Guangdong: Why China’s ‘Economic Locomotive’ Is Losing Steam
Guangdong Province’s sluggish economy reflects the broader national picture—both are shaped by Beijing’s refusal to undertake genuine political reform.
Shipping containers and gantry cranes at the Yantian port at night in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, on April 14, 2025. Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images
In the first three quarters of this year, Guangdong—China’s largest provincial economy—recorded a mere 4.1 percent year-on-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth, again falling short of the national average. This underperformance has persisted since 2021.
Wang He
Author
Wang He has master’s degrees in law and history, and has studied the international communist movement. He was a university lecturer and an executive of a large private firm in China. Wang now lives in North America and has published commentaries on China’s current affairs and politics since 2017.
