Chongqing – Wanzhou District, nestled in northeastern Chongqing at the heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, has unveiled an ambitious development blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), positioning itself as a key urban sub-center of the megacity.

The 2025 Concert of World Great Rivers in Wanzhou. (Photo/Deng Nan)

At a press conference on June 16, Li Qing, Mayor of Wanzhou District, announced that the district's GDP is targeted to exceed 180 billion yuan ($25 billion) by 2030, with an aspirational goal of reaching 200 billion yuan ($27.6 billion). The built-up area is expected to expand to 140 square kilometers, with the population growing to 1.65 million. 

Solid Foundation for Growth

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), Wanzhou's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 6.6%, surpassing 130 billion yuan ($17.9 billion) and making it the first district outside Chongqing’s main metropolitan area to cross the 100-billion-yuan threshold. The urban built-up area now exceeds 100 square kilometers with a population of over 1 million. 

Four Strategic Pillars

Wanzhou’s development strategy centers on strengthening what officials call the "Three Centers and One Hub": the economic center of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, the regional center of northeast Chongqing, the coordinated development hub for northeast Sichuan and northeast Chongqing, and a national-level transportation and logistics hub. 

Industrial Upgrading: The district will expand three leading industries - advanced materials, intelligent manufacturing and equipment, and pharmaceuticals and chemicals - alongside specialty sectors in food processing and new energy. Three emerging industries (frontier new materials, next-generation information technology, and biomanufacturing) and three future-oriented sectors (low-altitude economy, immersive technologies, and artificial intelligence) are also on the agenda. 

The Wanzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, the only national-level development zone in northeast Chongqing, aims to double its industrial output value. The zone's large-scale industrial output has already surpassed 70 billion yuan ($9.6 billion). 

Transportation and Logistics: Leveraging its dual ports for water and air transport, Wanzhou aims to transform from a "corridor hub" into an "economic hub."  Travel times are projected to reach half an hour within the Wanda-Kaizhou area, one hour to central Chongqing, two hours to Chengdu, Xi’an, and Wuhan, and five hours to Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. 

The logistics cost-to-GDP ratio is targeted to drop from 13.5% to 12.7% - meaning logistics costs per 100 yuan of GDP would fall from 13.5 yuan to 12.7 yuan ($1.86 to $1.75).  By 2030, port cargo throughput is expected to exceed 60 million tons, with air cargo surpassing 1,000 tons. 

Trade and Openness: Total foreign trade import and export volume is targeted to exceed 24 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) by 2030, with actual utilized foreign capital growing at an average annual rate of over 10%. 

Culture, Tourism and Livability

Wanzhou recorded 3.27 million overnight visitors in 2025, ranking first among districts outside central Chongqing.  The district plans to double that figure over the next five years by developing attractions around the Three Gorges, Pinghu Reservoir, rural tourism, and the Wanzhou Waterfall scenic area. 

On the environmental front, Wanzhou will invest 3 billion yuan ($414 million) in a water quality improvement initiative, building or renovating 200 kilometers of sewage pipelines.  The district aims to maintain more than 340 days of good air quality annually and increase green space by 4 million square meters. 

Rural Revitalization

Wanzhou will develop four 10-billion-yuan ($1.38 billion) agricultural industrial clusters - fruit, pork, vegetables, and grain and oil - alongside five smaller billion-yuan-level industries including traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and tea. Rural tourism revenue is projected to exceed 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion). 

For 2026, the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Wanzhou targets GDP growth of approximately 7%, with large-scale industrial output rising 9% and fixed-asset investment increasing by more than 9%.  The district aims to secure 50 billion yuan ($6.9 billion) in investment contracts and 15 billion yuan ($2.07 billion) in actual funds. 

"Wanzhou's past belongs to those who witnessed it; its future awaits those who join us," Mayor Li said. "We welcome visitors and investors from around the world to experience the charm of our city."