QINGDAO’S cultural industry has seen robust development.

    Eight clusters of cultural industries have taken shape in Qingdao. They include media, entertainment, cultural product research and development, printing, animation, cultural festivals and expos as well as cultural tourism.

    The combined annual growth rate of the eight cultural industries has surpassed 21 percent.

    In addition, the city aims to become a capital of sailing, music and film and TV.

    The government has selected 100 key cultural enterprises for preferential support, which is also given to 10 selected large cultural projects each year.

    There are 26 cultural industrial parks in the city, covering creativity, film and TV production, printing and cultural products.

    Costing more than 82 billion yuan, a total of 77 cultural projects have been or are under construction in the city.

    Cultural professionals

    The city cultivates more than 400 college graduates majoring in subjects related to the cultural industry each year.

    In addition, there are 87 cultural enterprises each of which has achieved a yearly sales revenue of more than 100 million yuan.

    More than 294,000 people are working in the city’s cultural industry, accounting for 5.4 percent of the city’s total employees.

    Private cultural enterprises generated more than 10 billion yuan in added value last year.

    International strategy

    In addition to domestic development, the city’s cultural industry has been seeking international development.

    The city’s 253 cultural enterprises export cultural products worth over 7 billion yuan each year, which sees an annual growth rate of 17 percent.

    The city’s export volumes of digital entertainment products and pianos have each ranked second in the country for three consecutive years.

    The city has also hosted a series of international cultural events such as an international violin competition, an international animation art festival and an international beer festival.

    Regular economic and cultural promotions have been held in Qingdao by countries including South Korea, Japan, Germany and France.

    (Li Hao, Xiu Guohua)