Hefei is a dynamic and emerging city in inland China. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

The gross domestic product of the city of Hefei -- capital of East China's Anhui province -- hit 1.0046 trillion yuan ($155 billion) in 2020, an annual increase of 4.3 percent despite the COVID-19 epidemic, the local government reported on Jan 26.

Officials said that this was the first time that Hefei's annual GDP had broken the 1 trillion yuan level and it was also the first city in Anhui province to enter China's 1-trillion-yuan GDP club, which currently numbers 23 cities.

Last year, the city's exports and imports saw rapid growth, up 11.7 percent year-on-year. In addition, the added value of industries above a designated size in the metropolis rose 7.5 percent yearly.

People's living standards improved too, with the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents increasing 6.5 percent yearly. Meanwhile, total retail sales grew 1.1 percent yearly.

According to the municipal government's report, Hefei is aiming for an annual GDP of 1.6 trillion yuan by 2025, with per capita GDP ranking among top 10 cities in the Yangtze River Delta region. The city's overarching goal is to enter the top 20 cities in the country and achieve more progress.