An aerial view of Pingtan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Pingtan, an island county in Fuzhou, Fujian province, expanded its economic capacity and openness during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, driven by growth in emerging industries, the digital economy, cultural tourism, and cross-Strait cooperation.

Staff inspect goods at a logistics warehouse for cross-border e-commerce in Pingtan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Pingtan is rapidly diversifying its economic portfolio, with emerging sectors now spanning bonded processing, marine engineering equipment, high-end manufacturing, and the low-altitude economy.

Leading e-commerce and logistics companies, including Sam's Club, JD, and PDD Holdings, have established operations in the cross-border e-commerce park, driving bonded import volumes to the top of provincial rankings for several consecutive years.

Keqiutou Site Museum in Pingtan showcases artifacts of the Austronesian peoples. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Pingtan has also accelerated the integration of culture, sports, and tourism, hosting international events such as the IHF Beach Handball World Championships, alongside local motorsport carnivals and sailing weeks. Cultural tourism also received a boost from the settlement of the Austronesian and Maritime Civilization Committee of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia and ongoing research into local Austronesian cultural sites.

Cross-Strait economic ties strengthened as trade with Taiwan grew at an average annual rate of 21.7 percent, making Pingtan a premier port for Taiwan's agricultural and fisheries imports. Nearly 995,000 mainland travel permits for Taiwan residents were issued, accounting for more than 95 percent of the provincial total.