of about 400 km. Now, using the Jiang-Huai Canal saves nearly 200 km per trip, reducing fuel costs by thousands of yuan and saving time."
The province's national connectivity has been comprehensively enhanced. Ports like Hefei Port and Wuhu Port now achieve seamless connection with world-class coastal ports such as Shanghai's Yangshan Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, transitioning from "river阻断" to "river-sea intermodal transport." Both high-speed rail operational mileage and expressway mileage have continuously grown, achieving "high-speed rail access for all prefecture-level cities and expressway access for all counties," with all county urban areas able to reach an expressway within 15 minutes.
Looking beyond domestic borders to the international stage, Anhui's reputation is similarly growing. Taking the provincial capital Hefei as an example, it has been frequently praised in recent years by international media like France's Le Monde and the UK's Economist for its remarkable transformation. Volkswagen Group established its largest R&D center outside Germany here, and Continental AG has made multiple additional investments. Canadian teacher Alexandre Penteado, having lived in Hefei for years, has witnessed the city's rising stature firsthand. "Hefei is no longer an obscure small inland city in China, but a modern metropolis possessing cutting-edge technology and advanced manufacturing," Penteado said, noting its increasing "sci-tech vibe" and "international flair."
At Lenovo (Hefei) Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., newly assembled laptops are being boxed in batches for shipment overseas. "This facility produces over 30 million laptops annually, with 80% exported to more than 120 countries and regions worldwide," said Ying Shijie, Logistics Director of Lenovo's Intelligent Manufacturing and Logistics Center.
Despite challenging external conditions, Anhui is actively integrating into the global economic system. Over the past decade, several Fortune Global 500 companies like Volkswagen, Corning, and Standard Chartered Bank have established presence in Anhui, with the number of German-invested enterprises in the province growing to over 110. Anhui's leading companies such as Chery, Conch, Tongling Nonferrous Metals, and Efort are simultaneously accelerating their global布局. In 2025, Anhui's total import-export value surpassed one trillion yuan for the first time, becoming the first central Chinese province and the ninth nationally to achieve this foreign trade milestone, demonstrating deep integration into global industrial and value chains. The province's overall character has evolved, adding warmth and livability to its pragmatic and substantial foundation.
Through a decade of determined action, Anhui has complemented its established "agriculture" and "technology" credentials with diverse qualities of "ecological greenness, cultural enrichment, and people-centered warmth." Along the Ma'anshan section of the Yangtze River, under blue skies and beside clear waters, the "Yangtze Caishiji," Anhui's first purely electric Yangtze sightseeing cruise, has become a popular spot for residents since beginning operations six months ago. Departing from the Xuejiawa Ecological Wetland, the cruise offers expansive river views and clean, green banks. "This area was once an 'ecological scar' with disorderly docks and scattered sand and gravel, which people avoided. After the government made great efforts to shut down polluting enterprises, demolish illegal docks, and restore the shoreline ecology, it has become the city's ecological living room, attracting many visitors," said Chen Lanxiang, who transitioned from a retired fisher to a entrepreneurship leader.
Major rivers and lakes bear witness to Anhui's ecological transformation. Along the 400-plus km Yangtze River section in Anhui, 234 illegal docks have been dismantled, and the resource density of native fish species has recovered to 2.8 times the level before the fishing ban in 2020. The Shibalianwei Ecological Wetland and Flood Detention Area in Chaohu Lake was selected as a UN model for ecological restoration. The Xin'an River is advancing its "cross-provincial ecological compensation model" and vigorously constructing the Xin'an River–Qiandao Lake Ecological and Environmental Co-protection Cooperation Zone, becoming a national benchmark for beautiful rivers and lakes.
The greening and beautification extend beyond rivers and lakes. This traditional energy major province has broken away from path dependency. In 2024, installed renewable energy capacity exceeded 50%, historically surpassing coal-fired power, achieving a key transition from "coal-dominated" to "green electricity-led."
Across the 140,000 square kilometers of the Jianghuai region, the land is becoming beautiful through greenery and enriched through culture. On the night of April 17, at the Anhui Hundred Operas Theater, classic Peking Opera excerpts "Interrogation in the Court" and "Women Generals of the Yang Family - Exploring the Valley" were performed. To the sound of铿锵锣鼓, young actors born in the 2000s, adorned in splendid costumes, moved with fluid sleeves and precise movements, displaying the essence of the national art. "Extremely enjoyable, extremely satisfying," exclaimed audience member Xue Feng, giving a thumbs-up.
Anhui has a profound opera heritage. Over 230 years ago, Anhui opera troupes journeying to Beijing contributed to the birth of Peking Opera, writing a legend of fusion. Facing a period of declining influence in modern times, Anhui has vigorously promoted opera inheritance and development. In 2025, the province innovatively held the "Hundred Operas Enter Anhui - Shining Hefei"戏曲主题 event, inviting 30 opera genres from across China to perform 101 shows in Anhui. Participants included winners of the "Five-One Project" Award, "Culture and Arts Award," and "Plum Blossom Award." With惠民 ticket prices ranging from just 10 to 30 yuan, and audiences able to visit attractions like Huangshan Mountain and Jiuhua Mountain for free with their ticket stubs, a new wave of opera enthusiasm swept across the region. Data shows the event attracted nearly 90,000 attendees, with over 70% aged under 40.
With a continuous cultural lineage, cultural tourism flourishes. Rooted in the "Five Major Cultures" – Huizhou culture, Yangtze River culture, Huai River culture, Grand Canal culture, and Huangmei Opera culture – Anhui is coordinately developing the Southern Anhui International Cultural Tourism Demonstration Zone, the Hefei Metropolitan Science, Innovation, and Cultural Leisure Tourism Circle, the Dabie Mountain Red-and-Green Integrated Cultural Tourism Circle, and the Northern Anhui Cultural Tourism Integration Development Circle. It is linking up four major cultural tourism belts along the Yangtze River, Huai River, Xin'an River, and Jiang-Huai Canal, accelerating the formation of an all-for-one tourism pattern.
Amid all endeavors, people's livelihoods remain paramount. Over 70 million people in the Jianghuai region feel increased happiness and warmth supported by practical livelihood initiatives. Zhang Fang, a 53-year-old community worker from Fuyang, leads a busy life but now finds relaxation and enrichment at city concerts. Fuyang has innovatively created urban cultural IPs like the "A City of Warm Sun" concert series and "Gold Medal Singer," open free to all residents. Single events have attracted up to ten thousand offline participants and nearly a million online viewers.
Zhan Jun, a 39-year-old resident of Tongling, prefers fitness. Since an idle plot of land under a railway bridge near his home was transformed into a "pocket park," the frequency of basketball games with friends has increased. Along with over 1,000 pocket parks built in Anhui since 2016, more residents are enjoying "strolling circles" and "fitness circles" right at their doorsteps.
Addressing regional disease patterns, Anhui has specifically引入 medical resources from Beijing and Shanghai to build National Regional Medical Centers. Tackling "expensive and difficult kindergarten access," it has pushed the proportion of普惠性 kindergartens province-wide to over 90%... When it comes to benefiting the people, even the smallest details matter. Over the past decade, Anhui has focused on addressing the urgent needs and difficulties of the populace, implementing over 30 specific livelihood projects annually, and consistently allocating over 80% of newly increased provincial-level fiscal resources to民生保障.
With strong tides surging across Jianghuai and favorable winds filling the sails, Anhui, transformed over a decade from the banks of the Yangtze and Huai rivers to the shores of Chaohu Lake, from the plains of Northern Anhui to the mountains of Southern Anhui, is striving with a崭新的姿态 to write a new chapter of Chinese modernization in Anhui.
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