The Industrial Rejuvenation of an Old Urban District

Dadong has taken hold of the opportunities provided by the municipal auto ambition to transform itself into an advanced "auto district," for not only Liaoning Province, but for the whole country. It is pressing toward this goal by planning an integrated auto zone in eastern Shenyang of the highest international standards. Apart from big name car producers, it is also wooing spares and parts manufacturers to complete the industrial chain. Now the district has seen the coming of South Korea's POSCO – one of the world's largest steel makers, which has started construction of an automobile steel plate project. Shanghai-based Baosteel is meantime busy with the expansion of its Dadong plant.

Dadong is eyeing on a modern auto industry complex complete with auto manufacturing, logistics, spares and parts, decoration and mobile culture enterprises. By 2015 the auto zone expects to develop an annual production capacity of one million cars and house over 100 spares and parts manufacturers, with both the output values of cars and spares and parts exceeding RMB 100 billion.

Reliance on Innovation

Dadong has relied on technological innovation for its industrial development, and its Sino-ROK Sci-Tech Industrial Park and Qidi Sci-Tech Park are two important keys toward that end. The two parks are wooing well-known domestic and international companies that represent advanced technology and managerial experience and operate non-polluting projects to build their headquarters in the parks. They will provide much needed projects as well as technological and intelligence support for the district's economic development.

Dadong has also employed the technological strength of the Shenyang-EU Economic Development Zone located within its boundary in promoting its development level of information technology and services, and nursing a high-tech economy. It offers strong incentives to sci & tech development and research, and provides full assistance for their results to go into commercial production, in an effort to increase the presence of high and new technologies in local economy.

Spurring Tertiary Industries

After years of concentrated effort, Dadong has established a thriving retailing hub centered on retail giants, such as Joy City, New-Mart, Wal-Mart, Carrefour and TESCO, and a flourishing entertainment and hotel industry. Specialized commercial streets and districts have also played an important role in sustaining the steady and continuous growth of the modern service industry in the district.