Huangshan city – named Xin'an, Shezhou or Huizhou in ancient times – is administered by Anhui province.
In its latest 2025 Government Work Report, the city highlights significant strides in various sectors. Its economic prowess has reached new heights, with regional GDP in 2024 surpassing 110 billion yuan ($15 billion) for the first time, a growth of around 5.8 percent compared to the previous year.
In 2024, the city welcomed 92.29 million tourists, with total tourism expenditure reaching 84.18 billion yuan, respective increases of 10.8 percent and 13.3 percent. The number of overnight registered guests reached 22.71 million, a 12.6-percent increase, while Mount Huangshan Scenic Area's main attractions saw a record-breaking 4.9 million visitors.
The industrial economy is rapidly catching up, with 67 new large-scale industrial enterprises added, bringing the total to a record 621. Huangshan High-tech Zone's industrial output value exceeded 10 billion yuan for the first time, an increase of 17 percent. The Huizhou Economic Development Zone and Xiuning Economic Development Zone were recognized as leading provincial development zones in terms of per-acre efficiency.
Efforts to establish an effective international meeting place have borne fruit, with the hosting of 74 foreign affairs events, including the 2024 RCEP Local Government and Friendship City Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum. Memoranda of friendly cooperation were signed with cities like Mezzano, Italy, bringing the total number of international friendly cities to 35. Tunxi International Airport was designated as a transit visa-free entry and exit port, adding five new or restored international routes, totaling 25 operational routes and serving 28 cities. The city welcomed 180,000 inbound tourists in 2024, a 170.7-percent increase.
Looking ahead to 2024, Huangshan outlined pivotal objectives, including promoting the integration of culture and tourism, accelerating technological innovation and new industrial development, boosting rural vitalization, deepening reform and opening-up, expanding effective demand, enhancing urban functional quality and vitality, nurturing ecological advantages, improving livelihoods, and strengthening government self-construction.
Mount Huangshan Scenic Area. [Photo/Huangshan Daily]