Tai'an's service sector shines with 7.2% growth, driving regional economy

Visitors experience the traditional Taishan shadow play, a captivating intangible cultural heritage of Tai'an. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Tai'an's service industry has shown strong growth in the first half of this year, with value-added output rising by 7.2 percent, ranking second in Shandong province, and contributing 58.9 percent to the city's growth. As a key link between development and public livelihood, the sector is a sign of both economic health and urban dynamism.

This impressive performance stems from good policy support, a strong consumer market comeback, and rising new ideas. The number of large service businesses hit 619 in Tai'an, doubling since 2022. In the first half of the year, service industry revenues grew 12.8 percent year-on-year, the highest growth in the province.

The energy of the service industry thrives on a steady flow of interest. This summer, Taishan Mountain Scenic Area hit a special mark, welcoming over 5 million visitors by early August.

"I feel so lucky to have experienced this honor at Taishan Mountain," said Tong Muyang, a tourist from Zhuhai, Guangdong, bursting with excitement. The deep cultural heritage and amazing views of Taishan Mountain inspired him to come back with family and friends.

While the cultural and tourism industry continues to thrive, the sports event economy has also stepped into the spotlight, becoming a new growth driver for spending. Last year, the city hosted over 70 sports events, with six international and 16 national, ranking first in the province's sports economy. This year, 37 top events have drawn 120,000 participants and brought in spending of 120 million yuan ($1.68 million), showing the economic potential of the "sports + tourism" integrated model.

The cultivation and expansion of new consumption formats have injected continuous vitality into the service sector. The development of the flagship store economy is accelerating — JD.com's flagship store for home appliances and furniture hit over 3 million yuan in sales on its first day.

In Tai'an, the service industry is not only a stabilizer for the economy but also a driver for change. By deepening industry links and boosting digital help, modern services are giving new energy for building a stronger city.