A worker produces batteries in the workshop of a power battery company in Liyang, Jiangsu Province, on 16 February 2023 (XINHUA)

On the opening day of the third China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing on 16 July, one pavilion stood out by drawing special attention from visitors including representatives from the International Automobile Federation, global and domestic tech giants like Siemens and CATL, as well as businesspeople from countries like Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Mexico. 

The 144-square-metre pavilion showcasing Liyang’s Intelligent Connected Vehicle Pilot Zone brought together 12 exhibitors covering every link in the automotive supply chain. It exhibited cutting-edge technologies and highlighted Liyang’s industrial strengths, prominently featuring the slogan: “China’s No. 1 County in Power Battery Production.” 

The phrase is more than just a slogan – it tells a remarkable story of the transformation of the county-level city in southern Jiangsu Province. Driven by its battery industry, Liyang has grown from a single-industry base into a diversified economic hub. In 2024, its GDP reached 170.8 billion yuan ($23.8 billion), earning 19th place in China’s Top 100 Counties for High-Quality Development and 20th for Overall Competitiveness. 

Aerial view of the production area of a power battery company in Liyang, Jiangsu Province, on 5 January 2024 (XINHUA) 

High-tech powerhouse 

Nestled between hills and waterways, Liyang was once known for its traditional industries. Few could have imagined that in less than a decade, it would transform into a national hub for high-tech manufacturing, leading the way in a new energy sector centred on power batteries. 

The turning point arrived in September 2016, when CATL, China’s leading power battery supplier, broke ground on a 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) lithium battery plant in the Jiangsu Zhongguancun Science and Technology Industrial Park. At that time, the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector was just emerging, and Liyang had moved quickly to secure this landmark project. 

Founded in 2011, CATL is China’s best-known automotive battery maker and a world-class supplier to NEV manufacturers. Impressed by Liyang’s pleasant environment and favourable investment climate, company founder Zeng Yuqun pledged to expand the firm’s presence there and turn the city into one of the world’s largest lithium battery manufacturing bases. 

The confidence led to tangible outcomes. By 2024, Liyang accounted for 38.7 percent of Jiangsu’s battery shipments and 14.4 percent of China’s total, ranking first among all counties nationwide. 

How did a small county-level city manage such a dramatic leap into high-tech manufacturing? Officials at Liyang High-tech Zone credit the city’s success to its strategic use of technological talent and advanced innovation platforms, which have fuelled the growth of leading industrial clusters.  

The groundwork was laid as early as 2012, when Zhongguancun - Beijing’s famous high-tech zone - established its first science and technology park outside the Chinese capital in Liyang. This move marked the start of an ambitious plan to develop a green energy industry zone spanning 4.3 square km. Today, spearheaded by CATL and leading automaker SAIC Motor, the zone has drawn over 100 enterprises along the supply chain, reaching 97 percent of a complete supply chain, turning itself into China’s most advanced and efficient power battery manufacturing base. 

This year, Liyang successfully commissioned the world’s first 100-tonne-per-year solid-state electrolyte production line. With the global automotive industry racing towards electrification, Liyang has moved from a supporting role to a recognised leading position.  

A visitor picks blueberries at an eco-park in Liyang, Jiangsu Province, on 30 May 2021 (XINHUA) 

Green prosperity 

Power batteries are not Liyang’s only calling card. Above its Changdanghu Airport, small planes regularly cut through the blue sky. “Many young trainees come here for flying lessons,” said Zhou Yuening, general manager of Changzhou Xinhua General Aviation. With China’s low-altitude economy taking off, interest in pilot training has surged. In 2023, the airport handled 20,778 flights and logged more than 3,000 hours of flight time - up 80 percent and 55 percent respectively from the previous year. 

Beyond batteries and aviation, Liyang’s industrial landscape now encompasses high-end stainless steel, smart grids, and intelligent equipment manufacturing. Together, these high-tech sectors form the backbone of a dynamic modern industrial cluster. 

Meanwhile, the city’s reputation in tourism remains strong. It has pursued a comprehensive “green tourism” strategy, gaining national recognition through its distinctive rural attractions such as themed tea houses and picturesque countryside villages. One flagship project is Liyang No. 1 Road - a 365-km scenic route connecting multiple townships and weaving landscapes and communities into a continuous ribbon of beauty. The road has become a social media sensation, drawing visitors to enjoy lakes, mountains, and farmland vistas. Local agricultural products, from tea to seasonal fruits, are popular with tourists, providing new income streams for farmers along the route. 

The success of the strategy is clear: The road attracts more than 6 million tourists annually, benefitting 100,000 farmers. Annual incomes along the route rise by an average of 10,000 yuan ($1,400) per person, turning the road into a model of ecological protection, integrated tourism, and shared prosperity. 

Not far from Liyang city centre, Shezhu Town has earned another reputed designation as “China’s No. 1 Town for Freshwater Shrimp.” Aquaculture here has grown into an 800 million yuan ($111.8 million) industry, with 65,000 mu (around 4,300 hectares) dedicated to farming these prized delicacies. 

Shezhu is home to China’s only market focused on shrimp trading, which also incorporates distribution and e-commerce. Thanks to online platforms, the shrimp caught here end up in fresh food sections of JD.com, Meituan, and Freshippo supermarkets across east China. It’s another example of how Liyang’s industries combine local resources with modern marketing to reach a wider market. 

From batteries to aviation, and scenic roads to aquaculture, Liyang has emerged as a model of county-level economic transformation. Its story demonstrates a winning formula for similar regions: anchor industries at the core, nurture an innovation-friendly ecosystem, and harness local assets for sustainable, inclusive growth.