Chongqing recognized as a global city of design

Chongqing has been selected as a new member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) and has been granted the status of Creative City of Design. It is the first Creative City of Design in western China and the fifth nationwide, following Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, and Wuhan.

Established in 2004, UCCN aims to promote cooperation among cities that recognize creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The network covers seven creative areas: crafts and folk art, media arts, film, design, gastronomy, literature, and music.

In recent years, Chongqing has focused on industrial design, engineering design, and fashion design to establish itself as a city of design. In 2021, it became the sole city in western China among the four national demonstration cities for industrial design. In 2022, the municipality issued an action plan to build a City of Design.

With a growing industry scale, Chongqing now boasts over 300 design-related bases and parks, including Chongqing Design Park, Chongqing Industrial Design City, and Jinshan Ecool. The city is home to over 50 thousand design enterprises employing 500 thousand people in this field. The cultural creativity and design services industry generates over 200 billion yuan ($27.86 billion), contributing approximately 8 percent of its GDP.

Jinshan Ecool. [Photo provided to english.liangjiang.gov.cn]

Jinshan Ecool, a cultural park similar to the famous 798 District in Beijing, was transformed from an industrial processing base in Liangjiang New Area. Since opening to the public in 2016, the park has housed various design studios, galleries, art centers, cafes, restaurants, and shops, becoming an iconic cultural and trendy space in Chongqing. In addition to year-round exhibitions of local and foreign artists, the park hosts industry-focused events and exhibitions in architecture, materials, and other design-relevant sectors.

Yuelai International Convention and Exhibition City stretches along the Liangjiang New Area. [Photo provided to english.liangjiang.gov.cn]

Yuelai International Convention and Exhibition City, a core carrier in Chongqing's pursuit of becoming a city of design, is developing into a world-class design park. The city aims to create a platform for talent training, product exhibitions, information publishing, and excellent design.

Yuelai International Convention and Exhibition City has established a comprehensive industrial chain encompassing conventions, exhibitions, design, and cultural and tourism sectors. The city boasts operating system that includes design platforms, industry ecosystem, and park services. With a strategic focus on events with far-reaching influence, such as the China Manufacturing Design Conference, Yuelai International Convention and Exhibition City has successfully attracted both domestic and international resources. This concerted effort is shaping the city into a prominent hub for the global development of the design industry, exerting significant influence on the international stage.