Tianhe Central Business District (CBD) in Guangzhou has been cited as a leading example of digital economy development in the 2026 China Central Business District Development Report.

The report was jointly released by EY and the China CBD Alliance at the London Parallel Session of the 2026 Beijing CBD Forum.

For the first time, Tianhe CBD ranked 22nd in the Global Business Districts Attractiveness Report 2025.

Addressing the session, Jane Yang, government and public service sector leader for EY Greater China and managing partner of EY Beijing Office, pointed out that China's leading business districts are now home to a growing number of AI startups, digital content studios, software developers, high-tech firms, and Chinese companies expanding overseas.

She cited Tianhe CBD as a standout example of this transformation, saying that the digital economy in Tianhe has become a major focus in recent years, and the district has grown into a national digital service trade hub.

Tianhe is home to around 25,000 digital businesses, ranging from artificial intelligence and fintech to industrial software and creative content production. In 2025, its digital service exports reached $2.3 billion, accounting for nearly half of Guangzhou's total.

Jane Yang of EY speaks at the 2026 Beijing CBD Forum in London, citing Tianhe CBD as a digital economy model. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]