The GDP data for the first half of 2026 has been released. Which district in Guangzhou stands out the most? The answer remains the “leader” — Tianhe.
Statistics show that in the first half of 2026, Tianhe District’s GDP reached 373.628 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.3% at constant prices. This growth rate is 0.5 percentage points higher than the citywide average of Guangzhou, and 1.8 percentage points higher than the provincial average of Guangdong.
Two figures are particularly noteworthy.
The first is the total economic volume. Tianhe’s GDP hit 373.628 billion yuan, accounting for 23.3% of Guangzhou’s total GDP — nearly a quarter — firmly maintaining its top position in the city.
The second is the incremental growth. In the first half of the year, Tianhe’s nominal GDP increment reached 25.668 billion yuan, making up 26.6% of the city’s total GDP increment. In other words, for every 100 yuan of newly added GDP in Guangzhou, more than 26 yuan comes from Tianhe.
Whether measured by economic scale or growth contribution, Tianhe is truly the well-deserved “ballast” of Guangzhou. The saying that a major economic district shoulders the main responsibility could not be more fitting for Tianhe.
Many people assume Tianhe relies heavily on the service industry, but in reality, its growth engines have become increasingly diverse in recent years. In the first half of this year, almost all core indicators outperformed the citywide average.
Image source: Tianhe District Bureau of Statistics, Guangzhou
The added value of industries above designated size increased by 8.1%, 1.5 percentage points higher than the city’s average. The total retail sales of consumer goods reached 112.693 billion yuan, up 4.9% year-on-year, 2 percentage points higher than the city’s average. Fixed asset investment rose by 18%, 11.9 percentage points higher than the city’s average. The total volume of foreign trade imports and exports hit 51.23 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.9%, 9.4 percentage points higher than the city’s average.
Growth in industry, consumption, investment, and foreign trade — all four major growth drivers are functioning in tandem, which is a key reason why Tianhe can maintain its leading position.
Behind this economic growth is the market’s vote of confidence from enterprises. In the first half of this year, 79,700 new enterprises were established in Tianhe, bringing the total number of enterprises to 777,000. The number of newly added “Four Above-Scale” enterprises reached 395, up 25.8% year-on-year, with the new increment ranking first in the city.
Tianhe not only has a large total economic volume but also boasts a high-quality industrial structure.
In the first half of this year, the added value of core industries in the digital economy increased by 8.5%, accounting for 22.7% of GDP. That means for every 5 yuan of GDP, more than 1 yuan comes from the digital economy.
The gaming industry remains a signature strength. In the first half of the year, the gaming industry grew by 19.3%. The 11-kilometer industrial corridor of the “No.1 Gaming Street” along Keyun Road has become one of the most influential gaming industry clusters in China.
At the same time, artificial intelligence is emerging as a new growth pole for Tianhe.
In the first half of this year, the revenue of the artificial intelligence industry increased by 6.7%. According to the plan, Tianhe aims to push the annual revenue of its artificial intelligence industry beyond 62 billion yuan this year, achieving a year-on-year growth of over 12%.
In addition, major commercial projects such as SKP and the Phase II of Taikoo Hui are being accelerated this year, and Tianhe City Shopping Center is also undergoing upgrading and renovation.
Apart from commerce, the performance economy is also booming. As of July 20, 2026, Tianhe has hosted a total of 36 large-scale performance events, attracting 1.3 million visits to cultural and sports shows, generating direct ticket consumption of 880 million yuan, and driving over 6 billion yuan in related consumption across the region. A single concert does not just generate ticket revenue — it also benefits the catering, accommodation, transportation, and retail sectors, giving a significant boost to overall consumption.
2026 is designated as Guangzhou’s “Year of Investment Promotion”. As the city’s largest economic district, Tianhe is naturally a core player in this initiative.
In the first half of this year, Tianhe has attracted a total of 131 investment projects.
These include 3 10-billion-yuan-level projects, as well as key projects such as the Greater Bay Area Headquarters of Intuitive Fosun — a global leader in surgical robotics — and the headquarters of CNNC Overseas Co., Ltd. The total planned investment of newly filed (registered) investment projects reached 33.4 billion yuan, and the total estimated investment of newly signed investment projects hit 89.1 billion yuan.
The major economic district is taking the lead, with a continuous stream of large-scale projects flowing into Tianhe.
This article is from the WeChat Official Account “City Warfare”, authored by Tinghai Moyu, and published by 36Kr with authorization.