A SkyShuttle train runs in Pingshan District. Photo by Yang Shaokun

Introduction

Located in northeast Shenzhen, Pingshan District 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 point in the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Technology Innovation Corridor and plays a vital role in the global innovation network.

I. 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.

Currently, 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 is fast becoming a new urban center full of charm, power, vitality and innovation, leading the development of the surrounding areas.

BYD rolled out its 5 millionth new energy vehicle in Pingshan in August 2023. Photo by Ren Xianping

II. Industries 

According to the positioning of Shenzhen’s 20 strategic emerging industry clusters and eight future industries (“20+8”), Pingshan will strengthen and optimize its nine strategic emerging industries (semiconductors and integrated circuits, lasers and additive manufacturing, high-end medical devices, intelligent terminals, intelligent connected vehicles, biopharmaceutics, new materials, healthcare, and modern fashion), and two future industries (brain science and brain-inspired intelligence, and cells and genes). Pingshan is fueling the progress of building world-class high-end manufacturing clusters represented by “intelligent vehicles, innovative medicine, and China-made chips.”

1. New energy and intelligent connected vehicle industries 

Pingshan is home to BYD and Skywell New Energy among other renowned auto businesses, which specialize in the R&D and manufacturing of the entire industrial chain from batteries, car parts, charging, electric motors, electric controls, full vehicles to unmanned cars, intelligent driving software and smart sensors. As for scale and capacity, the district has already become a global leader in this sector.

An AutoX robotaxi runs in Pingshan. Photo courtesy of AutoX

2. Biopharmaceutical industry 

By the end of 2022, Pingshan had brought together more than 1,000 biopharmaceutical enterprises, including Sanofi and Sinopharm, two Fortune 500 companies, as well as Snibe and Edan. The district has created a full-chain industrial ecology comprising medical devices, biopharmaceutics and biotechnology, gaining a competitive edge in the industry.

3. New-generation information technology and intelligent manufacturing industry 

Pingshan has attracted a group of well-known enterprises in new-generation information technologies, including SMIC and O-Net Technologies. A complete industry chain has been established consisting of chip design, chip manufacturing, packaging and testing, materials, and manufacturing equipment. Pingshan is developing an industry cluster for new-generation information technologies, focusing on core components (integrated circuits and third-generation semiconductors), intelligent terminal manufacturing, and the applications of 5G communications technologies.

High-rise vertical factories in Pingshan. Photo by Liu Yujie

4. Future industries 

Pingshan seeks to attract and develop enterprises and innovation platforms for future industries covering aerospace, robotics, 3D printing, wearable devices, intelligent equipment, cellular and genetic industries (including biological breeding), and brain science and brain-like intelligence. The district is pioneering the application scenarios of intelligent finance, intelligent healthcare and smart transportation.

5. Shenzhen Pingshan Comprehensive Bonded Zone 

Combined with Pingshan’s three leading industries, the Shenzhen Pingshan Comprehensive Bonded Zone is establishing a biopharmaceutical bonded R&D center, a global testing and repair center for ICT products, and an international distribution center for integrated circuits and electronic components. The bonded zone provides producer services, promotes the integrated development of industries, and provides supporting services. 

In terms of operating costs, the warehousing and labor costs in the bonded zone are approximately one-fourth and one-third of Hong Kong, respectively. Compared to downtown Shenzhen, the warehousing and labor costs are approximately one-half and three-fifths, respectively.

Shenzhen Pingshan Comprehensive Bonded Zone 

6. Industrial spaces 

Spanning an area of about 166.3 square kilometers, Pingshan boasts great potential for land development. The Pingshan District Industrial Space Rental and Sale Information Platform website ( http://cykjzs.szpsq.org.cn/ ) currently posts information of State-owned, collective and private industrial parks in the district, and has released listings of industrial space investment, leasing and sales. It provides a “one-stop” service to help enterprises settle down and enables industrial spaces to attract high-quality projects.

III. Innovation ecosystem 

1. Innovative talents

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. 

2. Innovative institutions 

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. 

IV. Services

1. Government services

Pingshan currently has a district government service center, six subdistrict service centers and 24 community service stations, providing one-stop services to enterprises for business license, seal and invoice application, employees’ insurance registration, and provident fund account opening and registration, thus ensuring the efficient processing of cross-departmental and tax businesses. With optimized processes and data sharing, a number of services can be completed within one working day.

The Pingshan industrial subsidy application website ( https://zqztc.szpsq.org.cn/ ) allows companies to access preferential policies and apply for financial support. The platform encompasses all subsidy polices in Pingshan, with some applications possible with just one click. Electronic signatures and stamps streamline the subsidy application and approval process. Users can seek guidance from a chatbot or use a calculator to easily determine the amount of subsidies that enterprises qualify for by inputting relevant keywords.

The “坪山益企行” (Benefiting Enterprises in Pingshan) WeChat miniprogram is a comprehensive service platform for enterprises in Pingshan District. Users can apply for financing and governmental support, rent factories in industrial parks, and learn about various preferential policies and information available on this site.

2. Financial services 

Pingshan has actively participated in the establishment of the first batch of industrial cluster funds for the “20+8” industrial clusters in Shenzhen. Two industrial funds, with 5 billion yuan each in the first phase, have been launched in Pingshan in 2023. One for the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry invests in NEV and intelligent connected vehicle companies, while the other fund for the city’s biopharmaceutical industry invests in the biopharmaceutical, cell and gene, medical equipment and healthcare industries.

Innovation Plaza in central Pingshan.

There are 92 financial institutions in Pingshan, including 45 corporate banks and branches, four branches of securities companies, seven branches of insurance companies, 23 equity investment institutions (including 14 sub-funds of the government-led fund), five local financial institutions and eight insurance intermediaries.

3. International fairs, activities 

The Yanzi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pingshan is a complex that integrates exhibitions, conferences, events, catering, culture and leisure. The neighboring Grand Skylight International Hotel Pingshan has restaurants, recreational and sports centers and rooms. 

The center has hosted important events, such as the GBA Vaccine Summit, the International Biotech & Health Industry Expo, the Shenzhen International Biomedical Industry Innovation and Development Conference, the Shenzhen International Biomedical Industry Summit and Shenzhen Biomedical Industry Week, the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence-China and the China Intelligent Connected Vehicle Yanzi Lake Summit. 

A bird's-eye view of Yanzi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center. Photo by Lai Li

From 2017 to 2022, Pingshan also held more than 400 high-quality innovation and entrepreneurship activities that are Shenzhen-focused and internationally oriented, including the Technology Innovation Conference, the China (Shenzhen) Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition, the 20th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals, and the 24th China Hi-Tech Fair, which helped to open up financing channels, stimulate interest in innovation and entrepreneurship, increase vitality of technological innovation, and draw on innovative resources.

V. Supporting services 

1. 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 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 Line 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 takes only 10 minutes, to Luohu 20 minutes, and to Futian 30 minutes.

A helicopter in Pingshan District. Photo by Xing Jie

In the future, a ride from the Shenzhen airport to Pingshan will take only 40 minutes when the Shenzhen International Airport-Dayawan Intercity Railway is put into use. The Dapeng spur line of the Shenzhen-Huizhou Intercity Rail and the Shenzhen East Transit Expressway leading to Liantang Port are also being built.

2. Quality healthcare 

Pingshan has 197 medical organizations, including the Pingshan District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen Samii Medical Center, Shenzhen Pingle Orthopedics Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) Pingshan Hall of Chinese Medicine, and the Southern Medical University Hospital of Stomatology in Shenzhen. In the future, the district will work with BUCM and the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University to accelerate the construction of the BUCM Shenzhen Research Institute and the Pingshan District Central Hospital, further shaping the east Shenzhen medical hub.

Shenzhen Samii Medical Center

3. Supportive housing 

In 2022, through unified and targeted allocation, more than 2,200 housing units were allocated to talents by the government. Adjacent to Huizhou’s Daya Bay with abundant commercial housing resources and relatively lower prices, Pingshan is one of the biggest public housing providers among the districts of Shenzhen, satisfying the needs of innovative talents. Meanwhile, Pingshan keeps exploring possibilities of large-scale favorable housing projects in collaboration with other districts and regions.

4. Education 

Pingshan has 143 primary, middle and high schools, kindergartens, and vocational schools, and a university. The Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation’s Pingshan Biopharmaceutics and Industry Incubation Base has been officially registered. The Shenzhen InnoX and X-Institute’s Pingshan campuses have launched multiple summer courses.

5. Culture, sports

The multi-functional Pingshan Culture Center consists of a library, an art museum, an exhibition hall, a creative culture hall, a theater and a bookstore. The Shenzhen Natural History Museum will soon be established in Pingshan. The district is also rich in Hakka cultural heritage sites, such as the Dawan Ancestral Residence, and multiple red-culture bases, including the Dongjiang Guerrilla Column Memorial Hall. With the world’s top-notch events and with facilities such as Pingshan Soccer Park, Pingshan International Tennis Center and Pingshan Sports Center, sports in the district are also thriving.

Pingshan Culture Center

6. Natural environment 

With over half of its land area under ecological protection, Pingshan has been rated for years with excellent air quality. The great appeal of its natural landscape lies in the breathtaking Maluan Mountain together with vast areas of forests and the largest natural waterfalls in the city. The magnificent Pingshan River runs through the district, which also has 17 reservoirs and greenways with a total length of 163 kilometers.