Based on last year’s figures, each city’s economic size is comparable to that of a smaller European country, such as Sweden or Belgium. In this explainer, the Post examines economic data from both megacities, breaking down what has sustained their growth and how policymakers are positioning them for the next stage of development. What sustained the economic growth? In 2025, both Beijing and Shanghai posted GDP growth of 5.4 per cent, beating the national average of 5 per cent, according to official data released on Wednesday. Meanwhile, hi-tech manufacturing – including integrated circuits, artificial intelligence (AI) and new energy – recorded double-digit output growth, far above the city’s overall industrial growth rate.