Tucked away in the central part of Shandong Province, Zouping is a county-level city that lacks both coastal access and border trade routes. With a modest land area of 1,252 square kilometers and a population of 800,000, it hardly stands out on a map or in terms of natural resource endowments. Yet, this unassuming location has become the birthplace of 497 large-scale industrial enterprises, over ten national and provincial manufacturing single-item champions, and two companies listed on the China Top 500 Private Enterprises.
In the first half of 2026, 31 local businesses exceeded one billion yuan in revenue. How did this dense forest of industrial giants take root and thrive in such an environment? Building this industrial ecosystem has been a marathon, not a sprint. It stems from the unwavering commitment of companies to their core businesses and relentless innovation, combined with the local government's persistent efforts over many years to refine the business environment and cultivate a supportive ecosystem. Zouping has long championed a strategy of "prospering through industry," treating corporate support as a key driver of development and providing a stable policy climate alongside efficient, precise services.
Deep Roots Forge Mighty Trees
In the business world, particularly in manufacturing, impatience is the greatest enemy. A company's journey from small to large is not built on fleeting trends but on decades of perfecting a single endeavor. For local governments, optimizing the business environment isn't about artificially accelerating growth; it's about respecting the natural laws of corporate development. It requires giving companies the time, space, and sustained momentum to grow. Earlier this year, Shandong Kaitai Group once again clinched a provincial award for technological innovation in the equipment manufacturing sector. The company's independently developed B20S intelligent sandblasting robot integrates AI visual guidance with flexible tactile sensing, achieving precise eight-axis operations. According to Li Jiliang, Deputy Director of the company's research institute, the robot boasts 25% higher processing precision than competitors, a 10% reduction in energy consumption, and significantly extended workpiece lifespan, filling a domestic technological gap.
Founded in 2001, Kaitai began as a modest township enterprise in Zouping's Qingyang Town, producing low-end abrasives. Over more than two decades, it has dedicated itself to researching and manufacturing metal abrasives and intelligent shot blasting equipment, now commanding a leading market share nationwide. Its long-term focus has made it a dominant player in its niche sectors. In the first half of this year, Kaitai's exports surged by over 30%. "Policy and financial support have helped us expand overseas and bolstered our confidence to increase R&D spending," said Wu Chengmin, Vice General Manager of Kaitai. The company invests a steady 4% of its annual revenue into research, holding over 200 authorized patents and participating in the creation of 60 international, national, and industry standards—a remarkable shift from following rules to shaping them.
A visit to the steel pipe workshop of Shandong Guangfu Group reveals glowing red billets being transformed through piercing, rolling, and sizing into high-precision specialty pipes. This new production line, a 500 million yuan investment that began operating last October, can produce premium products ranging from 310mm to 630mm in outer diameter with wall thicknesses from 26mm to 180mm. These are used in aerospace, marine engineering, nuclear power, and wind energy. Founded in 1983, Guangfu Group responded to national calls by shuttering its traditional steel capacity in 2023 and pivoting to high-tech, high-value specialty pipes. In just three years, it achieved full coverage of seamless steel pipe specifications from 73mm to 630mm, a transformation supported by the government at every turn. During the construction of its high-end forging project, local authorities provided a dedicated service team, tailored approval procedures, and helped benchmark against industry leaders to secure advanced technology. Government assistance also helped the company secure over 100 million yuan in technical renovation funds and ultra-long-term special bonds, contributing to its "butterfly metamorphosis."
Zouping boasts a remarkable number of champion enterprises and products. It has cultivated three national-level and 14 provincial-level manufacturing single-item champions. Weiqiao Textile leads the globe in both cotton cloth and yarn production capacity, while Shandong Sanxing Group has pioneered the domestic mass production of diacylglycerol edible oil. These leaders span textiles, equipment manufacturing, new materials, and food processing, continuously upgrading the local industrial structure. "We actively plan the future alongside our champion companies, reserving projects with strong leadership and high added value," noted Li Xia, Director of the Zouping Industry and Information Technology Bureau. The focus ahead is on refining the enterprise cultivation system, strengthening dynamic monitoring, and helping growth-stage firms progress toward specialization and refinement, while also supporting champions in expanding into overseas markets.
The Leading Dragon Cultivates a Prosperous Forest
County-level industries across China are grappling with the painful transition of traditional sectors and tightening resource constraints. While many regions see industrial investment growth slow, Zouping's economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience, charting a path of counter-cyclical growth. Over the past five years, the city has implemented 297 key industrial projects with a total investment of 81.84 billion yuan, maintaining double-digit annual growth in industrial fixed-asset investment. In the first seven months of this year alone, large-scale industrial output value reached 161.3 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10%.
At the heart of this success is Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group, a mainstay on the Fortune Global 500 list for 15 consecutive years. With 18 production bases and total assets of 320 billion yuan, Weiqiao accounts for a staggering 63.84% of Zouping's large-scale industrial revenue and 72% of its total tax revenue. "Serving our enterprises well is the best form of investment attraction," says Huai Yue, a local official. The group's influence radiates through the aluminum deep-processing industrial park in Changshan Town, where molten aluminum is delivered directly to downstream fabricators by specialized vehicles, eliminating the need for ingot casting, long-distance transport, and remelting.
This innovative model saves downstream companies about 200 yuan per ton in remelting and transportation costs alone, according to Li Jinde, General Manager of Shandong Wantong Metal Technology Co., Ltd. "We chose Zouping mainly because of its complete aluminum industry ecosystem," Li explained. The city has established a full industrial chain—from bauxite and alumina to electrolytic aluminum, deep processing, and recycled aluminum—with over 100 aluminum-related enterprises accounting for 137.5 billion yuan in revenue in the first half of 2026.
The "leading dragon" effect extends to revitalizing dormant assets. In Weiqiao Town, the birthplace of the Weiqiao Group, the relocation of headquarters had left a trail of vacant factories. In 2025, Zouping launched a special action plan to rejuvenate the town, creating a collaborative model between government and enterprise. Shandong Minye Energy-Saving Materials Co., Ltd., an industrial chain partner, moved into one of these repurposed plants. "Relying on Weiqiao's vacated factory resources and the government's full-service support, we quickly completed our renovation," said Sun Zhaoyong, the company's deputy general manager. The project is set to produce 80,000 tons of ceramic fiber annually, with projected sales exceeding 400 million yuan by 2030. So far, the initiative has revived 184,000 square meters of factory space and attracted 37 projects, significantly boosting local investment and tax revenue. This "introduce one, drive a batch" cluster approach has proven remarkably effective.
Full-Cycle Support Nurtures All Growth
Enterprise growth requires continuous nurturing and timely guidance, with different support at various stages. Zouping has extended its service chain from initial approvals to the entire production and operation process, proactively identifying and solving problems to ensure companies have support at every stage of their journey. A prime example is Shandong Youran Coffee Co., Ltd., which recently launched automated production lines for instant coffee and cold brew concentrate. The company's chairman, Zheng Gaofei, noted that their first phase can produce 10,000 tons of instant coffee and 2,000 tons of cold brew concentrate annually, generating up to 800 million yuan in sales.
Youran Coffee's predecessor was a manufacturer of coffee production line equipment. When the market opportunity arose, the company pivoted to food processing—a challenging transition given vastly different regulatory requirements. "Upon learning of their need, we immediately formed a special support team and proactively engaged with them," said Yin Bo, Deputy Director of the High-tech Street Office. The government provided "nanny-style" services throughout the process, from contract signing and equipment installation to park construction and completion of all procedures, efficiently resolving hurdles.
Attention to detail even extended to infrastructure. When a visiting enterprise service officer noticed the 6-meter-wide road outside the factory was too narrow for large trucks, the street office coordinated to widen it to 14 meters—solving a problem the company hadn't even considered. "The government helped solve issues we hadn't even noticed," Zheng admitted. This proactive approach, described as staying "one step ahead, one step faster, one step closer," was also evident in a 50-million-dollar energy project by Thailand's Banpu Group. Despite obstacles like river crossings and complex geology, the first phase of the steam pipeline was completed in just 170 days thanks to a dedicated government work group. "Government-enterprise solidarity is the core guarantee of our project's success," said Yang Lidong, General Manager of the local thermal power company.
From signing contracts to achieving production, from service guarantees to win-win development, Zouping's full-lifecycle support ensures quality projects can be attracted, settled, and thrive. "Enterprises are the greatest asset for Zouping's development," said Zhang Qian, the city's party secretary. "We will continue to optimize policies, proactively serve, and think one step ahead, always striving to create a first-class business environment that helps companies grow bigger, stronger, and more enduring."