# urban development

Beijing Joins Shanghai as China’s Second City to Top Rmb5 Trillion — A New Service‑Led Model Emerges

Beijing’s 2025 GDP reached Rmb5.21 trillion (about USD740 billion), making it the second Chinese city after Shanghai to cross the Rmb5 trillion threshold. The milestone reflects a service‑and‑innovation‑led growth model achieved under a policy of “reduced‑scale development,” positioning Beijing as a global economic actor comparable to many medium‑sized countries while presenting new strategic tradeoffs in openness, livability and high‑level transformation.