Despite being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi'an – capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province – reported stable growth in its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, with a 4.1 percent year-on-year gain to 1.07 trillion yuan ($169.25 billion), according to the latest figures released by the municipal statistical bureau.

Two employees get busy at a factory in Xi'an operated by dairy giant, Yili Group. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

Last year, the added value of Xi'an's primary, secondary and tertiary industries reached 30.88 billion yuan, 358.52 billion yuan and 679.43 billion yuan, respectively – up 6.1 percent, 0.9 percent and 5.7 percent year-on-year.

The city's added value of industries above a designated size increased by 5.7 percent year-on-year. The output value of its electronic equipment manufacturing, automobile manufacturing and electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing sectors grew by 33.8 percent, 12.1 percent and 38.2 percent, respectively.

During the year, the city's fixed asset investment decreased by 11.6 percent on the previous year. However, investment in high-tech industries increased by 3.2 percent, of which investment in high-tech manufacturing grew by 2.7 percent.

Consumers head out to a shopping mall in Xi'an on Jan 23. [Photo by Zhai Xiaoxue/Xi'an Daily]

In terms of consumption, total retail sales of consumer goods experienced year-on-year growth of 0.8 percent, coming in at 496.32 billion yuan.

The city also saw the value of its foreign trade surge 26.5 percent year-on-year to 440 billion yuan in 2021. Exports amounted to 236.19 billion yuan and imports totaled 203.8 billion yuan, year-on-year increases of 33 percent and 19.8 percent, respectively.

Shoppers throng to the Beiyuan Gate Historical and Cultural Block in Xi'an on Jan 23. [Photo by Shang Hongtao/Xi'an Daily]