In 2024, the total regional GDP of Tai'an, East China's Shandong province, reached 362.21 billion yuan ($49.83 billion), a 5.8 percent increase from the previous year, according to official data.

The primary industry saw a value added of 37.32 billion yuan, up by 3.8 percent from the previous year. The secondary industry recorded a value added of 151.67 billion yuan, showing a growth of 6.7 percent, while the tertiary industry experienced a value added of 173.22 billion yuan, marking a 5.4 percent increase.

The industrial production in Tai'an operated steadily last year. The value added of the city's industrial enterprises above a designated size increased by 8.5 percent from the previous year, maintaining a stable growth rate.

In 2024, Tai'an achieved significant growth in agricultural production metrics. With a sown area of 374,700 hectares and a grain yield of 7,093.88 kilograms per hectare, the city's total grain output reached 2.66 million metric tons. This growth in the area sown, grain yield, and total grain output indicates a positive trend in agricultural production. The total output value of the agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery industries reached 74.47 billion yuan, showing a 4.3 percent increase compared to the previous year.

The construction industry in the city also experienced robust growth in 2024, with the total output value reaching 154.89 billion yuan, an 8 percent increase from the previous year. Construction enterprises in Tai'an generated 79.79 billion yuan in output value outside the province, accounting for 51.5 percent of the total output value.

The service industry played a crucial role in economic and social development in Tai'an. From January to November, the city's large-scale service industry achieved operating income of 33.85 billion yuan, a 10.3 percent year-on-year increase.

Last year, the city's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 137.64 billion yuan, a 7 percent increase compared to the previous year. Retail sales by units above a designated size amounted to 46.21 billion yuan, a 13.4 percent increase from the previous year.

Tai'an experienced strong momentum in foreign trade exports, with the total import and export value reaching 54.1 billion yuan, an 18.2 percent increase from the previous year. The total export value amounted to 48.23 billion yuan, marking a 22.6 percent increase.

In 2024, Tai'an focused on developing new quality productive forces. The value added by high-tech manufacturing industries above a designated scale in the city increased by 19.1 percent compared to the previous year.

Tai'an continued to upgrade its consumption structure in 2024. Sales of automobiles at designated retail enterprises in the city increased by 5.5 percent compared to the previous year. Sales of new energy vehicles surged by 69.2 percent, contributing to a 3.5 percentage point increase in the growth rate of designated retail businesses.

The city's expenditure on people's livelihoods amounted to 38.09 billion yuan last year, accounting for 79.4 percent of the general public budget expenditure, indicating a continuous improvement in ensuring people's livelihoods.

Tai'an is a treasure trove of cultural and tourism resources. [Photo by Chen Yang/for chinadaily.com.cn]