Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark
Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark is a demonstration cooperation project for sustainable development directly promoted by the high-levels of the two countries. It enjoys long-term planning with an area of about 35 km2 and is located in both Qingdao West Coast New Area and Qingdao Free Trade Zone. After 10 years of construction, the Ecopark has initially become a new urban area in Qingdao with sound supporting facilities both for living and working, including residential communities, hospitals, shopping malls, schools, gyms and so on. The park has achieved Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards, 2023 High-quality Development Top Ten Demonstration Parks, 2023 High-quality Development Best Business Environment Top Parks etc.
The park enjoys very convenient transportation conditions: the core area of the Ecopark is 9 km to Qingdao Qianwan Port (5th biggest container port in the whole world), about 15 minutes’ drive; 48 km to Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (there are direct flights from Qingdao to Germany), about 40 minutes’ drive, directly connected by highway; 35 km to 3 Qingdao Railway Stations, about 35 minutes’ drive and only 5 minutes drive to the highway entry. There are 6 bus lines and 7 customized bus lines connecting the Ecopark to the central area of Qingdao City. In addition, there is currently a subway line under construction (Metro Line 6) in the Park with a total of 3 stations (to operation by the end of 2023).
More than 30 companies from German-speaking countries have registered to date. The Ecopark has become one of the industrial parks in northern China which has the most Germany-funded enterprises including Continental, Siemens, Siempelkamp, ElringKlinger, Logomat, BWT, and ebm-papst. Besides, the Park has formulated an industrial development plan combining 3 major sectors: intelligent manufacturing, life science and integrated circuit, including large enterprises such as SiEn Integrated Circuit, Lishen New Energy Lithium Battery, Facteon Intelligent Technology, Tyrolit New Materials, Haier Carrier Refrigeration Equipment, BGI North Center, Lanketu Film Material, Black Cat Carbon Black Technology, and Weichai R&D Center.
There are currently 27 general higher education institutions and 6 graduate colleges in Qingdao City, including Ocean University of China, Shandong University (Qingdao) etc. Student enrollment in 2022 was about 500,000. The resident population within the Ecopark is currently 30,000. Qingdao West Coast New Area, where the Park is located, has a resident population of more than 1.9 million. The local minimum wage in 2023 is 1,910 RMB per month; while based on the approved social insurance contribution base, the average local social wage is 7,069 RMB.
The Ecopark enjoys provincial approval authorities, and it could provide preferential policies on taxes and rents, etc. for foreign enterprises settled in the Park. Besides, with a young international service team that can provide services in English and German, the Park could provide various services on registration and operation according to the actual needs of investors.
