At the 2025 Forum on Innovation and Development of Township Economies held in Beijing on June 5, the much-anticipated 2025 China Township Economic High-Quality Development Report was officially released, ranking the nation's top 500 townships in terms of economic strength. Once again, Dongguan stood out. All 28 of its towns made it into the top 200, with 22 securing spots in the top 100.

Among them, Chang'an ranked 4th, maintaining its national position, while Humen and Tangxia climbed to 7th and 9th, respectively. These results reflect not only Dongguan's solid industrial foundation but also its rapid transformation from a "world factory" to an advanced manufacturing hub.

The report evaluates more than 20,000 towns across China (excluding municipalities and regions such as Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) through a comprehensive set of indicators covering economic strength, industrial capacity, consumption vitality, and urban-rural integration. The methodology also incorporates factors such as innovation platforms, higher education institutions, and honors that reflect socio-economic performance.

Guangdong Province led the list, with 102 towns making the top 500, claiming 7 of the top 10 spots nationwide, Dongguan alone contributed three.

These achievements are rooted in decades of reform and enterprise. Dongguan's towns each carved a niche in manufacturing: electronics in Chang'an, garments in Humen, furniture in Houjie, and sweaters in Dalang. The city seized the opportunities of processing trade and contract manufacturing in the early days of reform and opening up, gradually building a globally recognized manufacturing ecosystem.

Now, the focus has shifted from quantity to quality. Dongguan's towns are leveraging dual engines of technological innovation and advanced manufacturing. Strategic industries such as semiconductors, new energy, intelligent equipment, AI, and robotics are reshaping the local economy, driving new waves of industrial upgrading.