Jinan Central Business District (CBD), the city’s flagship urban development zone, is rapidly advancing its role as a hub for finance, commerce, and innovation, with new infrastructure, enterprise services, and strategic collaborations driving growth.
Located in the eastern Yanshan New Area along Jingshi Road, the CBD covers 8.9 square kilometers, with a 3.2-square-kilometer core area. Planned in 2016, the district features the iconic “one axis, one heart, four zones” structure, anchored by a series of five supertall towers symbolizing Jinan’s identity of “mountains, springs, lakes, rivers, and city.” The 330-meter “City Tower” topped out in 2022, while more landmark projects, including the recently completed glass-topped “Giant Bowl” structure at the central plaza, are reshaping the skyline.
The district has embraced forward-looking planning concepts such as small blocks, pedestrian-friendly streets, and large-scale underground space development exceeding 2 million square meters. Metro Lines 4 and 6 are slated to open in 2025, strengthening connectivity.
As of August 2024, the CBD had completed 3.3 million square meters of business space, attracted more than 11,000 market entities, and welcomed 23 Fortune Global 500 companies and over 40 provincial-level financial institutions. It has been recognized among China’s “Top 20 Business Districts for Comprehensive Competitiveness” and recently won the title of “Most Dynamic Consumer Business District.”
Enterprise-Friendly Services: “Quanguanjia” Brand in Action
To better serve businesses, the CBD has launched the “Into 100 Buildings, Visit 10,000 Enterprises” campaign, part of its signature “Quanguanjia” (“Spring Steward”) service brand. Since June, officials have visited over 200 buildings and 10,000 enterprises, identifying challenges and providing tailored solutions.
Key initiatives include a “standardized address database” that streamlines business registration by eliminating lengthy property verification processes, enabling companies to “open doors and start work” within hours. Additionally, the creation of a “resource supermarket” platform has helped enterprises connect with partners, expand supply chains, and foster collaborative growth, with several cross-industry cooperation agreements already signed.
By leveraging anchor companies such as Huawei and Ping An, the district has also advanced “enterprise-led investment,” drawing in upstream and downstream partners to build industry clusters in digital technology, finance, and services.
Strategic Partnerships and New Cultural Landmarks
In early September, Shandong Cultural Tourism Group, Jinan CBD Administrative Committee, and Greenland Group’s Shandong headquarters signed a strategic cooperation agreement covering cultural tourism complexes, hotel management, wellness, and convention services. The three parties pledged to co-develop cultural landmarks and high-quality consumer destinations.
Meanwhile, construction milestones continue to highlight the district’s rapid rise. The completion of the “Giant Bowl” glass dome — a 26-meter-high commercial building shaped like a lotus leaf and tea bowl — has added a distinctive cultural landmark to the central plaza.
Driving High-Quality Growth
At a recent work promotion meeting, city leaders emphasized the CBD’s role as an “economic highland, urban showcase, and reform frontier” in Jinan’s modernization drive. Officials pledged to enhance project management, strengthen industry ecosystems, optimize services, and accelerate construction of major projects.
With its blend of financial services, innovation-driven industries, cultural assets, and a supportive business environment, Jinan CBD is positioning itself as a dynamic regional economic hub. Looking ahead, the district aims to expand its headquarters economy, strengthen its role as a financial center, and continue refining its “Quanguanjia” service brand to foster enterprise growth and competitiveness.