Published by ChinaMNC · Jieyang

Rongcheng District's Five-Year Blueprint: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

A practical guide for foreign founders on Rongcheng District's economic development plans, investment opportunities, and business environment improvements based on official government reports.

Rongcheng District's Five-Year Plan: Opportunities for Foreign Founders

Foreign founders considering setting up operations in China's Guangdong province should pay attention to Rongcheng District in Jieyang City, which recently outlined its achievements and future plans at its 8th People's Congress and 8th CPPCC sessions. The district aims to become a "vibrant ancient city, industrial stronghold, and harmonious Rongcheng" and a "pioneer in high-quality development in eastern Guangdong." This article summarizes key points from the official report to help foreign entrepreneurs understand the local business environment and potential opportunities.

Economic and Investment Highlights

Rongcheng has seen significant economic growth over the past five years. Tax revenue grew at an average annual rate of 3.22%, and local general public budget revenue exceeded 1.5 billion yuan in 2025, doubling from 2021. The district attracted 357 investment projects with a total investment of 38.6 billion yuan, including industrial projects like Pengxin Energy Storage Power Station and Hefu Metal that were signed and put into production within the same year. In the past two years, 205 bond projects with a total investment of 80.5 billion yuan were planned, accelerating investment momentum.

Industrial Development

Rongcheng is building a strong industrial base. The district's "China Plastic Fashion Shoe Capital" title was successfully re-evaluated. It established the city's first modern intensive industrial park, Wanyang Zhongchuang City, which hosts 87 enterprises, with 27 already in production. A joint industrial transfer cooperation park between Huangjiang Town (Dongguan) and Rongcheng District has been launched, and two specialized parks are under construction. The Marriott Hotel opened, and two major commercial complexes, Wanda and Baode, have begun operations. Two modern agricultural industrial parks were completed, and local products like Zoutang pear preserves and Didu green crabs were included in the national list of famous, special, and new agricultural products.

Ancient City Revitalization and Cultural Tourism

The district is revitalizing its ancient city with a "embroidery功夫" approach, focusing on cultural preservation and tourism. Four streets were designated as provincial historical and cultural blocks, and 1,206 buildings were restored to their original style. The cultural axis from Jinxian Gate to Jieyang Confucian Temple was fully connected. The Nanpu Fishing Song project, stalled for nearly 20 years, was restarted and completed. The Chaoshan Overseas Chinese Square and Hall will soon open. A 4.1-kilometer ring park and a 6.7-kilometer riverside promenade along the south bank of the Rongjiang River have been built. Waterways like Yujiao Stream were dredged, and a 164-meter ancient river channel was restored. 280 old buildings were revitalized, and 140 cultural tourism projects were implemented. Five county-level intangible cultural heritage exhibition halls opened. In 2025, the ancient city received 5.5675 million visitors, and during the 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays, visitors increased by 130% and 150% respectively.

Infrastructure and Urban Renewal

Rongcheng is tackling long-standing issues in land acquisition and environmental governance. For the Guangdong-East Intercity Railway, 2,234 compensation cases were smoothly completed. Demolition for projects including the Jingzao Bridge, Jinxianmen Avenue extension, G206 national highway realignment, and Putian interchange connecting line totaled 190,600 square meters. In the past three years, 2 million square meters were demolished, and in the ancient city, 5,600 cases covering 584,000 square meters were completed in just over a year. Water environment treatment saw an investment of 9.75 billion yuan over five years, with nearly 570 kilometers of new sewage pipelines. The centralized sewage collection rate rose from 20% to 41%, and 63 key tributaries basically eliminated劣V类 water. Water quality at national monitoring sections in Didu and Longshi achieved "double compliance" for the first time, reaching historical best levels.

Business Environment and Rural Development

The district has made progress in the "Hundred, Thousand, and Ten Thousand Project," and was recognized by the province as a better-performing county. Typical villages like Yupu and Nanchao have become popular check-in spots, and Tangpu Village was named a "National Civilized Village." In just half a year, 17 contiguous landscape belts spanning 165 kilometers were created. Several main roads opened, 10 "dead-end roads" were connected, 40 road and bridge projects started, 54 old residential communities were upgraded, and three urban renewal projects, including one east of Jieyang No.1 Middle School, are accelerating. Xihu Park and Dongfeng Sports Square were renovated or are under construction. The district also completed institutional reforms, established Jinxianmen Subdistrict, and was the first in the city to have household registration and market supervision windows fully integrated into party-mass service centers. It launched the "Rongyiban" service on the Yue Shengshi platform. A county-level state-owned investment platform with AA credit rating was created, and the average annual collective economic income of 161 administrative villages reached a certain level (specific figure not provided in source).

Implications for Foreign Founders

For foreign entrepreneurs, Rongcheng offers a growing industrial base, improved infrastructure, and a focus on cultural tourism and modern agriculture. The district's efforts to streamline administrative procedures, such as integrating government services and creating a credit-rated investment platform, may ease company registration and operations. However, foreign founders should conduct thorough due diligence and consult local experts to navigate regulations. The development of industrial parks and commercial complexes provides potential locations for manufacturing, retail, or service businesses. The emphasis on tourism could create opportunities in hospitality and cultural sectors.

Next Steps

If you are considering establishing a presence in Rongcheng or elsewhere in China, ChinaMNC can assist with company registration, compliance, and operational support. Contact us on WhatsApp or WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for personalized guidance.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.