On June 2nd, 1949, Qingdao, as the last city liberated in North China, became a city of Shandong Province. It was listed as one of the 15 economic centre cities in 1981, one of the 14 coastal open cities in 1984, one of the 5 specifically designated cities in 1994, which are granted provincial-level economic administration power. In 1994 Qingdao was listed as one of the 15 sub-provincial cities, and was noted as the national famous historical and culture city.

Over the 60 years since the founding of the China, especially over the 30 years of national emergence and rejuvenation since China began its reform and opening up to the outside world, the Qingdao people, by diligence and wisdom, has ushered in a new era in which Qingdao turns from backwardness to progress and from poverty to affluence and has gradually shaped the city with distinct features of ports, opening spirit, reputation, tourism, marine science and technology and Olympic city. In recent years the people are now working with all strength in making Qingdao into an advanced manufacturing base, high-tech industrial base, modern service industrial base, regional economic center, northeast Asia’s shipping center as well as China’s marine scientific research center.

In 2008, the city’s GDP reached 443.62 billion yuan, an increase of 13.2% over the previous year; the local fiscal revenue reached 34.24 billion, an increase of 17%; the per capita disposable income of urban residents was 20464 yuan, up by 14.6% and the per capita net income of rural residents 8509 yuan, up by 13.8%. The total export and import topped 50 billion yuan of which that of export was 30 billion yuan. The actually utilized foreign capital grew up by 10% to 2.64 billion US dollars and the domestic investment exceeded 40 billion yuan. The Investment in fixed assets above designated size reached over 200 billion yuan, an increase of 23.5%; the value-added and total output of industrial enterprises above designated size respectively exceeded 200 billion yuan and 800 billion yuan. The ports handled 100 million tons of cargo and containers in 10 million teu and the air harbors attained a capacity of handling over 8 million passengers as well as 130,000 ton of cargo.

By Wang Qian (Shandong Bureau)