Small city aspires to drive China's economy

Rail-ware 'capital' Zhuzhou, the 'Engine Valley', dares to punch above its weight

Zhuzhou, a small city (population: 4.05 million) in central China's Hunan province, has an ambition to emerge as the "engine" of China's growth. It's not an unrealistic ambition or a fantasy, considering that local railway industry's output exceeded 100.37 billion yuan ($14.55 billion) last year.

Home to 62 rail transit related enterprises, including several arms of China Railway Rolling Stock Corp Ltd, such as Zhuzhou Institute Co Ltd, Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd and Zhuzhou Times Electrics Co Ltd, Zhuzhou also boasts major manufacturers and exporters of China-made railway products. More than 70 countries and regions source products from Zhuzhou.