In 2024, Longhua's economy achieved robust growth, driven by thriving emerging industries and the development of strategic clusters and key sectors.

A digital economy landmark has emerged in northern Longhua, highlighted by key projects such as Jiulong Hill Industrial Park, Mindray’s Global Supply Chain Headquarters, and Winner Medical’s Industrial Building. These developments have fostered industrial clusters in networks and communications, industrial master machines, and high-end medical equipment manufacturing, further strengthening Longhua's position in the digital economy and unlocking new opportunities for a digitally empowered future.

The Liguang Industrial Park in Jiulong Hill Digital City, Longhua District. File photo

Other key areas and strategic clusters include the Shenzhen North Station International Business District, the Meilin Checkpoint Industrial Hub, and South China Logistics Park in southern Longhua; a demonstration zone for the integrated development of biotechnology and information technology, along with an international digital culture demonstration town in Guanlan, eastern Longhua; and the Dalang Fashion Town in western Longhua.

In 2020, Longhua became the first district in Shenzhen to propose the goal of establishing a digital economy pilot demonstration zone. Since then, it has developed the city’s most comprehensive, wide-reaching and supportive digital economy policy framework.

Over the past four years, Longhua’s digital economy has experienced rapid growth, marked by the formation of a robust digital economy industrial chain and the emergence of new applications, scenarios and experiences across various industries. From January to August, the district recorded 1,265 enterprises in digital economy industries, generating a total output of 334.53 billion yuan (US$46.83 billion) and reflecting an 8.4% year-on-year increase.

Digitalization drives high-quality development

Foxconn Industrial Internet’s (Fii) factory in Guanlan, Longhua District, was selected by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and McKinsey & Company as the first "Sustainability Lighthouse Factory" in Guangdong Province in October. 

This recognition brings the total number of Lighthouse Factories operated by Fii to nine. Moreover, Fii has extended its outreach both domestically and internationally by empowering five external Lighthouse Factories and providing digitalization and sustainable development solutions to over 1,500 enterprises worldwide.

A smart manufacturing display area at Fii's Guanlan facility. File photo

In 2023, leading enterprises in Longhua District, such as Shenzhen Sunlord Electronics Co. Ltd., Boyd (Shenzhen) Thermal Systems Ltd., Yuzhan Technology, and Century Technology (Shenzhen) Corporation Limited, achieved a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) automation rate of over 60% in key processes. More than 50% of their research and development processes were carried out using digital design tools, while over 70% of their production equipment was connected to digital networks or systems for monitoring, control and data exchange.

The software industry in Longhua District, a key driver of digital industrialization, achieved an annual output of over 50 billion yuan in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate exceeding 20% over the past three years. In July, Longhua’s big data analysis and application software industrial cluster was recognized as one of the most distinctive industrial clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Guangdong Province. Furthermore, in August, Longhua saw the official establishment of the Shenzhen North Station Software Industrial Base and Harmony Industrial Park.

Riding on the waves of emerging industries

Longhua's high-quality development benefits from the thriving low-altitude economy. The district is home to over 366 enterprises in this sector, accounting for 14.25% of Shenzhen's total and ranking fourth citywide. The Longhua Low-Altitude Economy Industrial Park, inaugurated on Dec. 28, 2023, quickly drew several industry leaders, including EHang and Chengdu CAIC Electronics Co., Ltd., within just a month of its opening.

A Meituan delivery drone is seen landing at a pick-up point in Shenzhen. File photo

The district envisions a future focused on integrating traditional manufacturing with advanced manufacturing industries, with specific focus on new energy storage and biomedicines. These sectors are poised to collaborate in driving the transformation and upgrading of Longhua's regional economy.

One of the key initiatives is the establishment of Longhua Energy Technology City in the northern part of the district, as announced during the 2nd Global Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Forum held in Longhua on Sept. 12. Set to become an international industrial innovation hub for energy technology enterprises with an output value of over 200 billion yuan by 2030, the area has already attracted over 400 companies in the sector.

The plan for Longhua Energy Technology City is released at the 2nd Global Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Forum held in Longhua on Sept. 12. Dute News

Since the establishment of the National Innovation Center for High-Performance Medical Devices (NMED) in Longhua in 2020, the district has been steadily developing an innovation ecosystem for the high-end medical device manufacturing industry.

Another key initiative by Longhua District, the Shenzhen International Medical Device City, aims to drive the growth of advanced manufacturing and contribute to regional high-quality development. Located in Guanhu Subdistrict, it has already attracted 86 leading medical equipment manufacturers, including Mindray and Pumen Technology.