Qianhai explores viable paths for Shenzhen-Hong Kong rule alignment

Standing in Qianhai Stone Park in south China's Shenzhen, visitors can take in a striking panorama of blue waters, sandy beaches and lush greenery, with cargo ships entering the port and planes taking off in the distance, while skyscrapers rise behind them.

Once a barren stretch of tidal flats, Qianhai has been transformed into a vibrant modern urban district in just a few years.

Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, located in Shenzhen's southern coastal area and adjacent to Hong Kong, is one of the country's flagship reform zones to deepen cooperation between the two cities.

In September 2021, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council issued a plan to expand the zone from 14.92 square kilometers to 120.56 square kilometers, laying the foundation for the development of "Greater Qianhai." The plan positioned Qianhai as a pilot platform for comprehensive reform and innovation, a gateway and hub for high-level opening up, and a leading area for deeper Shenzhen-Hong Kong integration.

Over the past five years, reform measures have been systematically implemented, with 14 institutional innovations recognized as national firsts.

Its experience is offering a practical path for connecting rules, regulations and professional standards across the boundary, while creating new opportunities for people and businesses on both sides.

Modern services gain strength The zone's gross domestic product nearly doubled from 175.57 billion yuan (around $26.2 billion) in 2021 to 331.81 billion yuan (around $49.4 billion) in 2025, underscoring its strong growth momentum.

The expansion of Qianhai has brought more than just a larger geographical footprint.

As the cooperation zone extended into Shenzhen's Nanshan and Bao'an districts, resources in technological innovation, advanced manufacturing, port logistics and airport-related exhibition industries were incorporated into a broader development framework.

The expansion has also given Qianhai's modern service industries greater room to grow and strengthened links between services and the real economy.

In 2025, the added value of Qianhai's modern service sector reached 218.2 billion yuan (about $32.5 billion), accounting for 84.2% of the zone's total service-sector output.

Meanwhile, emerging industries including artificial intelligence (AI), embodied intelligent robotics, smart terminals, the low-altitude economy and marine industries are gaining ground.

"The next stage of Qianhai's development will focus on enabling modern services and advanced manufacturing to reinforce each other," said a deputy director at the China Development Institute's Qianhai branch.

That vision is already taking shape.