Established in 1988 and upgraded to a national-level zone in 1991, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (成都高新区, Chéngdū Gāoxīn Qū, locally simply "Gaoxin") is the most concentrated tech cluster in western China. Spread across the south and west of the city around a grid of wide avenues, Gaoxin hosts the regional headquarters and R&D centres of dozens of multinationals, China's largest electronics contract manufacturers, a dense layer of unicorn start-ups and one of the most active gaming and esports ecosystems in the country.
For a foreign business visitor, Gaoxin is the first place to look when scouting Chengdu. The district mixes two sub-areas: the older South Gaoxin near Financial City, dense with office towers and R&D parks, and the newer West Gaoxin and western park areas, with more land for advanced manufacturing. Infrastructure is modern, university ties are strong, and the cost base is a fraction of Beijing or Shanghai.
Dominant sectors
- Electronic information: smartphones, semiconductors, precision components and consumer electronics assembly.
- Biomedicine and medical devices: innovative drugs, traditional Chinese medicine modernisation, in-vitro diagnostics.
- Software and IT services: enterprise software, cloud services, outsourced development and cybersecurity.
- Games and esports: mobile game studios, live-streaming platforms and esports venues clustered near university campuses.
- Aerospace and aviation: avionics, unmanned systems and supporting components for national programmes.
Practical Information
- Address: core offices along Tianfu Avenue North, Renhe Road and the Financial City (金融城) cluster.
- Transport: Metro Line 1 covers the Financial City axis; Line 5 and Line 9 reach the western parks. Taxi from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport takes 20-35 minutes; from Tianfu International Airport around 60 minutes.
- Opening Hours: R&D parks are typically 09:00-18:00; business service halls on weekdays 09:00-17:00.
- Cost: office rents in Grade-A towers roughly ¥5-12 per square metre per day; cafeteria lunch ¥35-60.
- Tips: book a reception appointment before visiting; many park buildings require visitor badges. Bring your passport, not just a business card.
For foreign business visitors
English is spoken by HR and facility teams in major multinationals, but local suppliers and subcontractors often rely on Chinese. Contract manufacturers and component vendors cluster along the western belt, so plan half-day circuits rather than one-off visits. The zone's official investment promotion centre can arrange site tours, introduce certified service agents and pre-screen compliance questions; it is the fastest way to begin.
A short history
Gaoxin was one of the first batch of national high-tech zones approved in 1991, originally occupying a slice of farmland south of the old walled city. Over three decades it absorbed several adjacent townships, doubled in area and spun off specialised sub-parks for software, biopharma and cultural creativity. Today it is one of the most productive county-level economies in China by GDP and tax contribution, and it remains the default choice for any foreign R&D centre that wants access to engineering graduates without paying Shanghai wages. The district also runs its own talent housing programme, an international school bus network and a medical clinic with English-speaking staff, all aimed at making expatriate stays less stressful. If your product is software, consumer electronics or a digital service, start here before comparing any other park.
