Chongqing - Five of Chongqing’s major business districts have been named among the nation’s top performers in the 2025 China Business District Competitiveness Top 100 Index, highlighting the city’s rising commercial vitality and steady progress toward becoming an international consumption center.
According to the index, Guanyinqiao Business District ranked among the national top 10. Jiefangbei–Chaotianmen, Yangjiaping, Daping, and Nanping business districts also secured places on the Top 100 list.
The annual index evaluates more than 3,000 business districts across 368 cities nationwide, using indicators such as population concentration, transportation accessibility, commercial scale, market vitality, and development potential. The 2025 edition further refined its evaluation framework by introducing new indicators related to project renewal and brand upgrading, providing a more comprehensive assessment of business district competitiveness.
A spectacular display is seen at the Sixth Changjiahui New Year Lantern Show at the Changjiahui Grand Scenic Area in Nan’an District, Chongqing. (Photo/Guo Xu)
From a national perspective, first-tier cities accounted for 36 percent of the Top 100, followed by new first-tier cities at 37 percent and second-tier cities at 23 percent. Chongqing’s strong showing reflects the continued rise of new first-tier cities as key regional consumption hubs.
Among Chongqing’s ranked districts, Guanyinqiao stood out for its strong market performance, ranking eighth nationwide and emerging as one of the most dynamic business districts in southwest China. Known as a hub for youth-oriented and trend-driven consumption, Guanyinqiao has advanced through business format upgrades and scenario-based innovation, attracting numerous first stores and niche brands. The district records an average daily footfall of more than 500,000 visitors, with consumers under 40 accounting for over 60 percent.
The Jiefangbei–Chaotianmen Business District has leveraged an integrated development model combining finance, culture, tourism, and commerce to maintain a leading national position. In 2024, sales generated through departure tax refunds for overseas visitors in the district surged 646 percent year on year, earning it recognition as one of China’s Top 10 inbound consumption-friendly business districts.
Other ranked districts each demonstrated distinct strengths. Yangjiaping continues to enhance its high-end commercial capacity through large-scale complexes such as MixC malls. Daping benefits from its strategic location, substantial commercial scale, and innovative business formats, forming a dual-core commercial structure with Jiefangbei. Nanping has revitalized commercial vitality through transportation upgrades and the renewal of existing commercial assets. Together, the five districts form Chongqing’s core commercial matrix.
Industry analysis from Winshang Data noted that Chongqing’s ranked business districts outperform national averages in commercial scale, brand diversity, and foot traffic. Innovation in the nighttime economy and the integration of culture and tourism were identified as key competitive advantages.
Underlying these rankings is the continued upgrading of Chongqing’s commercial infrastructure. In recent years, the development of landmark complexes and diversified commercial projects has supported both scale expansion and quality improvement, providing a solid foundation for the city’s business districts to enter—and remain in—the national Top 100.
The collective inclusion of five Chongqing business districts highlights the city’s accelerating commercial transformation and reflects broader efforts to strengthen urban consumption capacity and enhance its appeal as a major consumption destination.