The coastal city of Yantai in East China's Shandong province has made huge achievements in social and economic development during the past 10 years since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, according to a local news report.

Official date indicates that the city's gross domestic product (GDP) increased from 500.9 billion yuan ($68.8 billion) in 2012 to 871.2 billion yuan in 2021, and investment related to new technologies, industries, business formats and models accounted for 67 percent of the city's total. The output value of high-tech industries in Yantai accounted for 58.3 percent of the total industrial output value above scale in 2021. 

The number of market entities in Yantai surpassed 1 million in 2021, an almost fourfold increase compared with that 2012. A total of 200,000 housing units in run-down urban areas were rebuilt, and more than 330,000 households in old residential communities were rejuvenated from 2012 to 2021, bringing tangible benefits to millions of residents.

During the past decade, the city remained committed to innovation-driven development and built 376 sci-tech innovation platforms at or above the provincial level. It had won 313 national and Shandong provincial science and technology awards from 2012 to 2021, and a total of 1,542 high-tech enterprises have settled in the city, which is 7.1 times of the figure in 2012.

The city has streamlined administration, delegated power, improved regulation and upgraded services to improve its business environment, and a slew of innovative measures have been rolled out to deepen administrative reforms.

Efforts have also been made to promote the development of digital industries and an overall digital transformation. Twenty-seven intelligent plants and 26 digital workshops have been built across the city in the past 10 years.

Yantai has given top priority to setting up a modern industrial system by accelerating the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries and fostering emerging industries.

The marine economy has seen booming development in Yantai, with its gross ocean product increasing from 82.9 billion yuan in 2012 to 217 billion yuan in 2021, with an average annual growth rate of 11 percent, ranking second in Shandong.

The bioengineering and pharmaceutical industries have also witnessed rapid growth in the past 10 years, and a complete industrial chain covering the research and development, manufacturing and distribution of biological medicine, pharmaceutical chemicals, and medical apparatuses and instruments has taken shape in the city.

The city's manufacturing industry, which is regarded as the foundation of Yantai's development, has made great strides in the past decade. "Made in Yantai" products have played important roles in the country's sci-tech fields, which include aerospace, high-speed railways, nuclear power, and deep-sea submersibles.

According to official data, from 2012 to 2021, the total industrial added value of the city increased from 231.1 billion yuan to 310 billion yuan. In 2021, the operating revenue of industrial enterprises above designated size exceeded 900 billion yuan, generating a total profit of 58.3 billion yuan, and the development index of Yantai's advanced manufacturing industry has remained at the forefront of the top 100 cities in China.

During the past 10 years, Yantai has also been committed to improving people's well-being by upgrading its infrastructure. Construction of "pocket parks" has been advanced, and the establishment of beautiful countrysides has been promoted.

A good ecological environment is fundamental to the development of Yantai. Over the past 10 years, the city has focused on building a beautiful Yantai by protecting its environment. Currently, the city is a well-known tourist destination at home and abroad for its lush vegetation, fresh air, blue skies and clear waters.

Yantai is a well-known tourist destination at home and abroad for its lush vegetation, fresh air, blue skies and clear waters. [Photo/VCG]