Ningde is a city in northeastern Fujian province with a land area of 13,452 square kilometers and a sea area of 44,600 sq km. As of the end of 2023, Ningde has a registered population of 3.55 million and a resident population of 3.16 million.

It borders the cities of Wenzhou to the north, Fuzhou to the south and Nanping to the west. It faces the East China Sea and has a 1,046-km coastline.

Ningde boast a thriving aquaculture industry. There are different types of seafood, including large yellow croakers, shrimp, cockles, oysters and seaweed.

Ningde is known for its pioneering efforts in poverty alleviation. It is also well-known for its numerous tourist attractions, such as Taimu Mountain, Baishuiyang, the Yangjia River and Yushan Island, and various folk arts, with the lion dance and paper cutting being the most popular.

In 2023, Ningde's gross domestic product (GDP) was 380.73 billion ($52.56 billion), a year-on-year increase of 8.6 percent at comparable prices, according to official data. The added value of the city's primary, secondary, and tertiary industries totaled 40.11 billion yuan, 213.61 billion yuan, and 127.01 billion yuan in 2023, respectively, increasing 3.9 percent, 11.8 percent, 4.6 percent.

The city has four pillar industries: lithium battery, new energy vehicle, stainless steel, and copper material.

Ningde is the largest lithium new energy industrial base in the world and is known for its large industrial agglomeration of lithium-ion battery companies.

China's leading automotive battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) is headquartered in the city. Founded in 2011, CATL has ranked first in the world in terms of the usage of its power battery system for six consecutive years, and also in the shipment of its energy storage batteries for two consecutive years. Its products are sold to automakers worldwide, including BMW, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Volvo.

The city is also a leading national base for developing the new energy auto industry and a key model for clean energy. Based on these advantages, Ningde is committed to providing a package of solutions that produce, store and supply clean energy and utilize electrification in many fields such as transportation and infrastructure.

The city plans to focus on building four bases, namely an important clean energy base along the southeast coast, the world's largest and most advanced energy storage industrial base, a demonstration base for integrated photoelectric storage, and an exemplary base for electrified applications.

The development of Ningde is a success story of how China has secured victory in eradicating poverty. The city has attracted people from around the word to visit and learn about local efforts and achievements in poverty alleviation.

For example, people in Gutian county in Ningde have gradually become prosperous thanks to the expansion of edible mushroom production. Gutian is now known nationwide as the "capital of tremella mushrooms". The industry is playing a crucial role in local poverty alleviation and rural vitalization.  

Xiadang, once a poverty-stricken township in Ningde city, has introduced advanced technology and new business models that combine companies, cooperatives and households in tea farms to ensure the quality of the tea and raise farmers' incomes in the area.

Longtan village in Pingnan county, Ningde was a provincial-level village mired in poverty. Since May 2017, a project to boost the traditional village and cultural and creative industry has been thriving by introducing talents, helping promote the rural vitalization program, remodeling old houses and revitalizing the ancient village.

Thanks to the local government's efforts to clean up pollution and regulate ocean ranch operations, Sandu Gulf in Fujian's Ningde city is now an up-and-coming fishing destination. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

People walk past CATL's headquarters in Ningde, Fujian province on March 14, 2023. [Photo by Li Fusheng/chinadaily.com.cn]

Plum flowers are in full bloom in a village in Ningde city, Fujian province on Feb 28, 2023. [Photo/VCG]