The GDP of Tai'an in Shandong province hit 169.69 billion yuan ($23.72 billion), a year-on-year increase of 7 percent, in the first half of the year.

The added value of the primary industry, secondary industry, and tertiary industry was 21.97 billion yuan, 62.85 billion yuan, and 84.87 billion yuan respectively, increasing by 5 percent, 9.8 percent, 5.5 percent year-on-year.

The added value of industries was 42.27 billion yuan, an 8.7 percent year-on-year rise. 

In the first half of the year, the construction industry, a key sector in Tai'an, had an added value of 20.87 billion yuan, soaring 13.2 percent year-on-year and driving a 1.5 percentage points increase in GDP growth. 

The total output value of the construction industry and investment in construction installation projects increased by 7.7 percent and 16.8 percent respectively, 0.6 and 9.2 percentage points higher than the provincial average and the highest in the province. 

Consumption in the city was also robust in the first half of the year. The added value of the wholesale and retail industry grew 7.5 percent year-on-year to 19.78 billion yuan, while the added value of the accommodation and catering industry increased 17.9 percent year-on-year to 2.25 billion yuan.

A bird's-eye view of Tai'an at night. [Photo by Wang Changmin/WeChat account: SDTXTA]