Flowing into the Qiantang River, the Qianqing River connects Shaoxing to the sea. This gateway to the world now carries a new mission in the modern era. In May 2022, the Zhejiang Provincial Government approved the establishment of the Shaoxing Section of the Hangzhou-Shaoxing Airport Economic Integration Demonstration Zone, marking the beginning of Shaoxing’s full embrace of the airport-driven economy.
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee emphasized the need to improve systems and mechanisms to promote the development of new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions. A key feature of airport economies is driving these forces through high-level scientific and technological innovation. Over the past two years, the Hangzhou-Shaoxing Airport Demonstration Zone has pursued its strategic goals—to become a first-class intelligent manufacturing zone, a collaborative innovation zone for Hangzhou-Shaoxing integration, and a future city pilot zone for Shaoxing. With top-level planning, high standards in construction, and high-quality talent and project attraction, the zone is rapidly becoming a pillar of Zhejiang’s emerging productivity. In the first three quarters of this year alone, 12 new-generation optoelectronic information projects were signed, with total investments exceeding 45 billion yuan. What’s propelling “Hangzhou-Shaoxing Airport” to new heights? Let’s listen to the voices shaping this journey toward innovation.
Flying at “Aerotropolis Altitude”
As airports evolve beyond mere sites for takeoff and landing, the concept of the aerotropolis — an economy driven by airport proximity — emerges, bringing with it boundless opportunities and lifting regional growth ceilings. Situated adjacent to Hangzhou and right next to Xiaoshan International Airport, the Hangzhou-Shaoxing Airport Economic Demonstration Zone is seizing this momentum, beginning with strategic planning and deployment. Its vision: to become a hub for next-generation optoelectronic information industries.
Next-generation information technology is a key strategic emerging industry for China. By adding “optoelectronic” to its industrial focus, the zone is grounding itself in local strengths and targeting high-potential sectors. It aims to cultivate a distinctive, synergistic cluster centered on four pillars — semiconductors, new display technologies, robotics and advanced equipment manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. This “four-pronged” strategy underpins a sprawling new industrial platform set to span tens of thousands of acres and generate output in the tens of billions of yuan. The targeted sector reflects Shaoxing’s strategic foresight in nurturing new quality productive forces tailored to local strengths.
From a development perspective, Shaoxing is recognized as a national innovation-driven city, with strong momentum in integrating technological and industrial innovation. In recent years, the contributions of high-tech and strategic emerging industries to the city’s large-scale industrial added value have continued to grow, reaching 49% and 29% respectively in the first half of this year.
In terms of industry structure, the four focus areas represent cutting-edge, leading technologies. While distinct, they are strategically positioned to complement each other, enabling integrated clustering of technology, talent, and capital. This approach supports the creation of full industry chains and cross-sector applications.
Regionally, Shaoxing has leveraged the rise of China’s semiconductor industry, attracting major players such as SMIC and JCET. A preliminary clustering effect is taking shape. These four focus sectors are purposefully embedded into the Yangtze River Delta’s semiconductor value chain, enhancing regional coordination through complementary roles in strengthening and extending the chain.
Targeting future-ready industries and powering new growth engines, the Demonstration Zone is already showing signs of fruitful progress. This October, the entrepreneurial park welcomed its first batch of AI chiplets from Qili Semiconductor (Shaoxing) Co., Ltd., which settled in the zone just last year. “Our initial samples have been delivered, with orders exceeding RMB 10 million,” said company chairman Xie Jianyou. “Our chiplet packaging technology for AI chips has broken key bottlenecks and has now advanced to the second generation.”
Qili is just one of several high-growth “gazelle” enterprises gearing up for takeoff in the zone. Over the past two years, the zone has signed 24 industrial projects — including Xingke Optoelectronics, Xinghua Semiconductor, and Xinlian — with a total investment of RMB 64 billion. As these projects advance, the zone is steadily realizing its ambition of reaching new heights in the airport economy.
Unlocking Space for Airport Ambitions
Covering the Qianqing, Yangxunqiao, and Huashe subdistricts of Keqiao District, and radiating into Xialü Town, the Hangzhou-Shaoxing Airport Demonstration Zone spans 165 square kilometers. From day one, it faced a major challenge: limited space for development.
The solution? Strategic planning and resource optimization at scale.
Focusing on “Hangzhou-Shaoxing Integration and Unified Development,” the zone adopted a “one core, two corridors, three areas” spatial strategy, while simultaneously developing industry and talent plans. In just two years, 44 infrastructure projects have been initiated, totaling 37.8 billion yuan in planned investment, with 11 billion yuan already completed.
One of the most important projects is the 11-billion-yuan International Multimodal Transport Hub—Zhejiang’s only demonstration project integrating road, rail, water, and air logistics. Construction began in October and, once completed, the project will elevate the zone’s role as an international gateway and support advanced manufacturing clusters.
Another challenge is transforming legacy industries. The zone encompasses parts of Keqiao, China’s leading textile cluster. Qianqing, in particular, hosts Asia’s largest textile trading hub, with industry value exceeding 10 billion yuan. But to grow, the area must repurpose inefficient or idle industrial land.
Adopting a “land-first” strategy, the management committee coordinated land reclamation and redevelopment across towns and subdistricts, implementing a “land reserve + reconstruction” model. Over two years, 2.05 million square meters were cleared, 2 million square meters demolished, and 4,900 mu (approximately 327 hectares) of land restructured—creating the space needed for new development.
Shaoxing Ranteng Optoelectronics is a prime example of this transformation. The company’s founder, Zheng Zhihua, is also the chairman and general manager of Beijing Fangfu Capital. His daily life now straddles Beijing and Keqiao. Ranteng is based in the Yuyue·Yilai Tech Park, a site that previously housed a traditional dyeing plant. Today, it has been reborn as a tech park welcoming emerging industries—an elegant metamorphosis powered by the zone’s “5100 Action Plan” for unlocking endogenous potential.
Racing Ahead with ‘Airport Speed’
Air travel brings the world closer—and speed defines competitive edge. With the airport economy as its springboard, the zone is competing for the future by attracting leading projects and cultivating a talent-friendly environment.
It took only four months from groundbreaking to structural topping-out for Xingke’s advanced optoelectronic display project, which boasts a total investment of 31 billion yuan. On September 30, Zhao Yonghua, General Manager of Zhejiang Xingke Optoelectronics, was on-site in the rain, proudly overseeing progress toward the year-end production goal.
Xingke’s story is a testament to “airport speed”: 49 days from signing to groundbreaking, and 120 days to topping out. “It’s been an emotional journey,” recalled Gao Weiming, the project’s liaison, who still remembers working through Lantern Festival night to finalize the deal—only breaking for a rooftop view of celebratory fireworks over Keqiao.
From zero to one—innovation takes off. In just two years, the zone has implemented targeted policies, launched a 5-billion-yuan industrial fund, organized a global startup competition, and opened Shaoxing’s first integrated service center for platform companies.
These moves are laying a solid foundation. Xingke is now Shaoxing’s largest and fastest-delivered industrial project, earning its place among Zhejiang’s top-tier projects. Meanwhile, Xinghuaxin’s photomask project produced its first sample within 12 months, and the multimodal transport hub has been listed as a major national project under the Yangtze River Delta integration plan.
A New Chapter in Shaoxing’s History
“After years of dreaming, I joyfully sail from Kuaiji with the wind in my sails,” wrote poet Lu You 800 years ago as he passed through Qianqing and Keqiao on the Qiantang River. Today, his hometown once again sets sail—only now it’s soaring into the skies with the wings of innovation and the promise of a new era.
一湾钱清江，直通钱塘江。这片通江达海之地，被赋予新的时代使命——2022年5月，省政府批复同意设立杭绍临空经济一体化发展示范区绍兴片区，由此开启全面拥抱临空经济的新征程。
党的二十届三中全会对“健全因地制宜发展新质生产力体制机制”提出明确要求，作出具体部署。临空经济的一大特征，便是以高水平科技创新驱动新质生产力发展。2年来，杭绍临空示范区锚定“全国一流临空智造区、杭绍同城合作创新区、绍兴未来城市实践区”战略目标，高起点规划、高标准建设、高质量引育，全面构筑起“打造全省新质生产力重要增长极”的四梁八柱。仅今年前三季度，签约引进新一代光电信息产业项目12个，总投资超过450亿元。“杭绍临空”，何以振翅高“飞”？让我们聆听各方声音，感受向“新”之力。
飞来“临空高度”
当机场打破航班起降场所的物理概念，临空经济应运而生，便会“飞”来万千机遇，打破区域发展上限。杭绍临空示范区与杭州相接，毗邻萧山国际机场，抢抓机遇从落子布局开始。杭绍临空示范区明确产业培育目标：打造新一代光电信息产业高地。
新一代信息技术产业是国家战略性新兴产业。加了“光电”两字，意在立足实际，找准赛道发力，培育“芯屏器合”特色优势产业集群。“与成语‘心平气和’谐音，让人记得住。”杭绍临空示范区管委会招商服务局局长叶港不无幽默地介绍，“芯”指芯片，“屏”指新型显示，“器”指机器人等高端装备制造，“合”指人工智能，四足鼎立打造光电信息“万亩千亿”新产业平台。这一细分赛道的确定，蕴含绍兴因地制宜谋划发展新质生产力的智慧。
从发展基础看，绍兴是国家创新型城市，科技创新与产业创新融合发展势头强劲。近年来，规上高新技术产业、战略性新兴产业对规上工业增加值贡献率持续增长，上半年达49%和29%。
从产业本身看，“芯屏器合”四个板块指向前沿引领技术，既相互独立，又“卡位”布局，有利于技术、人才、资本“链”式集聚，形成全产业链条，覆盖众多行业互促应用。
从区域协同看，近年来，绍兴抢抓集成电路产业风口，相继引进中芯、长电等头部企业，集群效应初显。“芯屏器合”错位嵌入长三角集成电路产业分工，在补链强链中下好区域产业协调发展“一盘棋”。
瞄准新赛道、培育新动能。金秋10月，杭绍临空示范区透出喜人的丰收气息。“首批样品已交付，订单已超过1000万元。”齐力半导体（绍兴）有限公司去年落户杭绍临空示范区创业园区，公司董事长谢建友自豪地介绍，公司AI芯片芯粒封装技术突破“卡脖子”难题，目前产品已升级到第二代。
在杭绍临空示范区，一批像齐力这样的“蹬羚”企业，正在蓄势起跳。2年来，区内已累计签约引进星柯光电、兴华芯、芯链等产业项目24个，总投资640亿元。随着项目推进，产业能级日益彰显“临空高度”。
腾出“临空气度”
杭绍临空示范区涵盖柯桥区钱清、杨汛桥、华舍三个街道，辐射带动夏履镇，规划面积165平方公里。从设立之日之起面临一大难题：发展空间受限。如何破局？用大思维、大格局、大手笔盘活各类资源、激活内生项目，破解城市更新与产业升级的大课题。
规划先行，谋定后动。
立足“杭绍同城、一体发展”，聚焦产业和城市双核心，制定临空“一核两廊三片”空间总体规划。同步开展产业发展规划、杭绍临空人才合作创新发展规划。全面推进融杭道路、产业园区等基础设施建设，两年已累计谋划实施项目建设44个，总投资约378亿元，累计完成投资110亿元。
其中，投资110亿元的公铁水空国际枢纽项目，是浙江省唯一“公、铁、水、空四位一体”多式联运示范性综合项目。今年10月，项目启动区开工建设。项目建成后，将有力提升杭绍临空示范区国际门户枢纽地位，为先进制造业集聚提供硬核支撑。
腾笼先行，激活潜能。
柯桥区是全国最具代表性的纺织产业集群基地，杭绍临空示范区涵盖的三个街道，纺织产业发达，其中钱清原料市场是亚洲最大的轻纺交易集散中心，纺织产业规模达上百亿元。而随着印染产业集聚升级工程的深入推进，盘活低效闲置用地，迫在眉捷。
坚持“凡用地，先挖潜”思路，深入开展盘活存量、优化增量行动，杭绍临空示范区管委会联动镇街合力推进拆迁、盘整，探索“收储+改建”模式，蹚出节约、集约、高效、统筹发展的新路子。两年累计腾空205万平方米，拆除200万平方米，盘整土地4900亩，为发展腾出大空间。
城市新，产业新。杭绍临空示范区165平方公里的土地上，气象焕新。
绍兴燃腾光电科技股份有限是杭绍临空示范区今年引进的一家光电信息企业，公司创始人郑之华的另一个身份是北京方富创业投资管理股份有限公司董事长、总经理。如今，上午在北京，下午在柯桥，成了他的工作生活新半径。燃腾光电落户在昱耀·已来科技园，科技园前身是一家老牌印染企业。推倒老厂房，新建科技园，引育新兴产业，如是华美蜕变，随着内生挖潜力“5100”行动的推进，正在杭绍临空示范区持续发生，充盈融杭新城发展能量。
竞得“临空速度”
航空拉近世界距离，速度重塑发展优势。以培育临空经济抢占新风口，以招引优势项目竞逐新赛道，杭绍临空示范区强化机制创新优化服务供给，加快构筑全方位、全要素、全周期的人才项目发展生态，助力项目跑出“临空速度”。
从开工到厂房结顶，仅用4个月时间！国庆节前夕，总投资310亿元的星柯先进光电显示产业项目再次刷新进度条。“距离年底投产的目标又迈进一步！”9月30日，见到浙江星柯光电科技有限公司总经理赵永华时，他头戴安全帽，冒雨穿梭在施工现场，话语急促。
星柯光电是“临空速度”的有力见证——项目实现49天签约、100天开工建设、120天1号厂房结顶，朝着“当年签约、当年投产”的目标加速迈进。“这一路走来，让人感动。”星柯光电项目前期负责人高伟明全程参与项目对接落地过程，让他至今难忘的是2月24日元宵节。当天下午2点，双方开始进行最后一轮洽谈，一直谈到晚上8点敲定协议，其间谁也顾不上吃晚饭。就在双方起立握手时，窗外火光四射，柯桥元宵烟花大会正在举行。大伙端起盛着汤圆的碗，一起爬到楼顶看烟花，庆祝这个特别的日子……
从临空经济到新一代光电信息产业，从无到有，就像创新，是0到1的突破。2年来，杭绍临空示范区围绕产业目标定位，持续创设完善机制、出台政策，助攻突破。制定实施光电信息产业“创12条”人才专项政策，注册成立总规模50亿元的“光电产业基金”，举办中国·绍兴“万亩千亿”新产业平台全球创业大赛光电信息专项赛，率先启用全市首个平台企业综合服务中心……一系列举措助力项目落地生根、开花结果。
这是一串“临空速度”铺就的坚实足迹，星柯光电成为全市投资体量最大、落地最快的重大产业项目，成功入选省特别重大产业项目；兴华芯半导体光罩项目仅12个月实现从开工到首张样片产出；公铁水空国际枢纽项目列入国家发改委长三角一体化发展重大项目……
“逾年梦想会稽城，喜挂高帆浩荡行。”800多年前，陆游远航途经钱塘江时，写下名篇《舟行钱清柯桥之间》，字里行间饱含对家乡的深切期盼。800年后的今天，这片通江达海的开放之地乘风起飞，书写时代新篇！
