Taicang, a county-level city in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Taicang, a thriving county-level city in Jiangsu province, has achieved impressive results during China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–25), marked by strong economic growth, industrial transformation, and record-breaking innovation.

Economic Resilience and Industrial Upgrades

The city's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.8 percent, with per capita GDP exceeding 230,000 yuan (about $33,000).

Industrial investments have surged by 11.6 percent annually over the past five years. Industrial output of companies above designated size — those with annual revenue of at least 20 million yuan — surpassed 300 billion yuan for the first time.

Taicang cemented its reputation as a national hub for aviation and biopharmaceuticals, while maintaining a position among China's top 10 county-level administrative divisions in terms of comprehensive strength.

Taicang is dubbed the "Hometown of German Enterprises" in China. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

Foreign Investment Surge and Global Connectivity

Taicang attracted 729 projects from Shanghai, leveraging its proximity to the megacity to deepen regional integration.

The city also strengthened ties with Germany, introducing 212 German-funded projects in the 2021-25 period. The amount of used foreign investment exceeded $2.6 billion.

Taicang Port, among the top 20 largest container hubs in the world, saw a 10.9 percent annual increase in throughput, enhancing its role as a logistics gateway.

Taicang Port is a premier auto export gateway in China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Flourishing Innovation Ecosystem

Taicang has ranked second nationally in sci-tech innovation for five consecutive years, with the number of high-tech enterprises in the city doubling over that period. High-tech industry output accounted for 56.7 percent of the industrial output of companies above designated size.

R&D expenditure rose to 3.97 percent of GDP, and over 6,500 invention patents were granted. The talent pool expanded to 260,000 professionals, including 34,000 high-level experts.

Looking Ahead: Vision for 2026

Taicang aims to sustain at least 5 percent GDP growth in 2026, focusing on advanced manufacturing, green tech, and digital economy. Plans include deepening Shanghai-Suzhou integration, expanding high-level openness, and fostering innovation clusters.

With its strategic location, robust industrial base, and innovation-driven approach, Taicang is poised to remain a model for sustainable growth in China.