Weifang: The Next Trillion-Yuan City
In just two years, its output value surged from 500 billion to 700 billion yuan. At this growth rate, it will soon become the next trillion-yuan city.
Looking back, it has long relied on diesel-powered industries (engines, tires, etc.) as its economic backbone. Looking forward, it’s bypassing pure electrification and positioning itself around hydrogen energy—a strategic pivot that’s shaping its future. The reality is that the global new energy wave has largely been driven by Tesla and the electrification narrative. Meanwhile, PetroChina and Sinopec are heavily investing in hydrogen. Solar PV, for instance, was largely pushed to the forefront by necessity rather than natural advantage—ocean and tidal resources offer far more stable energy than solar or wind.
Housing prices are also reasonable—4,000 to 8,000 yuan per square meter, which is relatively affordable.