75 years on: Xi'an transforms into industrial powerhouse

In the 75 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xi'an's industrial system has evolved from nothing to being an international powerhouse thanks to its robust industrialization efforts.

By the end of 2023, there were 419 high-tech manufacturing enterprises above a designated size in the city, a 90 percent increase compared to 2014. In 2023, the total output value of high-tech manufacturing industries accounted for 30.5 percent of the total industrial output value above a designated size.

Over the past 75 years, especially after reform and opening-up efforts began, Xi'an's industrial economy has maintained rapid development, continuously achieving breakthroughs in industrial scale.

In 1949, Xi'an's industrial added value was only 34 million yuan ($4.84 million), and by 1978, it had grown to 1.39 billion yuan, an average annual growth rate of 14.7 percent.

After 46 years of reform and opening-up, the city's weak industrial foundation has been effectively improved, leading to rapid industrial development. In 1994, the city's industrial added value exceeded 10 billion yuan, surpassing 100 billion yuan in 2011, 200 billion yuan in 2021, and reaching 253.34 billion yuan in 2023. The average annual growth rate post-reform and opening-up was 10.6 percent, 4.2 percentage points higher than the GDP growth rate.

The city's pillar industries have transitioned from traditional industries with low value-added to high-tech industries with more expansive industrial chains. Particularly in the last decade, clusters in the electronic information industry such as electronic-grade silicon materials, integrated circuit design, and semiconductor packaging have accelerated their development.

In 2023, the city's output value of strategic emerging industries above a designated size accounted for 59.7 percent of the total industrial output value, with an average annual growth rate of 13.5 percent from 2013 to 2023.