Intelligent greenhouses in Yangquan city. [Photo/Shanxi Daily] 

Yangquan city in North China's Shanxi province recorded impressive industrial growth in the first half of this year.

The added value of industrial enterprises above designated size – those with annual sales revenue of more than 20 million yuan ($2.77 million) – climbed 4.6 percent, outperforming the provincial average by 0.7 percentage points and earning Yangquan the distinction of ranking third place by this metric in Shanxi. 

The manufacturing sector has been a key driver of industrial growth, witnessing a remarkable increase of 60.9 percent to account for 19.5 percent of the city's industrial added value while contributing 8.3 percentage points to overall industrial growth in Yanquan. 

Strategic emerging industries have also achieved significant growth, up 177.8 percent to account for 11.9 percent of the city's industrial added value. Additionally, the comprehensive utilization of the waste resources industry has grown tenfold, contributing 9.1 percentage points to Yanquan's overall industrial growth.

An energy storage station is under construction in Yangquan city. [Photo/Yangquan Daily] 

Since the beginning of the year, the city has focused on transforming and upgrading its traditional industries while nurturing the development of emerging industries. It aims to establish a modern industrial system. Enterprises have also placed greater emphasis on technological innovation. 

By focusing on high-end, intelligent, and green development, the city has been promoting the construction of intelligent production lines, digital workshops, and smart factories. 

Efforts have also been made to improve energy supply security and accelerate the construction of intelligent coal mines and mining faces. Key industries have undergone energy conservation and environmental protection transformation, while the application of artificial intelligence in the industrial field has been accelerated. Enterprises have also been encouraged to make more use of modern information technology.

Workers are on duty at a smart terminal production line at a factory in Yangquan city. [Photo/Yangquan Evening News] 

Furthermore, six characteristic professional towns at the municipal level have been recognized, with 20 million yuan allocated for industrial development and an additional 30 million yuan for the development of these towns' general development. 

In the first half of this year, the revenue generated from the nine major industrial chains reached 6.38 billion yuan, representing year-on-year growth of 3 percent.