Jinan, the capital of Shandong province, ranked among the top five cities in China in the recently released 2025 Annual Report of Cities' Comprehensive Development Index, highlighting its strong high-quality and sustainable development.

The report, the first of its kind in China, evaluates 36 major cities across three key dimensions – innovation, beauty, and smart development, using 90 practical indicators to provide data-driven insights for sustainable urban governance.

Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai lead the overall ranking, followed by Hangzhou and Jinan in the top five.

Jinan has been accelerating its innovation-driven development in recent years. The city has built a strong foundation for innovation, with 20 national key laboratories, three provincial laboratories, 126 provincial-level key labs, and the largest number of R&D institutes in the region. This year, it plans to establish more than 100 new scientific and technological platforms.

Supported by a tiered cultivation system for enterprise innovation, Jinan now hosts 7,188 high-tech enterprises and 9,165 technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Driven by industrial transformation, Jinan has optimized its industrial layout around 13 strategic and 34 key industrial value chains, while fostering innovative sectors including aerospace, artificial intelligence, robotics, and new energy equipment. In 2024, revenue of industrial enterprises above designated size exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($140 billion).

Digital transformation further strengthens Jinan's competitiveness. The city has continued to introduce supportive policies and strengthen its digital infrastructure. A citywide smart management center now integrates data from 230 systems, 180,000 video surveillance devices, along with other key indicators, enabling precise city monitoring and governance.

High-quality development extends to both urban and rural areas. Urban renewal projects balance preservation with modernization, while rural vitalization delivers tangible results.

In 2024, Jinan developed around 14,000 hectares of high-standard farmland and the city's rural residents' per capita disposable income rose 6.2 percent year-on-year to 27,182 yuan. Meanwhile, 12 local enterprises were listed among China's top 500 agricultural companies. The city is also home to 158 certified seed enterprises, with seven seed varieties recognized as national leading varieties – the highest number in Shandong province.

A picturesque view of Jinan, capital of Shandong province. [Photo/Jinan Daily]