Economy

Industry is the main economic driver to the city’s economy, contributing 47% to its GDP in 2015. Jiaxing is also well known as the 'hometown of silk', hence it is a famous producer of textiles and woolens. It is one of the world's largest exporters of leather goods. There are mechanical, chemical and electronic industries there.Jiaxing is an important energy base in East China. Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, the first self-designed nuclear power station in China, and Fangjiashan Nuclear Power Plant (under construction) are located in Haiyan County.South Korean tire maker Hankook Tire has a production facility in Jiaxing Development Zone for cars and light trucks. Hankook Tire (Jiaxing) Co., Limited was opened in 1996.A Lego factory was built and finished in 2015, specially for the Asian market.In 2013, the GDP was 314 billion 766 million yuan, an increase of 9.3% over the previous year, an increase of 0.6 percentage points over the previous year. Among them, the first industry added value of 15 billion 562 million yuan, an increase of 0.8%; second industrial added value of 172 billion 673 million yuan, an increase of 9.9%; third industry added value of 126 billion 531 million yuan, an increase of 9.4%. According to the resident population, the per capita GDP of 69164 yuan (annualized average exchange rate of 11169 U. S. dollars), an increase of 8.9%. The three industrial structure was adjusted from 5.2:55.5:39.3 to 4.9:54.9:40.2 last year.Jiaxing's general budget revenue of 51 billion 749 million yuan, an increase of 9.7% over the previous year, of which the public budget revenue of 28 billion 231 million yuan, an increase of 9.5%. Fiscal expenditure for people's livelihood at various levels was 22 billion 679 million yuan, an increase of 18.9%.Industrial zoneJiaxing Export Processing ZoneEstablished in 2003, Jiaxing Export Processing Zone is a state-level export processing zone approved by State Council. It has a built-up area of 2.98 km2. Its development goal is to become the export processing base for IT, IC, mechanical and electrical, electronics and other high-tech industries.

History

Known as a placeSpring and Autumn period: Jiaxing is known as Zuili (Drunken Plums) and is an important city in the state of Yuè.Known as a county210 BC: Qin Shi Huang changed the name of Jiaxing from Changshui District (長水縣) to Youquan (由拳縣).231: Wild rice (野稻) of Jiaxing informed Sun Quan of the Kingdom of Wu that there was a sign of auspice, so Sun changed Youchuan to Hexing District (禾興縣). This why Jiaxing's abbreviation is He. Sun also changed his era name to Jiahe (嘉禾) in the following year.January 242: Sun He was made the crown prince. Because of the naming taboo, Jiahe was changed to Jiaxing.Known as a prefecture938: (Later Jin of the Five Dynasties): Xiu Prefecture (秀州) established1117: (Song Dynasty): Jiahe District (嘉禾郡)1429: (Ming Dynasty): Xiushui District (秀水縣) was established northwest of Jiaxing.Early 1900s (the Republic of China): Xiushui and Jiaxing were combined into Jiahe County1914: Reverted to Jiaxing County (because there's a Jiahe in Hunan)1921: Communist Party of China founded at the South Lake in Jiaxing.1949 − 1958, 1979 (PRC): Upgraded to a city1981: Old Jiaxing County merged into the city1983: Upgraded to prefecture-level city