Jinan aims to become 'city of esports'

Jinan unveiled a new media industrial park at the former site of Chengfeng flour mill on April 30, marking a new chapter in the development of Jinan's esports industry.

Focusing on the integration of digital technology and cultural arts, the industrial park serves as an experimental field for urban innovation, concentrating on the development of esports and new media culture industries.

"The park has already hosted five esports events. Our future plans involve exploring new business formats combining esports with elements such as culture and digital sports," said Han Shiming, the operations manager of the industrial park.

With numerous top-tier esports events held in Jinan, the local esports industry is thriving. The municipal sports bureau has been bolstering efforts to attract investment to form a diversified development model based on esports, injecting new vitality into the local economy. This initiative aims to turn Jinan into a hub of China's esports industry, paving the way for new avenues of esports development and more opportunities for growth.

Previously, Jinan introduced an action plan for promoting the development of the esports and gaming industry (2024-26) and several policy measures to promote the development of the esports and gaming industry in Jinan, aiming to accelerate the city's transformation into a "city of esports" in the Yellow River Basin.