Kunming and Economic Trends

Kunming is the capital and largest city of Yunnan province. It is the political, economic, communications, and cultural center of the province as well as the seat of the provincial government. With an area of 21,473 square kilometers and a population of more than 8.5 million, the city has jurisdiction over seven districts, one county-level city, three counties, and three autonomous counties.

Kunming's economic importance derives from its geographical position. It is near the border with Southeastern Asian countries, serving as a transportation hub in Southwest China, making it also an important trade center in the region. The city is China's largest producer of agricultural products, minerals, and hydroelectricity. It has two major development zones, Kunming High-tech Industrial Development Zone and Kunming Economic and Technology Development Zone, and also features 30 key industrial parks.

In 2021, the city's GDP reached 722 billion yuan, an increase of 3.7% compared to the previous year, while the GDP per capita amounted to 94,000 RMB. The city's total import and export volume was 171 billion yuan in 2021, with the exports amounting to 93 billion RMB and the total value of imports to 89 billion RMB.

The Chinese City Tier System consists of a system of tiers used by analysts to classify Chinese cities and rank them in a hierarchy. Cities in different tiers reflect differences in consumer behaviour, income level, population size, consumer sophistication, infrastructure, talent pool, and business opportunity.