County-level industries drive Guiyang's economic development

Industrial development has become a powerful driver for county-level economic growth in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

In Qingzhen county-level city, Guizhou Guilv New Materials Co is able to transform molten aluminum into ultra-thin battery foil in under 24 hours. By processing electrolytic aluminum into high-end materials, the city is able to triple its value.

Qingzhen is rich in bauxite resources, boasting the country's largest contiguous mining area, with proven reserves of 390 million tons – the highest in Guizhou province. The city has built a comprehensive green circular industrial chain covering bauxite mining, metal smelting, non-metal applications, deep processing, and recycling.

This fully integrated aluminum industry chain is driving the local economy. In Q1 2025, Qingzhen's aluminum and aluminum processing industries above designated size generated 6.93 billion ($973.31 million) yuan in industrial output, accounting for 74.5 percent of the city's total.

Meanwhile, technological upgrades are boosting efficiency across the region. At Guizhou Phosphate Kaitai Technology Co in Kaiyang county, a technical renovation project has tripled workshop capacity – from 2,500 to 7,500 tons – while significantly enhancing product quality. "What used to take four workers can now be done with the push of a button," said deputy project manager Wang Renzhong.

According to Zhang Qiuyan, deputy director of the Kaiyang county bureau of industry and information technology, the current industrial structure – basic phosphorus chemicals, fine chemicals, and new energy in a 3:1:1 ratio – is expected to reach a balanced 1:1:1 by 2030, signaling a new leap forward in the county's economic momentum.