I. Introduction
Siming District is the central urban area of Xiamen City and the location of the municipal administrative center. With a total coverage area of 84 square kilometers, Siming District now houses a permanent population of 10.69 million. It governs 10 sub-districts and 98 communities. Ranked 25th on the "2024 CCID Top 100 Districts" list, it holds the top position in the province and has consistently ranked first in Fujian Province’s "Top Ten Urban Districts for Development" from 2021 to 2024. Siming District is also the main venue for significant events such as the BRICS Xiamen Summit, the Golden Rooster Film Festival, and the China International Fair for Investment and Trade.
Siming District, as the birthplace of Xiamen, boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage. It is home to famous cultural and tourist resources such as Gulangyu, Xiamen University, and Nanputuo Temple. "Gulangyu: Historical International Settlement" is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, and the folk ritual "Wangchuan ceremony—rituals and related practices for maintaining sustainable connections between people and the ocean" has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Siming District has a strong comprehensive strength. The district’s four main industries—finance, commerce, software information, and cultural tourism—are thriving. It features high-end business parks such as Guanyinshan International Business Center and Software Park Phase I and II. The district has cultivated five of China’s top 100 Internet companies, including 4399 and G-bits, and is home to 241 headquarters enterprises, including ANTA. There are also 48 enterprises with tax revenues exceeding 100 million yuan.
Siming District exhibits significant reform vitality. It has been recognized for its "Financial and Judicial Collaboration Platform to Promote High-Quality Development" and the "Innovative Gulangyu Protection and Heritage Model, Bringing Cultural Heritage to Life," which represented Xiamen and won national reform awards in 2020 and 2022. By innovatively deepening the "digital-real integration" mechanism, Siming was selected for Fujian Provincial Party Committee’s first batch of grassroots reform initiatives under the "one county, one distinction" special reform program. It successfully established the "smart city intelligent systems characteristic industrial cluster," recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Siming District provides an excellent quality of life for its residents. The per capita GDP of permanent residents in Siming District has exceeded 200,000 yuan, reaching the level of moderately developed countries. The district has been awarded the title of National Pilot District for High-Quality and Equitable Compulsory Education and is one of the first "Education Strong Districts" in Fujian Province. The primary health indicators of the population have reached the mid-to-high levels of developed countries.?
Siming District topped in 2024 a GDP of 291.367 billion yuan that accounted for about 1/3 of the city’s total, and a total fiscal revenue of 41 billion yuan, stabilizing its first rank among the counties and districts in Fujian Province for 9 consecutive years.
II. Industrial Development
Siming District prioritizes four leading industries: software & information services, financial services, commercial trade services, and cultural-tourism creativity. It drives industrial advancement toward high-end, intelligent, and clustered development, striving to build a regionally competitive hub for modern services and high-tech industries.
（I）Software information service
As the main venue for the development of Xiamen's software information industry,which accounts for over 70% of the city’s scale. The number of software information enterprises above designated size in Siming District has topped 299 in 2024, with a revenue of 59.3 billion yuan.?The smart city intelligent systems industrial cluster was designated by MIIT as a "characteristic industrial cluster for SMEs." The district has nurtured a cohort of robust enterprises: 4 enterprises shortlisted for "China's Top 100 Internet Enterprises by Comprehensive Strength 2024"—sweeping all city-level entries; 2 listed as "2024 China Potential Unicorns"; 19 included in "Fujian’s Top 50 Internet Enterprises 2024," monopolizing the top three positions.
The district is accelerating development of the provincial-level digital economy industrial cluster (AI sector), rapidly aggregating three core elements—computing power, algorithms, and data—while providing robust support in policies, talent, funding, space, and application scenarios to construct a comprehensive industrial ecosystem. It has cultivated 314 AI-related enterprises such as Meitu and DataExa. Four large-scale AI models and 31 algorithms have been consolidated, with 13 application scenarios recognized as national/provincial exemplary cases. Siming introduced the Several Measures to Promote New-Generation AI Development, Fujian's first county/district-level AI-specific policy. It advances the Siming District intelligent computing center, whose Phase I plans 1,000P computing power (320P operational), fueling innovation through computing resources. Leading entities including Tencent, Huawei, Baidu, and Beijing Institute of Big Data Research have been introduced to enable low-threshold, high-efficiency adoption of AI technologies and resources across academia, research, and industry.
Leading enterprises: SDIC Intelligence, Meitu, 4399, G-bits, Zhonglian Shiji, Reconova, DataExa, etc.
（II）Financial Industry
Siming District leads all other districts in the city in terms of financial institution density and the level of financial industry development. Over 90% of Xiamen's bank branches and headquarters, more than 90% of insurance institutions, and 85% of securities firms are located in Siming. The district has also established six private equity fund clusters, including the Green Fast New Era Plaza.
In 2024, the added value of the district’s finance and insurance industry reached 43.193 billion yuan. It has formed a diversified financial service system with banking as the leading industry, complemented by securities, futures, insurance, trust and other financial supporting industries, which is relatively complete in function and robust in operation.
Leading enterprises: Ruida Futures, Jinyuan President Securities, King Dragon Life, HongShan Capital, Hillhouse Capital, Challenger Capital, Centurium Capital, etc.
(III)Commercial and Trade Industry
There are 28 shopping centers here, and Zhongshan Road is listed as a national pilot high-grade pedestrian street. Emerging industry models such as live e-commerce are also flourishing.
Siming District is the urban area with the most prosperous commerce industry in Xiamen,There are 28 shopping centers here, Zhongshan Road was awarded the title of "National Demonstration Pedestrian Street" in the third batch of selections. Emerging industry models such as live e-commerce are also flourishing.In 2024, Siming District achieved a wholesale and retail sales volume of 1.1102 trillion yuan (surpassing one trillion yuan for four consecutive years), once again ranking first citywide. Additionally, it recorded a total retail sales of consumer goods of 112.7 billion yuan (exceeding the 100-billion-yuan threshold for four straight years), maintaining its leading position in both total volume and growth rate across the city.The district has 133 commercial enterprises with sales exceeding 1 billion yuan.
Siming District ranks among the preferred host cities for domestic and international brand enterprises to conduct order fairs, distributor conferences, and annual meetings. Boasting abundant exhibition resources and optimal supporting facilities, the district hosted 109 exhibitions covering 1.6 million square meters in 2024, generating economic benefits of 9.09 billion yuan. It concurrently held 2,432 conferences attracting 430,600 participants, contributing 6.772 billion yuan in economic benefits—accounting for over half of Xiamen's totals in both categories.
Leading enterprises: C&D, ITG, Anta, Luckin Coffee, Holder, Zisen, etc.
Premier exhibitions: China International Fair for Investment and Trade, China Xiamen International Buddhist Items & Crafts Fair, Xiamen Stone Fair, Xiamen Industry Exposition (CXMEE), etc.
（IV）Cultural Tourism and Creativity
Siming District is dotted heavily with tourist attractions and scenic spots and historic sites, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. It has also been awarded the demonstration area for all-for-one ecological tourism in Fujian Province. Siming District leads the city in the number of A-level scenic spots, currently home to the national 5A tourist attractions Gulangyu and the Botanical Garden, the 4A tourist attraction Hulishan Fortress, the 3A tourist attraction Olympic Museum, and the 2A tourist attraction Jiahe Liangku. In 2023, Siming District was successfully awarded the "2022 National Sports Industry Demonstration Base" and recognized as one of the "Top Ten Destinations for Chinese Sports Tourism Boutique Projects in 2023.”In 2024, Siming received?66.0077 million domestic and international tourist trips and achieved a total tourism revenue of 106.413 billion yuan.
Siming's cultural and creative industries lead the city. In recent years, these industries in Siming District have experienced remarkable emergence and achieved notable successes. The district houses 12 provincial-level cultural industry demonstration bases, 40 municipal-or-higher key cultural enterprises, and 6 major cultural and creative parks—including Longshan Cultural & Creative Park, designated among "Fujian’s Top Ten Key Cultural Industrial Parks."
Iconic attractions: Gulangyu, Nanputuo Temple, Zengcuo'an, Shapowei, Huli Hill Fort, Xiamen Botanical Garden, etc.
III.Space for investment promotion
(I) Key areas for investment promotion
In accordance with the principles of overall planning, functional zoning, distinguishing features and coordinated development, Siming District has been strongly pursuing the spatial orientation of "great enhancement on the island". Efforts have been made to advance industry-city integration, make a further optimized functional layout of the urban area, vigorously decentralize the non-core functions of the central urban area, and introduce high-end industries and factor resources, so as to build a spatial layout of industrial development featuring "two poles, two belts, two areas, and multiple parks" with high industrial capacity and high functional quality.
Two poles:
1. Binbei Super Headquarters Base
Located in the core area of Xiamen Island and on the north bank of Yundang Lake, this project is an important initiative to implement the strategy of "great enhancement on the island" and an important carrier to accelerate the spatial layout of "one base, multiple centers" for the headquarters economy. It is planned to build a super corporate headquarters or regional headquarters base, and create an international central business activity zone equipped with complete high-end business facilities and a leading regional intelligent network in an ecologically pleasing area near the lake and mountains. It has an overall urban design range of 3 sq.km and an urban design scope of 90 hectares for key areas.
2. Kaiyuan International Science and Innovation City
Lying by the mountains in the core urban area in the southeast of Xiamen Island, this project looks across the sea from Jinmen and is adjacent to Xiamen International Convention & Exhibition Center, the main venue to host the BRICS Summit and the Golden Rooster Awards. The area has a total coverage area of about 312 hectares.Siming District aims to become a pilot area for policy and mechanism innovation, a demonstration zone for independent innovation, a new highland for top talent gathering, an industrial community with deep integration of industry, city, and people, and an eco-innovation city for green development. The focus will be on attracting core industries of the digital economy, forward-looking industries such as the metaverse, integrative industries like new infrastructure construction and new applications, and distinctive industries such as animation and games, digital finance, new consumption, and film and television technology.
Two belts:
1. Commerce and Trade Economic Belt
Building on the accessible and convenient transit network consisting of Metro Lines 1 and 2 and BRT, this economic belt runs along Xiahe Road, and turns to Lianqian West Road and Lianqian East Road, connecting the three major business circles of Zhongshan Road, Railway Station and Exhibition, bridging the two major business districts of East and West, and boosting the development of the commercial streets of Hexiang East Road, Hexiang West Road and Hubin South Road. It is mainly engaged in modern service industries such as commercial services, cultural creativity and leisure tourism. It has a total length of about 12 km.
2. Cultural Tourism Economic Belt
This economic belt stretches from Lujiang Road and runs along the Island Ring Boulevard to Guanyin Mountain International Business Center, linking Kulangsu Island, Xiamen University, Zengcuoan, Huangcuo and Guanyin Mountain. With Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center and high-end hotels along the Island Ring Boulevard as carriers, international conference and exhibition tourism business is carried out. It has a total length of about 20 km.
Two areas:
1. Cross-strait Financial Central Area (Siming Area)
It mainly consists of Guanyin Mountain Area, Exhibition North Area, Software Park, Kaiyuan Industrial Park, etc. With "Internet +" as the engine and innovative finance and headquarters economy as the core functions, it focuses on developing finance and headquarters economy to create a high-end CBD with a total coverage area of about 8.6 sq.km.
2. Lujiang Road Business District
Stretching from Xiahe Road to Xiamen University with Lujiang Road as the core, it is mainly composed of three large areas, namely Lujiang, Zhonghua and Xiagang, and focuses on the development of headquarters economy, modern commerce and professional services to create a mature CBD with a total coverage area of about 2.5 sq.km.
Multiple parks:
1. Xiamen Software Park Phase I
This project is a national first-class software park in China with a total coverage area of about 98,000 sqm and a gross floor area of 339,000 sqm. It is equipped with complete hardware and business supporting facilities.
2. Xiamen Software Park Phase II
This project is a national first-class software park in China and the core area of software and information service industry in Xiamen. With a coverage area of about 1 sq.km and a gross floor area of 1,640,000 sqm, it boasts a full-fledged infrastructure service platform and industrial development service platform
3. Longshan Cultural and Creative Industrial Park
The Cross-Strait Longshan Cultural and Creative Industrial Park is located in the geometric center of Xiamen Island, with a total planning area of 540,000 sqm. It was awarded as the National Demonstration Base for Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2020. Centering on cross-strait exchanges and development, the park focuses on building relevant industries and upstream and downstream industrial chains in the fields of science and technology and culture.
Other investment promotion areas:
1.Xiamen International Business Core Area A1 Plot Project
Located at the northeast intersection of Lüling Road and Jinianguan Road in Siming District, Xiamen, and situated at the northwest corner of the intersection of Lüling Road and Huandao Road, south of Hecuo Village, the A1 Plot was officially listed for sale on August 15, 2023. The project covers a total land area of 65,000 square meters, with an underground area of 82,000 square meters and a total construction area of approximately 624,000 square meters.?
2. Guanyinshan International Business Operation Center
Located in eastern Xiamen Island and situated within the core area of the Cross-Strait Regional Financial Center, the Guanyinshan International Business Operation Center spans a total area of 1.34 million square meters. It is divided into four functional zones: Business Operation Zone, Supporting Residential Zone, Mountain Park Zone, and Coastal Tourism & Leisure Zone. Among these, the business and financial development area covers 61 hectares, with plans to construct 56 mid-to-high-end office buildings totaling 2.119 million square meters of gross floor area. The residential area will comprise 1.048 million square meters, while schools and other supporting facilities will occupy 78,000 square meters.
3. Shapowei District
The first phase of Shapowei's organic renewal, launched in 2015, achieved notable success and was acclaimed by international media as "a dynamic, multifaceted museum blending tradition and modernity with a fishing port charm." In 2020, the second phase of renewal commenced under the principle of "organic renewal and rational revitalization," initially focusing on the western Shapowei area (approx. 60,000 sq.m). Aligned with the southern extension of Metro Line 3, the project aims to transform Shapowei into a high-aesthetic fishing port cultural district that embodies "authentic Xiamen" and "old Xiamen" charm, infused with local vibrancy. The plan features three key functional areas:
Fishing Port Cultural Experience
Coastal Art Plaza
Youth International Community
These zones will incorporate diverse elements such as a dock museum, fisherman’s wharf, tidal markets, vertical "fishing village" structures, cultural-creative industries, and co-working spaces, creating multifunctional public complexes. A conceptual masterplan for the broader Xiagang area (approx. 128 hectares) is under development, bounded by Shoushan Road to the north, Hongshan and Wanshi Mountain ecological lines to the east, Xiamen University to the south, and Yanwu Bridge to the west.
4. Dongping Mountain District
Nestled in Siming District’s core, Dongping Mountain is a rare urban forest resort within a city center. Covering 13.83 square kilometers, the area is themed around "Ecological Dongping," "Cultural Dongping," and "Learning Dongping," with goals to become:
A central ecological zone
Xiamen’s new cultural-tourism landmark
A hub for Minnan cultural heritage
A premier leisure destination
The project will feature unique accommodations, Success Chess Academy, a forest library, family-friendly farms, and research-learning bases, establishing Xiamen’s largest urban ecological park.
5.Key Investment Land Parcels
Siming District currently offers 51 investment-ready land parcels totaling 56.05 hectares. These include 20 near-term availability parcels (18.23 hectares) primarily located in the Kaiyuan Innovation Community and Xiamen International Business Core Zone, alongside 31 future-development parcels (37.83 hectares) concentrated in the Lianban area, Binbei Super Headquarters Hub, and Huangcuo Maohou sector.
6.Premium Commercial Properties
The district actively cultivates a high-rise economy, having developed 187 commercial buildings providing over 5.9 million square meters of premium office space. These include specialized towers for shipping, finance, and trade sectors, where industry leaders anchor clusters of professional service providers.
