Cities Pulled Down by GDP: Mistaken for Underdevelopment, but Their True Strength Commands Respect

Many netizens currently judge a city's economic level based on its total GDP, which is actually quite one-sided. GDP refers to the total dynamic economy within a complete administrative region, not a reflection of the economic strength of a single city, especially for prefecture-level and above cities with highly developed county economies. For example, Suzhou's total economic output is inflated by its strong county economies. There are four most typical cities in China whose total GDP appears lower than similar cities, leading many to mistakenly think they are underdeveloped. In fact, their comprehensive strength and influence command respect. Do you know which four cities?

The first one is the municipality of Tianjin, a city pulled down by GDP. The scale of urban construction, livable living, and the integration of Chinese and Western cultures are enough to prove that Tianjin's comprehensive strength cannot be directly assessed by GDP. Tianjin's urban construction and city presence live up to its status as a municipality.

If you only look at GDP, you wouldn't think it's very developed, but when you visit Tianjin in person, you'll find that it is not only economically and trade-developed but also has urban construction beyond your imagination. More importantly, it offers high incomes and low prices that people across the country envy, along with a livable urban environment. Only when you come to Tianjin can you feel that it is a metropolis pulled down by GDP. What do you think?

If you roughly estimate the economic construction and urban development levels of major cities along the west coast of the Bohai Sea, Tianjin is definitely number one. It ranks among the top in both comprehensive strength and urban livability. Relying on its special location along the Bohai and Yellow Seas, profound industrial base, and完善的financial system, it has established its status as an international seaport. Tianjin Port is also the largest port in North China by throughput and an important gateway port for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. The impression Tianjin gives is not just that of a Chinese municipality but also the scenery of an international metropolis.

The second city is Dalian. What kind of city is Dalian in your impression? Is it just a nationally designated separate-planning city? It is an international city intertwined with marine culture! According to official forecasts, Dalian's GDP in 2019 was 700.1 billion yuan, while the threshold for the top ten GDP cities in China was 1.4 trillion yuan. So, is Dalian underdeveloped? Definitely not!

Dalian, the largest peninsular seaport city in the north, is often thought of as a relatively independent large city. Whether in terms of economic strength or strategic position, Dalian is at the national level, giving it the illusion of a municipality. Although Dalian's GDP in 2019 was only 700.1 billion yuan, it was the highest among all cities in the three northeastern provinces, and the county-level cities under Dalian's jurisdiction contribute a relatively small proportion to its GDP, indicating that the urban area's economy is quite developed.

The five nationally designated separate-planning cities—Dalian, Qingdao, Ningbo, Xiamen, and Shenzhen—represent the coastal central cities of different regions in China, like five golden locks securing the country's important sea areas. On the streets of Dalian, you see a harmonious integration of the city and the ocean. Under the night sky, the cosmopolitan Dalian reveals the temperament of a northern seaport city!

The third city is Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is indeed unfair to measure a city's economic level solely by total GDP. Due to differences in statistical calibers, administrative divisions, and industrial structures, they are not fully comparable. For example, Nanjing's total GDP is 1.4 trillion yuan, while Suzhou's is 1.92 trillion yuan, so Suzhou's economy is stronger than Nanjing's? It seems so, but actually not. The county-level cities under Suzhou's jurisdiction—Kunshan, Zhangjiagang, Changshu, Taicang, etc.—contribute a total GDP of over 1 trillion yuan. In other words, if you subtract the county-level economic output from Suzhou, the urban area's economic output may not be higher than Nanjing's. In terms of scientific research, universities, infrastructure, and many other aspects, Nanjing ranks among the top in the country. Thus, Nanjing's comprehensive strength far exceeds that of Suzhou.

Looking only at total GDP, Nanjing also ranks among the top in the country, which is rare for large cities that do not include county-level cities. Coupled with other supporting facilities and soft environment, Nanjing's comprehensive strength is second only to Beijing and Shanghai, on par with Guangzhou! That is the true comprehensive strength of Nanjing.

In my impression, Nanjing is not only an ancient capital of six dynasties and ten dynasties but also a node city in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Its achievements in history, culture, science, and education have established its status as the second most powerful city in the Yangtze River Delta in terms of comprehensive strength. So, Nanjing is a city pulled down by GDP, with its strength second only to Shanghai in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region. What do you think?

The fourth city is Xiamen. Xiamen's total GDP is the lowest among the five separate-planning cities, even lower than some prefecture-level cities. Therefore, many people think Xiamen's comprehensive strength is poor, but that is not the case. Since ancient times, Xiamen has been a gateway on China's southeastern coast, with numerous islands. The Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou economic circle centered on Xiamen is taking shape. Coupled with shared history and culture, Xiamen's status is evident.

Although the city's total GDP is less than 600 billion yuan, much lower than the prefecture-level cities of Wenzhou to the north and Zhangzhou to the south, Xiamen has no other county-level cities. Its urban area's economic output is relatively high nationally, and its strategic position is more important, with its comprehensive strength commanding respect.

The reason Xiamen's total economic output is not high is related to its overall industrial structure. Compared to the other four separate-planning cities, Xiamen's tier appears somewhat weaker. Xiamen mainly focuses on commerce and tourism and does not govern any county-level cities, so it is understandable that its total economic output is not high. Thus, Xiamen's comprehensive strength cannot be fully assessed by total GDP alone, as it can sometimes mislead people about a city's true strength. What do you think?