Explainer | Zhuhai, second richest city in mainland Greater Bay Area after Shenzhen, touts upbeat economic growth to attract talent
- Per capita GDP of 175,500 yuan in 2019 was the second highest after Shenzhen among its nine mainland peers within Greater Bay Area
- Zhuhai, which led the Top 10 Livable Cities in China in 2019, holds up its economic achievements to attract talent from rival Bay area cities
Zhuhai’s per capita gross domestic product of 175,500 yuan (US$26,800) last year was the second highest after Shenzhen among its mainland bay area peers. According to the Zhuhai government website, it ranked first in the Top 10 Livable Cities in China in 2019 with a score of 90.13.
There’s a reason for that. Zhuhai, which has a population of more than 2 million people, saw its GDP grow 6.8 per cent year on year to 343.6 billion yuan in 2019 and has been drumming up its robust economic outlook, attractive talent policies, and its well-developed health care, education and transport systems to draw more people to its shores to live and work.
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Underused Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge marks one-year anniversary
The city’s location also gives it that extra edge. It is the only Chinese city to be connected with Hong Kong and Macau by the world’s longest bridge – the 55km Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge – cutting down travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai to around an hour in each direction. The central government is working towards a ‘one-hour living circle’ to allow residents to commute easily between the bay area cities and bring about closer integration.
Here are a few things to know about Zhuhai.
Property
Like Hong Kong’s ultra rich who live on The Peak overseeing the Victoria Harbour, Zhuhai’s wealthy residents prefer the “Lovers’ Road” beach promenade with views of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on the Pearl River and the Grand Lisboa in Macau. Recently, a trendy upscale residential area has emerged alongside the Qianshan River, which runs through the city.
