A SkyShuttle train runs in Pingshan. Photo by Lai Li

Overview

Pingshan District was established in January 2017. Located in northeast Shenzhen, Pingshan lies in the core area of the Shenzhen Metropolitan Circle, which includes Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, Heyuan and Shanwei. As a rising star in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), Pingshan serves as an innovative hub within the region, holds strategic significance as a key location in the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Technology Innovation Corridor and plays a vital role in the global innovation network.

With a total area of 166.31 square kilometers, Pingshan has six subdistricts, 24 communities and 616,100 residents (as of 2023). It has the largest land area for development and construction in Shenzhen.

Positioning

Pingshan is positioned as the eastern center of Shenzhen, a core zone of the Shenzhen National Hi-tech Zone system and a test zone for future industries. At present, Pingshan is planning and constructing its High-tech Zone spanning an expansive area of 51.6 square kilometers in alignment with international standards. This dynamic zone aims to attract and concentrate innovative strengths, high-end industries and efficient operational mechanisms, creating an environment conducive to both entrepreneurship and quality living.

Pingshan is strategically developing infrastructure for future industries, enhancing the availability of future application scenarios, bolstering policy support for future industries, establishing a prudent and inclusive regulatory system, and is constructing a world-class innovative industrial cluster characterized by its focus on “innovative medicine, intelligent vehicles and China-made chips.” It is improving urban facilities and becoming a new urban center full of charm, vitality and innovation, leading the development of the surrounding areas.

Transport

Pingshan is developing a faster and more efficient transportation system. From the Pingshan City Terminal and City Waiting Hall, located at Innovation Plaza, passengers can take a shuttle bus to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal. From the Pingshan Station, passengers can take high-speed trains to travel to major domestic transport hubs including Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Xiamen and the Shenzhen North Railway Station.

A single helicopter trip from the Yanzi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center to the Shenzhen airport takes only 20 minutes and to central Futian 13 minutes. Shenzhen Metro lines 14 and 16 have also been put into operation. Pingshan SkyShuttle Line 1 meets residents’ needs for more convenient travel by connecting with central Pingshan, major cultural facilities and key industrial zones. The Pingshan-Yantian Passage is in use, and a road trip from Pingshan to Yantian Port takes only 20 minutes.

Economy

Pingshan’s GDP for 2024 experienced a year-on-year growth of 9%, marking the third consecutive year in which its growth has outpaced that of other districts, including Dapeng New Area, in Shenzhen. 

In 2024, the total output value of industrial enterprises above designated size — firms with at least 20 million yuan in annual operating revenue — grew by 21.7% year on year, surpassing 600 billion yuan. Over 90% of this output came from strategic emerging industries.

The added value of these large-scale industrial enterprises in Pingshan increased by 15.6% in 2024, continuing its trend of outperforming other districts in Shenzhen for the third consecutive year. 

Pingshan also maintained its momentum in investment, with fixed asset investment rising by 10.2% in 2024, marking the third consecutive year its growth has led other districts. Industrial investments in Pingshan totaled 56.18 billion yuan in 2024, nearly doubling compared to the previous year. 

As an industry-centric district, Pingshan has focused on developing its “6+3” industrial clusters: six industrial sectors with international competitiveness (intelligent connected vehicles, semiconductors and integrated circuits, high-end medical devices, biomedicine, new energy, and intelligent terminals), and three industrial clusters with potential (cell and gene, low-altitude economy and aerospace, and culture, sports and tourism).

During its 2025 high-quality economic development conference held Feb. 7, 2025, Pingshan District announced eight industrial policies and measures, alongside 30 key projects covering industries, livelihood, and urban construction. The conference also outlined 100 scenarios across 10 areas to explore opportunities in fields such as artificial intelligence, vehicle-road-cloud integration, low-altitude infrastructure, and photovoltaic energy storage and charging. 

These policies encompass industry-university-research integration, financial assistance for SMEs, management and supply of industrial land, carbon peaking and neutrality initiatives for the new energy sector, innovative pharmaceuticals, a three-year plan for the low-altitude economy, support for the Bay Area Intelligent Connected Test Field, and the promotion of culture, sports, tourism, and consumer spending.

Innovation

By the end of May 2024, there have been 1,030 high-level talents and 1,983 Ph.D. holders in Pingshan, among whom 608 hold Ph.D. titles from overseas universities. The district has 925 national high-tech companies, and there have been 177 national-level, provincial-level and municipal-level innovation institutions in the district, which include the Institute of Superlubricity Technology of Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, Beijing Institute of Technology’s Shenzhen Automotive Research Institute, the Shenzhen Innovation Center for 3D Printing Manufacturing and Yunlu Shenzhen Research Institute. 

Platforms to access government services in Pingshan:

• iPingshan, under Shenzhen’s official government service app, “iShenzhen”
  

• The “Innovative Pingshan” official WeChat account (ID: szcxps)

• The “Pingshan — Quick Response to Public Opinion” service

• The “Benefiting Enterprises in Pingshan” WeChat miniprogram

• Industrial space rental and sale: http://cykjzs.szpsq.org.cn/ 

• Subsidy services, preferential policies: https://zqztc.szpsq.org.cn/