Recently, visitors to Baoshan have been amazed by the remarkable changes here. The Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal has seen four ships dock simultaneously; the Shanghai Sea World has welcomed guests from all over the world; “Pharmacy Valley” is taking shape around the Meilan Lake; the intelligent manufacturing industry is expanding; and the Innovation Area is promoting the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. Over the past year, Baoshan has become more popular with more industry developments, bringing with it a fresh and vibrant urban atmosphere that is increasingly inviting.

The year 2025 marks the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. As a new powerhouse for northern Shanghai with a strong economic influence over the northern Yangtze River Delta, Baoshan is fully committed to building a modernization model for the new era, with a focus on enhancing overall development and core competitiveness systematically.

“Recently, more and more people have been flocking to Baoshan for family and friends gatherings, and Baoshan has quickly become a trendy destination.” Taking a cruise to Baoshan and enjoying the sunrise has become a new favorite choice for Shanghai residents. With the growth of the cruise industry, the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal has been steadily expanding into a full-fledged cruise tourism resort, enriching the cultural tourism and retail landscape and attracting visitors from all over the world.

On the last day of 2024, many people chose to spend their time in Baoshan. The Baoshan Riverside hosted a spectacular fireworks show themed “Legend of Rivers and Seas.”, featuring deep blue sky, glittering stars, and over a thousand drones. This stunning performance of art and technology offered a visual feast for both locals and tourists. The audience was full of excitement, eagerly capturing the unforgettable moments on their phones.

Since the opening of the Shanghai Sea World at the cruise terminal, Baoshan has become a new hotspot for visitors. Here, one can witness the unparalleled scenery at the mouth of the Yangtze River, where the confluence of the Yangtze, Huangpu, and Wenzaobang Rivers meets with magnificent cruise ships. The international sailing regatta and rowing competitions, framed by the century-old lighthouse, present a fascinating view of history and modernity.

This tourism boom can be attributed to its rich tourism resources and the success of integrated development of economy and tourism. Every morning, the sun rises over the majestic Yangtze River, and Baoshan has masterfully transformed this breathtaking view into a celebrated cultural tourism landmark, drawing both locals and visitors alike.

Sunrise at Wusongkou, Shanghai, January 1, 2025

On January 1, 2025, many gathered at Baoshan Riverside to enjoy the first sunrise of the New Year. To enhance the experience for visitors, Baoshan introduced the “Sunrise Index,” offering a guide to inform tourists of the perfect time and ideal weather conditions for the best sunrise views. The district also established the “Sunrise Square” at Baoshan Riverside and introduced a range of cultural activities, ensuring that visitors not only enjoy the natural beauty of the sunrise but also have the opportunity to explore Baoshan’s rich offerings in cultural tourism.

New consumption trends are rapidly becoming a major driver of economic growth in China. With multidimensional, integrated development and vast growth potential, these trends are poised to offer strong support for high-quality development. Baoshan has been working on transforming its growing popularity into a catalyst for boosting consumption and upgrading local industries, consistently driving innovation in consumption upgrades.

Developing the Niche Market.Cruise tourism is a strategic industry for Baoshan, and the district is committed to enhancing the service capacity of its cruise homeport. This involves improving the quality and efficiency of services within this niche sector. Baoshan has actively partnered with major international cruise companies such as TUI and Norwegian Cruise Line to increase cruise capacity and extend port calls to surpass 200 cruise arrivals annually. Additionally, Baoshan is strengthening collaboration with customs, maritime authorities, and border inspection agencies, leveraging favorable policies such as the “15-day visa-free” for cruise passengers and “240-hour transit visa-free” to improve port service efficiency and passenger experience.

Developing the Premium Market.Baoshan is enhancing its “events and cooperation” model to promote tourism through a few initiatives, including “Sightseeing by the Yangtze River in Shanghai,” “Sunrise Viewing at Baoshan Riverside,” and the “Wusongkou Sunrise Index.” The district is actively pursuing the permanent establishment of the UIM F1H2O World Championship, Grand Prix of Shanghai, China in Baoshan, alongside high-profile events such as themed forums, themed fireworks displays, and drone performances. At the same time, Baoshan is advancing the transformation of the riverside area along the Changtan area, speeding up the development of the 180,000-square-meter commercial complex at China Duty Free Group Harbor City, and working toward the grand opening of the Changtan Observation Tower.

Developing the Integrated Market.Baoshan is extending its industrial chain by supporting the integration of upstream and downstream sectors. The district is working with key players like China Cruises to enhance its operational capabilities and actively promoting the establishment of Asia-Pacific sales, operational, and procurement hubs by leading cruise lines, including China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Adora, and Mediterranean Shipping Company. The goal is to promote the local cruise headquarters economy. Furthermore, Baoshan is exploring the development of an Asia-Pacific cruise supply chain and crew dispatch service center and continuously improving the cruise-related infrastructure and service quality.

The buzzwords about Baoshan reflect the district’s development momentum. In 2024, Baoshan set new records with a series of “firsts in Shanghai”.

Now, Baoshan is nurturing leading enterprises, expanding industry scale, and enhancing innovation capabilities, with focuses on six key industries, including cruise tourism, green and low-carbon industry, robotics and smart manufacturing, biomedicine and synthetic biology, new materials, and next-generation information technology. These efforts are driving the district’s regional economy toward high-quality growth.

In a remarkable milestone, Baoshan saw “four ships docking at the port”. Large cruise ships such as the Adora Magic City and Spectrum of the Seas successfully made their inaugural or return voyages. Over the course of the year, the district welcomed 205 cruise arrivals and served 1.5 million passengers, accounting for more than 50% and 70% of the national totals, respectively.

Adora Magic City at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal

Baoshan’s high-end new materials, robotics, and advanced equipment industries have been recognized as the first “city-district collaboration” industrial clusters worth over one trillion yuan. These industries have also been successfully selected for the city’s “5G + Industrial Internet” pilot zone, which integrates advanced technologies for industrial applications. Additionally, three new smart factories at the municipal level have been established, along with two benchmark platforms for the industrial internet.

The biopharmaceutical and synthetic biology sectors are expanding rapidly, with an additional 300,000 square meters of industrial space being developed. Companies such as Baopharma and Uni-Car Revo-Therapists have made significant strides in the research and development of new drugs and therapeutic technologies.

Focusing on technological innovation, Baoshan is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces to achieve technology-driven growth while fostering new drivers and advantages for development.

Baoshan is prioritizing the development of a core functional area for a green and low-carbon supply chain, capitalizing on the strengths of leading enterprises such as Baowu, SAIC, and China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The Green and Low-Carbon Supply Chain Leading Enterprise Alliance has been established, and the public service platform for the green and low-carbon supply chain has been expanded and upgraded. The Baowu (Shanghai) Carbon Neutrality Industrial Park has been included in the city’s first batch of pilot demonstration projects for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

Baoshan is promoting its technological innovation capabilities, accelerating the upgrade of traditional industries, and driving the commercialization of technological achievements. The number of innovation-focused entities continues to grow, with 10 new national “Little Giant” enterprises specializing in niche markets, 84 new municipal-level specialized enterprises, 147 new high-tech enterprises, and 66 new innovation-driven small and medium-sized enterprises. The district now hosts 40 academician (expert) workstations and 36 municipal-level innovation and entrepreneurship hubs, both ranking among the highest in the city. 

Baoshan is deepening its collaboration with universities such as Shanghai University and Fudan University. Efforts include upgrading and expanding the Fudan University Science Park, advancing reforms at the Shanghai University Science Park, and recognizing 11 concept verification centers, including the Shanghai University Intelligent Manufacturing Center. The Wusong Materials Laboratory has officially commenced operations, while other key platforms, such as the Unitree Asia-Pacific Research Center, the Shanghai University General Robotics Research Institute, and the Les Information Low-Altitude Economy Research Institute, have also established a presence in Baoshan. 

Baoshan is home to an international cruise terminal, a “Pharmacy Valley,” a thriving hub of science and technology, and lush ecological parks. The transformation of industries has brought new vibrancy to the city, making it more dynamic and captivating in many ways. To create the city of the future, Baoshan is focusing on spatial planning, innovation ecosystem improvement, and refined management.

Spatial Planning.Baoshan focuses on a “three-pronged approach” centered around Wusong, Nanda, and Binjiang, driving the development of key areas. Adhering to high-level planning and high-standard construction, Baoshan promotes the concentration of various resources in these priority regions.  

For instance, Wusong New City has ushered in a significant development opportunity. Baoshan actively aligns with the “Greater Wusong” planning, refines the “One Belt, Three Stars” urban design, completes eight specialized plans, and secures approvals for a series of detailed control plans, including TOD at South Jiangyang Road and Metro Line 19 depot and its surrounding areas. These efforts accelerate the creation of a “Ten-Mile Scroll” where water and greenery intertwine, and culture and commerce converge. Nanda Smart City aims to establish itself as a new high-end commercial and business landmark, seizing the opportunities in cutting-edge technology and future industries. Efforts are being made to accelerate the operation of entities such as the Unitree Asia-Pacific Research Center, the Shanghai University General Robotics Research Institute, and the Les Information Low-Altitude Economy Research Institute. Additionally, the district is actively advancing the establishment of a university technology transfer and commercialization center. 

Innovation Ecosystem Improvement.Baoshan is continuously refining its innovation ecosystem by strengthening the supply of talent, services, and funding and promoting the deep integration of innovation, industry, finance, and talent. Highlights include advancing national pilot programs like the “investment-first, equity-later” and “innovation consortium” models. The upgraded “investment-first, equity-later” has already seen its first successful equity conversion, with the initial batch of joint research products reaching the market. Additionally, two new innovation consortia in green, low-carbon technologies and advanced materials have been launched. Baoshan has successfully established one of the first “6+1” Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone Collaborative Innovation Zones and released a detailed plan for its development. Meanwhile, the district’s first state-owned science and technology innovation fund has officially started investing.

To strengthen its talent base, Baoshan has launched a comprehensive talent development strategy with ten key initiatives. The district is developing its “One-Stop Talent Services” system, addressing essential concerns like housing and education to create a supportive environment where talent can thrive and contribute to the district’s growth.

Refined Management.Baoshan is dedicated to creating a high-quality urban environment focused on four core goals: beauty, convenience, culture, and safety. These efforts aim to enhance residents’ quality of life by fostering a sense of satisfaction, happiness, and security.

Projects to beautify villages and towns are improving the living environment, with cleaner rivers and more vibrant neighborhoods. The “15-Minute Community Life Circle” initiative ensures that residents can access essential services and meet their needs conveniently. Expanded cultural offerings are enriching the city, making exceptional works of art and culture a part of daily life. By addressing public needs and tackling key urban governance challenges, Baoshan is implementing refined and intelligent management to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Through thoughtful planning, dedicated efforts, and innovative governance, Baoshan is turning the vision of a “city for the people” into reality. This thriving district is set to write a poetic chapter in urban development.