Dongguan emerges as a megacity in China

According to the "2022 China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook" released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China, there are three more megacities and two more super large cities. Among ten megacities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, Dongguan has ascended the rank, for its total urban population has reached 10.8244 million.

According to the different urban populations, Chinese cities are usually classified into megacities, super large cities, Type-I large cities, Type-II large cities, and small and medium-sized cities.

Dongguan's "upgrade" in terms of urban scale this time is precisely the result of a large influx of migrant population and its high urbanization rate, with the urban population ratio reaching 92.25% by 2022.

The changes in city population reflect comprehensively local economic scale, industrial development, and other aspects. As a globally renowned "factory of the world", Dongguan's siphon effect on the young labor force stems from the economic vitality of this manufacturing powerhouse, as well as the optimized industrial structure and the new driving forces. A batch of scientific and technological pioneers like Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, China Spallation Neutron Source, Attosecond Laser and Huawei also attract high-tech talents to gather in Dongguan.

"Having been in Dongguan for seventeen years, I have spent twelve years reading in the library, which has formed my best memory of all these years." This message left by Wu Guichun, a migrant worker from Hubei province, in the guest book of Dongguan Library in 2020, showcases the warmth of this city.

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Why we love Guangdong | Dongguan, a city in the prime of youth

Editor | Bai Xinyi, Ariel, James