At the Zhengzhou International Land Port, a freight train loaded with automobiles sounds its horn and heads west toward the heart of Central Asia. At the airport's northern cargo terminal, precision instruments and fresh fruit from Southeast Asia converge before taking to the skies. In the laboratories of Zhongyuan Science and Technology City, lights shine in sync with the hum of production lines. Beneath the ancient city walls at New Bodu, the sounds of traditional string instruments mingle with visitors' footsteps... This is how a day unfolds in Zhengzhou, where a rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years meets the pulse of modern development.
Zhengzhou is pursuing a development strategy that combines strengthening its own capabilities with driving growth across Henan Province, supporting the development of central China and contributing to national development. With its sights set on becoming a national central city, Zhengzhou is accelerating high-quality development and high-efficiency governance while enhancing its overall capacity, economic innovation, core competitiveness, and ability to drive growth in surrounding areas.
A stronger provincial capital means a stronger province. A thriving capital means a thriving Henan. This is more than a slogan. Across China, strengthening provincial capitals has become a shared strategic priority for central and western provinces seeking to sharpen their competitiveness. For Henan, a province with a large economy and substantial development potential, the need for a powerful regional center to drive growth has never been greater.
Zhengzhou continues to expand its role as an international transport and logistics hub, with its four Silk Road corridors spanning air, land, digital, and maritime connectivity linking the city to global markets. In 2025, cargo and mail throughput at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport exceeded 1 million metric tons, placing it among the world's top 30 cargo airports. China-Europe freight train services from Zhengzhou maintained their leading position in central and eastern China in terms of service volume, while cross-border e-commerce transactions reached RMB 161.83 billion, further consolidating the city's position as a major inland gateway for opening-up.
Strengthening Zhengzhou's role as a regional growth engine goes well beyond the city's own development. The Zhengzhou metropolitan area has gained national recognition, while integration between Zhengzhou and neighboring Kaifeng is gathering pace. The Zhengzhou-Kaifeng automotive industrial corridor is now home to more than 10 vehicle manufacturers and over 100 auto parts companies, creating an integrated manufacturing cluster built on industrial specialization and collaboration. The Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone continues to strengthen its role as a growth engine, with the electronic information industry exceeding RMB 800 billion in scale. Zhengzhou's annual vehicle production reached 1.277 million units, placing it among China's top 10 automotive manufacturing cities. Meanwhile, xFusion, based in the airport zone, ranks first nationwide in sales of domestically developed servers, solidifying its position as the backbone of computing power in Central China.
Technological advances are increasingly driving industrial innovation. Of the 163 deputy technology executives appointed to enterprises in the Zhengzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone, nearly half come from Zhengzhou University, Henan University of Technology and Zhengzhou University of Light Industry. The proximity between universities and businesses allows researchers to work directly with enterprises and companies to seek academic expertise in addressing technical challenges.
Zhengzhou is also taking a forward-looking approach to emerging industries, advancing development across 15 priority fields, including embodied intelligence, hydrogen energy, advanced energy storage and quantum technology. The city aims to establish a national pilot zone for future industries. To build a powerhouse of manufacturing and digital intelligence, Zhengzhou's answer is written on every transformed production line.
