Young people in Optics Valley of China commute to work in the morning. [Photo/Changjiang Daily]

Wuhan had a record permanent resident population of 13.65 million in 2021, an increase of 9.7 percent, according to statistics from the Wuhan municipal bureau of statistics.

Meanwhile, the number of permanent residents in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC) reached 1.18 million, up 167,700 since the seventh national census, and tripling the number during the sixth national census in 2020.

"Population reflects a city's vitality, and Wuhan has shown strong vigor and development potential," said Li Fen, an expert in family and population analysis.

Ye Qing, deputy head of the Hubei Provincial Bureau of Statistics, emphasized multiple factors driving the population growth in Wuhan, including its accelerated economic recovery in the post-pandemic period, the increasing number of overseas returnees, college graduates’ willingness to work and live in Wuhan, the operation of new trading models such as China-Europe freight trains and e-commerce, and the establishment of more corporate headquarters in the city.

OVC is a melting pot of immigrants from all over China, and its young population has a high level of education. Data collected in 2020 showed that young people aged 20 to 44 accounted for over half of the valley's permanent residents, and more than 60 percent of workers based in OVC held bachelor degrees or higher.

Zhao Fangyang, an employee in the valley, is among the 3,000 talents dwelling at the talent apartment in the Wuhan Future City. It only takes her five minutes to walk between her home and her office.

In the wake of Wuhan's efforts to construct four sub-centers, including one in the valley, OVC is currently striving to improve its living condition by putting more public infrastructure in place to attract more talents.