Chongqing stands as a formidable testament to strategic willpower and industrial might. Established as China’s fourth direct-controlled municipality, it serves as the economic anchor of the vast western interior. Its strategic importance is encapsulated in its dual role as the “key hub” of the Belt and Road Initiative and the core engine of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, a national strategy aimed at developing China’s western region.
Unlike coastal megacities, Chongqing’s identity is forged by its dramatic topography and its status as a critical inland logistics hub. It is the origin point of the China-Europe Railway Express and a pivotal node for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, connecting the Yangtze River Economic Belt to Southeast Asia. This unique positioning has fueled its rise as a “National Important Advanced Manufacturing Center,” home to world-leading clusters in intelligent and connected new energy vehicles (ICVs) and electronics manufacturing. The city embodies a blend of immense scale, geopolitical importance, and a hardworking, resilient spirit, offering a crucial perspective on China’s drive to develop its inland economies and secure strategic supply chains.
● Changan Automobile: Leading Chinese state-owned automaker – A pioneer in intelligent and new energy vehicle (NEV) development.
● SAILIS (Seres) Group: Key player in smart electric vehicles – Known for strategic partnerships (e.g., with Huawei) in tech-driven EV models.
● Zongshen Industrial Group: Major power sports and engine manufacturer – A leader in motorcycle, marine engine, and general power equipment.
● Chongqing Changan Aerospace (CCAG) / Li Auto (Production Base): Advanced NEV manufacturing – Sites for cutting-edge electric vehicle production and supply chain.
● Chongqing BOE: Major production base for semiconductor display panels – A critical node in the global display screen supply chain.
● Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products: Leading vaccine and biopharmaceutical producer – A major force in China’s biomedical sector.
● SWM (Shineray) Motors: Automotive manufacturer – Known for passenger and commercial vehicles.
● Chongqing Machinery & Electric Group: Comprehensive equipment manufacturing – Key supplier in industrial machinery and systems.
1. Witness the Rise of Inland China’s Industrial Champion: See firsthand how a major inland city has become a national leader in advanced manufacturing, particularly in automotive and electronics, challenging the traditional coastal dominance.
2. Decode the Smart and New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Supply Chain: Experience the complete ecosystem of China’s ICV/NEV industry, from R&D and core component manufacturing to final assembly, all concentrated in one major hub.
3. Understand Strategic Inland Logistics & Global Connectivity: Learn how Chongqing leverages rail, river, and overland routes (China-Europe Railway, Land-Sea Corridor) to overcome geographical constraints and become a pivotal global logistics node.
4. Analyze the “Dual Circulation” & Western Development Strategy: Gain ground-level insight into how national policies like the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle are being implemented to boost domestic innovation and economic security.
Changan Automobile
A visit to Changan offers a masterclass in the transformation of a traditional state-owned automaker into a tech-driven powerhouse. As one of China’s “Big Four” automakers, its global R&D network feeds innovation into its Chongqing headquarters. The tour highlights its dedicated NEV platform, the “Deep Blue” technology brand, and showcases its advancements in intelligent driving cabins, autonomous driving, and battery technology. Visitors see the scale and precision of its manufacturing lines and understand its strategic vision to lead in the software-defined vehicle era.
SAILIS (Seres) Group (with AITO)
A visit to Seres focuses on the disruptive “tech company + automaker” collaboration model. As the manufacturing partner behind the popular AITO brand (featuring Huawei’s HarmonyOS cockpit and advanced driving systems), Seres provides a live case study in vertical integration and speed. The tour typically showcases its smart factory, emphasizing flexible production lines, digital integration, and how it rapidly translates Huawei’s digital ecosystem into a compelling physical vehicle, highlighting a new paradigm in automotive industry partnerships.
Zongshen Industrial Group
Exploring Zongshen reveals the depth and versatility of China’s precision mechanical engineering. Far beyond motorcycles, it is a global leader in small-to-medium displacement engines and power equipment. The visit covers its core competency in engine R&D and manufacturing, showcasing applications across motorcycles, marine vessels, drones, and generators. It is an excellent study in how a company masters core mechanical technology to diversify and compete in multiple global B2B and B2C markets.
China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Haizhuang Wind Power (Chongqing)
This facility highlights Chongqing’s role in strategic, high-tech capital goods. CSSC Haizhuang is a national leader in the design and manufacture of large-scale wind turbine blades and equipment. The tour demonstrates the immense scale of producing 80-meter-plus composite blades, the advanced materials science involved, and the critical logistics of transporting these gigantic components from an inland city to coastal wind farms. It underscores Chongqing’s importance in China’s clean energy supply chain.
Chongqing BOE
A visit to the Chongqing BOE production base is a journey into the microscopic world of high-tech manufacturing. As a flagship factory of BOE Technology Group, a global leader in semiconductor displays, it produces advanced LCD and next-generation display panels. The tour (often through viewing galleries) emphasizes the ultra-clean, highly automated production environment, the complex photolithography and assembly processes, and the critical role this inland facility plays in securing China’s display panel supply chain for everything from laptops to TVs.
