Nanshan District secured a spot in the top three, alongside Haidian District of Beijing and Pudong New Area of Shanghai in a list of China’s most valuable urban areas for venture capital in 2024.

The list was unveiled by CV Info, a leading financial service technology firm in China’s private equity investment industry, at the annual meeting of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum on March 31.

Nanshan, renowned as an economic and innovation powerhouse as well as a science and technology hub, has consistently demonstrated robust economic performance. In 2024, the district’s GDP soared to 950.1 billion yuan (US$130.68 billion), maintaining its position as the top-ranking district or county in Guangdong Province for 12 consecutive years.

The district is home to over 600,000 business entities, including 216 listed companies, 31 manufacturing industry champions, 310 “little giant” firms, and more than 5,500 national high-tech enterprises, placing it among the leaders in both the province and the nation.

In recent years, Nanshan has strategically planned the development of a venture capital and investment cluster area, focusing on Shenzhen Bay and Xili Lake, with Chuangxin Boulevard as the central axis.

The district’s recent “Six Ones” action plan to support innovation and entrepreneurship has garnered high praise. The plan includes the establishment of a strategic direct investment special seed fund and angel fund with a total scale of 500 million yuan, offering lead investment support to startups in key strategic emerging and future industries such as artificial intelligence, robotics, biomedicine, and low-altitude economy. 

Notably, the fund allows for a maximum permissible loss of 100% for a single project, demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering innovation.

In the realm of fintech, Nanshan continues to lead the way. The government has successfully guided funds to collaborate with 42 venture capital institutions, resulting in the establishment of 61 sub-funds with a total scale exceeding 100 billion yuan. To date, these funds have cumulatively invested in 2,847 projects, with an investment amount reaching 119 billion yuan.