Pingyao takes fast-track to development

Pingyao county in North China's Shanxi province has been restructuring its economy and industry in recent years to accelerate the high-quality transformation and development.

Upgrading traditional industries

Pingyao has upgraded its six traditional industries -- coal, coking, foundry, food processing, rubber and building materials -- to create a diversified, mid to high-end modern industrial ecosystem.

The county has promoted the standardized development of its mines and implemented digital and intelligent management in its coal industry. It has reduced excess coking capacity in its coking industry and helped its casting industry achieve environmentally friendly and intelligent cluster development.

Meanwhile, it has extended its recycled rubber industrial supply chain, strengthened brand building in food processing and advanced the utilization of resources in its building materials sector.

In addition, the county has optimized its industrial layout and established a coordinated development configuration. This has been supported by the Pingyao Economic and Technological Development Zone, the Pingyao Green Food Processing Park, Pingyao Emerging Industrial Park, Pingyao Cultural Tourism Creative Park, Pingyao Coal Chemical Circular Economy Industrial Park and the Fengyan Industrial Park.

Accelerating development of new industries

Pingyao has accelerated the development of its new industries. 

In the new energy industry, the county has launched a liquefied natural gas project and a medicinal herb planting-photovoltaic-agriculture demonstration project -- whose early phases have gone into operation. 

In the new materials industry, it has introduced new eco-friendly, energy saving and efficient building materials projects.

In terms of the new pharmaceuticals and medicine industry, Zhongke Hongji Pingyao Biotechnology Industrial Park has been completed and been put into production -- with its main product, sialic acid, now being distributed nationally. 

In the current year, plans are for Pingyao to accelerate the establishment of new energy, new materials, new infrastructure, new equipment, new products and other cutting-edge industries.

Integrating cultural and tourism development

Focusing on its goal of becoming an international tourist city, Pingyao has benchmarked advanced domestic and international tourism development concepts and promoted the integrated development of its cultural tourism industry with related industries.

It has brought in the cultural creative team from the Palace Museum of Beijing to develop a cultural and creative product range called Pingyao Gift. 

It has begun construction of the Pingyao tourist train project. Meanwhile, it has continued to develop the Pingyao International Film Festival, the Pingyao International Sculpture Festival and the Pingyao International Photography Exhibition, among other events.