Further Progress in New Urbanization and Impressive Results in High-Quality Urban Development

—Series Report VI on Achievements in Economic and Social Development during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

2026-06-30 16:34:10 | Author:The National Bureau of Statistics | Source:theorychina.org.cn

Further Progress in New Urbanization and Impressive Results in High-Quality Urban Development

—Series Report VI on Achievements in Economic and Social Development during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

The National Bureau of Statistics, June 3, 2026

 

  During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, all localities and government departments thoroughly implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Guided by the principle that cities should be built by the people and for the people, they have vigorously promoted urban structural optimization, kinetic energy transformation, quality enhancement, green transition, cultural continuity, and governance efficiency, in the pursuit of building modern cities of the people. Significant achievements were made in various fields of urban development, new urbanization was further advanced, and a new chapter in China’s high-quality urban development was written.

  I. Further Progress Achieved in New Urbanization and in Modern Urban System Refinement

  (I) Steady Increase in Urbanization Rate

  Guided by the new development philosophy, all localities continued to pursue the strategy of new, people-centered urbanization, and pushed urbanization to a new stage of improving both the quality and performance of growth. The urbanization rate of permanent residents nationwide increased from 63.89% in 2020 to 67.89% in 2025, with an average annual increase of 0.8 percentage points. The urban permanent residents grew from 901.99 million in 2020 to 953.8 million in 2025, with an average annual increase of approximately 10.36 million.

  (II) Significant Achievements in Granting Permanent Urban Residency to People Who Moved to Cities from Rural Areas

  China prioritized the granting of permanent urban residency to people who moved to cities from rural areas as its primary task of new urbanization, and strove to extend basic urban public services to cover all permanent residents. Reform of the household registration system was deepened, and the threshold for urban settlement became significantly lower. The legal land rights and interests of rural migrant workers who had settled in cities were protected according to law, safeguarding their rights with regard to farmland contracting, residential land use, and proceeds from rural collective undertakings, while exploring how to develop measures for their entitlement to voluntarily transfer these rights in return for compensation. Multiple measures were taken to promote income growth for migrant workers. In 2025, the average monthly income of migrant workers nationwide was RMB 5,075, an increase of 24.6% from 2020. The supply mechanism for basic public services was further improved. The proportion of migrant children enrolled in public schools and government-subsidized schools exceeded 97%, an increase of 11.2 percentage points from the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period [1].

  (III) Further Refinements Made to Spatial Plans for Urbanization

  During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China gradually formed a well-distributed, collaborative, and functionally sound spatial pattern of urbanization, promoting coordinated and interactive development of large, medium, and small cities as well as towns. The core functions of mega and super-large cities were further optimized, with enhanced competitiveness and radiating influence. The trend of excessive population concentration eased, with population density in the central urban areas of cities like Beijing and Shanghai declining, showing results in managing “big city diseases.” Efforts were made to enhance the radiating and driving capacity of central cities, actively promoting the construction of provincial sub-centers, and fostering the rational agglomeration and balanced distribution of population and industries across the national territory. Progress was made in further enhancing the comprehensive carrying capacity of cities and actively developing group-based, networked modern city clusters and metropolitan areas. The integration process of city clusters moved faster. Nineteen national-level city clusters accommodated over 70% of the nationwide population and contributed over 80% of the regional GDP. The three major city clusters—the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area—have gradually become global hubs for resource allocation and innovation hubs, with their international competitiveness continuously increasing. Solid steps were taken in the integrated development of metropolitan areas, with improved infrastructure connectivity, accelerated construction of one-hour commuting circles, deepened industrial collaboration and scientific and technological cooperation, and orderly progress in unified market construction and public service sharing. The Xiong’an New Area has risen from the ground, striving to become a new-era innovation hub and a model for promoting high-quality development.

  (IV) Counties Becoming Important Carriers for Urbanization

  Differentiated development of counties was guided by category, the layout of urban and rural infrastructure and public service systems was coordinated, and the digitalization, networking, and intelligence of counties was enhanced. Both new urbanization and all-around rural revitalization were moved forward, facilitating the two-way flows of production factors between urban and rural areas, expanding the coverage of basic public services, and promoting the further integration between urban and rural areas. The urban-rural income disparity was significantly narrowed, with the urban-rural income ratio decreasing from 2.56 in 2020 to 2.31 in 2025.

  II. Further Progress in Enhancing Comprehensive Urban Strength and Steadily Improving Development Capacity

  (I) Sustained Growth in Economic Strength

  Guided by the new development philosophy, all localities sped up the formation of a new development pattern, promoted urban development based on local conditions, and further solidified the foundation for high-quality urban development. It is estimated that in 2025, the combined regional GDP of districts under the jurisdiction of cities at prefecture level and above nationwide was approximately RMB 85.7 trillion, accounting for 61.1% of the national GDP, representing a nominal growth of 35.7% from 2020. In 2025, the total number of cities [2] with a regional GDP exceeding RMB one trillion reached 29, an increase of 6 from 2020. Among them, Shanghai’s regional GDP exceeded RMB 5.5 trillion, Beijing surpassed RMB 5 trillion, Shenzhen approached RMB 4 trillion, and Chongqing and Guangzhou exceeded RMB 3 trillion. China’s eastern cities played a greater leading role, accelerating the development of world-class advanced manufacturing clusters. Central and western cities actively undertook industrial transfer, with cities like Zhengzhou, Chongqing, and Xi’an becoming important bases for emerging industries such as electronic information and intelligent manufacturing. A number of old industrial bases revitalized their momentum through the “industry-city-ecology” integration. The economic structure was optimized and upgraded, the transformation of old and new growth drivers accelerated, and modern service industries developed rapidly. The potential of the consumer market was continuously unleashed, with deep integration of online and offline consumer markets and gradual enhancement of market vitality. In 2025, the nationwide retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas amounted to RMB 43,297.2 billion, a nominal increase of 27.7% from 2020.

  (II) Significant Improvement in Innovation Vitality

  As primary hubs for scientific and technological innovation, all cities further implemented the innovation-driven development strategy. They are now transforming from “manufacturing bases” to “sources of innovation,” with innovation vitality continuously being released. High-tech manufacturing and strategic emerging industries flourished, and traditional industries were revitalized through intelligent and digital transformation. In 2025, the annual output of new energy vehicles nationwide exceeded 16 million units, and exports of the “new three” items—electric vehicles, photovoltaic products, and lithium batteries—exceeded nearly RMB 1.3 trillion. The digital economy had strong momentum, and artificial intelligence was accelerating its iteration. In 2025, the scale of China’s core AI industry exceeded RMB 1.2 trillion, and the penetration rate of AI technology application in manufacturing enterprises above designated size exceeded 30% by the end of the year. Smart terminals have entered millions of households, with AI glasses, AI phones, and AI computers emerging continuously. In 2025, over 300 models of humanoid robots were released domestically, accounting for more than half of the global total [3]. Positive progress was made in constructing science and innovation centers. In the 2025 Global Top 100 Innovation Clusters list released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), 24 Chinese clusters were listed, ranking first globally for three consecutive years. The three major scientific and technological innovation hubs—Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai-Suzhou—ranked 1st, 4th, and 6th globally, respectively. There was a rich reserve of innovative talent. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the higher education sector delivered a total of 55 million talents to society [4].

  (III) Steady Improvement in Opening-up and Cooperation

  Cities played a pivotal role in fostering a new pattern of development that features positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows. Acting on the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, all localities actively responded to external shocks and challenges, and achieved a steady pace of high-standard opening-up. Both the volume and quality of foreign trade improved. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s total imports and exports of goods exceeded RMB 200 trillion, a 40% increase compared to the 13th Five-Year Plan period. In 2025, eight cities had a total import and export value exceeding RMB one trillion, three more than in 2020, with Shanghai and Shenzhen each exceeding RMB 4.5 trillion. Solid progress was made in pursuing high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As of the end of October 2025, the number of Chinese cities from which China-Europe Railway Express’ services operate had reached 128, connecting to 232 cities in 26 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. The urban exhibition economy showed greater vitality. In 2025, 4,095 trade exhibitions were held in China, with a total exhibition area of 159 million square meters, both hitting record highs [5]. The eighth China International Import Expo recorded an intended transaction value of USD 83.49 billion on a one-year basis, also a record high for the event [6]. Positive results were achieved in developing more cities into international consumption centers. The five cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Chongqing accounted for over half of the national total in terms of imports of consumer goods and around 70% of tax refund sales for overseas visitors, with their demonstrative and leading role continuously strengthening [7].

  (IV) Steadily Improving Living Standards

  All localities earnestly practiced the people’s city concept, placing greater emphasis on people-centered development, and the standard of living reached a new high. Resident income and expenditure grew steadily. In 2025, the per capita disposable income of urban residents nationwide was RMB 56,502, a nominal increase of 28.9% compared to 2020. The per capita consumption expenditure was RMB 35,869, a nominal increase of 32.8% compared to 2020, with expenditure on education, culture, and entertainment growing by 65.8%. The employment situation overall remained stable. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, over 60 million new urban jobs were created nationwide. Living conditions continued to improve, with per capita floor space of urban housing exceeding 40 square meters [8]. Automobiles gradually entered ordinary households. The average number of household cars owned per 100 urban households at year-end increased from 44.9 in 2020 to 59.2 in 2025. The Healthy China Initiative was solidly advanced. In 2025, the nationwide average life expectancy reached 79.25 years, an increase of 1.32 years from 2020, with an average annual increase of 0.26 years [9].

  III. Active Progress in Tapping the Full Potential of Cities and Notable Improvement in Livability and Business-friendliness

  (I) More Intensive and Efficient Development Model

  All localities made great efforts to transform their urban development models. They resolutely prevented unbridled urban sprawl and promoted a shift towards an intensive and efficient development model. The capacity for urban planning and construction was continuously enhanced, with a commitment to the integrated planning of population, industries, urban areas, and transportation, leading to the basic establishment of a system of integrated plans for China’s territorial space. Land was used scientifically. Strict control was exercised over the scale of new construction land, and existing construction land was revitalized. In 2024, the land use area per unit of GDP nationwide decreased by 15.97% compared to 2021, achieving the 14th Five-Year Plan target one year ahead of schedule [10]. Innovative industrial communities and business communities were built, gradually breaking away from the traditional model separating industrial, residential, and commercial functions, and promoting industry-city integration and job-housing balance. The development of a modern integrated transportation system was further advanced. By the end of 2025, 54 cities nationwide had urban rail transit in operation, with an operational mileage of 11,710 kilometers, ranking first in the world [11]. The number of electric vehicle charging facilities exceeded 20 million [12], forming the world’s largest EV charging network. Urban renewal was steadily implemented, coordinating the renovation of old urban areas with functional upgrades. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, over 6,500 old neighborhoods and over 700 old factory areas were renovated [13]. Urban infrastructure was upgraded. The coverage rates of water supply, gas supply, and sewage treatment all approached 100%, and the proportion of centralized heating area in cities within heating zones exceeded 90% [14]. Urban underground space was utilized efficiently, forming a diversified utilization pattern featuring large-scale underground complexes, underground utility tunnels, and underground storage at an accelerated pace. In many cities, high-density, functionally mixed three-dimensional development around rail transit stations was conducted.

  (II) Public Service Functions Becoming Increasingly Complete

  Steady efforts were made to ensure equitable access to basic public services, achieving a 100% coverage rate of comprehensive service facilities in urban communities [15]. Continuous efforts were made to build complete communities and develop elderly care service centers in these communities. Nationally, 80,000 elderly dining assistance sites were established [16], and a preliminary elderly care service network covering both urban and rural areas was built. Achievements in education benefited all people more extensively and equitably, and the action to ensure universal and affordable preschool education was further implemented. In 2025, the gross enrollment rate for preschool education was 92.9%, significantly higher than the 84.7% average of OECD member countries. Compulsory education achieved a basic balance. The gross enrollment rate for senior secondary education reached 92% [17]. The public health system continued to improve. By the end of 2025, the number of medical and health institutions nationwide exceeded 1.1 million, with over 16 million medical and health personnel. Over 90% of residents could reach the nearest medical service point within 15 minutes [18]. Housing support was further boosted, and the world’s largest urban housing support system was established. Unprecedented efforts were made in reforming the social security sector. The basic endowment insurance for enterprise workers was unified at the national level, while the employment insurance and work-related injury insurance were unified at the provincial level, and a private pension system was established and implemented. The social assistance network was further strengthened. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the average basic living allowance line for urban residents nationwide increased by 22.5% compared to 2020. A system of living allowances for the disabled in financial difficulty and nursing subsidies for the severely disabled has been fully implemented, with the nationwide average standards for both increasing by 31.9% and 22.5%, respectively [19]. Age-friendly renovations and the building of accessible environments gained speed. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, 56,000 residential communities were renovated [20]. Urban commercial layouts were improved, consumer services were vigorously developed, and the construction of the 15-minute convenient living circle was expanded and upgraded.

  (III) Overall Consolidation of Safety and Resilience Foundation

  The concept of safe urban development gained widespread acceptance. Emergency shelters were rationally distributed, dual-use public infrastructure that could accommodate emergency needs in the cities was developed at a faster pace, medical emergency capabilities continuously improved, and the 5-minute coverage rate for fire and rescue services increased. Solid progress was made in boosting the development of projects for ensuring the safety of infrastructure lifelines and the renovation of underground comprehensive utility tunnels. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, a total of 840,000 kilometers of various underground pipelines were renovated [21]. The Sponge City development concept was widely promoted, and the capacity to prevent and respond to natural disasters was enhanced. Risks associated with super high-rise buildings were strictly controlled, and coordinated efforts were made to promote the construction of good houses, good neighborhoods, good communities, and good districts. The renovation of old urban residential communities was carried out in depth. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, 2,387 urban village renovation projects were implemented, over 240,000 old urban residential communities were renovated, benefiting 110 million residents [22]. The risk prevention and control management system was continuously improved, and the people’s sense of security significantly increased. In 2025, 98.23% of the people nationwide felt much safer than before, remaining above 98% for six consecutive years [23].

  (IV) Further Advancement of Smart City Construction

  Urban digital infrastructure was continuously upgraded. The world’s largest and most technologically advanced information and communication network was built, with the number of 5G mobile phone base stations growing rapidly. By the end of 2025, the number of 5G base stations in China reached 4.838 million, 6.3 times that of 2020 [24]. China ranked among the world’s top in terms of its intelligent computing power [25]. Large-scale application scenarios for the Internet of Vehicles and the Internet of Things were implemented, and the digital, networked, and intelligent transformation of traditional infrastructure progressed in an orderly manner. Reforms in the market-based allocation of data factors deepened, with positive progress made in government data sharing and public data opening. Innovative concepts, models, and methods of urban governance were adopted, adhering to Party building leadership and law-based city governance, continuously enhancing urban governance efficiency. The foundation of community governance was continuously consolidated. By the end of 2025, over 200 cities at the prefecture level and above had carried out work to extend urban management into communities [26]. The “Fengqiao Model” for the new era was upheld and developed, and the “One-Stop Government Services” were promoted to elevate overall service levels. The construction of a “one-network unified management” system for urban operation and management services was promoted, technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence were widely applied, and the construction of “city brains” integrated data resources from multiple fields, making urban governance more scientific, refined, and intelligent.

  IV. Significantly Intensified Efforts to Protect and Inherit Historical and Cultural Heritage and Sustained Progress in Improving Urban Civilization

  (I) Significantly Intensified Efforts to Protect Historical and Cultural Heritage

  All localities sought growth while protecting the environment, and solidly advanced the preservation and inheritance of historical and cultural heritage. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, over 400 new historical and cultural conservation areas were designated nationwide, and 26,800 historical buildings were newly identified. Pilot projects for the protection and utilization of historical buildings were carried out in more than 70 cities. By the end of 2025, China had a total of 143 national-level historical and cultural cities and over 1,300 historical and cultural conservation areas, forming the most comprehensive, complete, and systematic carriers for inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture [27].

  (II) Cultural Taste and Heritage Features Further Highlighted

  All localities focused on safeguarding the continuity of historical culture and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional culture, thereby revitalizing cities with new vitality while preserving their unique memories. Many ancient towns and old streets effectively attracted crowds, boosted consumption, and stimulated market vitality through the integration of culture and tourism and industrial empowerment. The atmosphere for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) protection was strong. By June 2025, 12,900 ICH workshops had been established nationwide, actively promoting the integration of ICH into scenic spots, neighborhoods, and communities, making it a local hallmark [28]. The design and management of urban architecture were continuously strengthened. Landmark buildings integrating Chinese aesthetics and the spirit of the times, such as the China National Archives of Publications and Culture, emerged, making urban architecture a tangible carrier that demonstrates cultural confidence and showcases the spirit of the era.

  (III) Civilizational Standards Continuously Elevated

  All localities adhered to coordinated development between material and spiritual civilization, and guided new trends in urban civilization with value orientations that uphold virtue and kindness. By 2025, a total of 190 cities at the prefecture level and above nationwide had been awarded the title of Civilized City. The development of urban cultural soft power was continuously strengthened, the integrity culture construction was deeply advanced, and the social credit system became increasingly robust. The civic literacy of residents was continuously improved, public order was significantly enhanced, and practices such as yielding to pedestrians, waste sorting, and neighborhood mutual assistance gradually became social norms. Cultural undertakings and industries flourished. Public cultural services became more convenient, high-quality, and equitable. By the end of 2025, there were 3,253 public libraries and 3,517 cultural centers nationwide. In 2024, the number of visits to national public libraries increased by 440 million compared to 2019, a growth of 49% [29].

  V. The More Distinct Beauty of Cities, with Bluer Skies, Cleaner Water, and a More Beautiful Environment

  (I) Air Quality Significantly Improved

  In 2025, the average concentration of PM2.5 in cities at the prefecture level and above nationwide was 28.0 micrograms per cubic meter, a decrease of 5 micrograms per cubic meter from 2020. The average percentage of days with good air quality was 88.1%, an increase of 1.1 percentage points from 2020. Northern China became a key area for air quality improvement. The average PM2.5 concentration in cities within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and surrounding areas decreased from 51 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020 to 37.3 micrograms per cubic meter in 2025.

  (II) Water Quality Steadily Enhanced

  The capability to ensure water security was continuously strengthened. Water resource allocation and recycling in key cities were enhanced, groundwater over-extraction management was solidly advanced, and groundwater levels in cities of North China generally recovered, with groundwater levels in the Beijing plain area and deep groundwater levels in Tianjin having risen for multiple consecutive years. Water environment quality continued to improve, with the proportion of surface water assessment sections nationwide rated at excellent quality (Grades I–III) increasing from 83.4% in 2020 to 91.4% in 2025 [30].

  (III) Park and Green Space Systems Continuously Improved

  The living environment was continuously optimized, with indicators such as the greening rate of urban built-up areas, green coverage rate, and per capita park green area steadily increasing. The urban park system became more balanced, with green spaces continuously extending into communities. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, over 18,000 “pocket parks” and 25,000 kilometers of urban greenways were cumulatively created [31]. Greening quality shifted from scale expansion to quality enhancement. All localities focused on distinctive and refined construction, creating recognizable greening landscapes based on regional culture. Mega and super large cities relied on the construction of blue-green space systems to strive for enhanced biodiversity.

  (IV) Pollution Control Effectiveness Continuously Consolidated

  The high-quality development of “zero-waste cities” was promoted, emissions of major pollutants steadily declined, and continuous progress was made in waste sorting. Traffic exhaust gas management was solidly advanced. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, nearly 20 million high-emission vehicles were cumulatively phased out [32]. Wastewater treatment capacity was significantly improved, with black and odorous water bodies in the built-up areas of cities at the prefecture level and above basically eliminated. The domestic waste treatment system was continuously optimized, with the proportion of incineration treatment gradually increasing. Prominent environmental issues such as cooking fumes, foul odors, and noise nuisance were systematically addressed. Urban acoustic environment quality improved overall. The daytime compliance rate of acoustic environment functional zones increased from 94.6% in 2020 to 95.8% in 2024, and the nighttime compliance rate increased from 80.1% in 2020 to 88.2% in 2024 [33].

  Looking back on the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s new urbanization was deeply advanced, with historic urban development accomplishments made. Currently, China’s urbanization is transitioning from a period of rapid growth to a period of stable development, and urban development is shifting from a stage of large-scale incremental expansion to a stage primarily focused on improving the stock and enhancing efficiency. On the journey to build a great country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through the Chinese path to modernization, the prospects for high-quality urban development are even brighter. Let us unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, enrich our understanding of and apply Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully apply the guiding principles from the 20th CPC National Congress and the plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, act in accordance with the decisions and plans of the Central Urban Work Conference, promote high-quality urban development, build modern cities of the people that are innovative, desirable to live in, beautiful, resilient, culturally advanced, and smart, and make tireless efforts to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

 

  Note:

  [1] Source: Ministry of Education.

  [2] City-wide scope, including all subordinate administrative areas.

  [3] Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

  [4] Source: Ministry of Education.

  [5] Source: China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

  [6] Zhou Rui and Xie Xiyao, The 8th CIIE’s One-Year Intended Transaction Volume Hits Record High, Xinhua News Agency, November 10, 2025, https://www.xinhuanet.com/20251110/fd6a8e0e14f7465bbf3bba63ff7079c9/c.html.

  [7] Source: Ministry of Commerce.

  [8] Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

  [9] Source: National Health Commission.

  [10] Source: Ministry of Natural Resources.

  [11] Source: Ministry of Transport.

   [12] Source: National Energy Administration.

  [13] Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

  [14] Du Shangze and Yang Xu, Micro Observation: President Xi Jinping at the Central Urban Work Conference: Some Tasks Require Decisive Battles, Others Require Persistent Efforts, People’s Daily, July 17, 2025, Edition 1.

  [15] Source: Ministry of Civil Affairs.

  [16] Source: Ministry of Civil Affairs.

  [17] Source: Ministry of Education.

  [18] Source: National Health Commission.

  [19] Source: Ministry of Civil Affairs.

  [20] Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

  [21] Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

  [22] Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

  [23] Source: Ministry of Public Security.

  [24] Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

  [25] Gu Yekai, China’s Intelligent Computing Power Ranks Among World’s Top, People’s Daily, November 10, 2025, Edition 19.

  [26] Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

  [27] Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

  [28] Source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

  [29] Source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

  [30] Source: Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

  [31] Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

  [32] Source: Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

  [33] Source: Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Translate from: Website of the National Bureau of Statistics, June 3, 2026