On March 29, a high-profile ranking once again put Haidian in the spotlight.
At the AI Future Forum, a featured event of the "AI Day" at the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference, the "CV Awards: 2025 China's Most Valuable Urban Districts for Venture Capital" ranking was officially unveiled. Haidian District secured the top spot nationwide for the second consecutive year.
What is the development logic behind this No. 1 national ranking?
How is a district's "value" measured?
This year's evaluation system revolves around four core dimensions: People, Industry, Capital, and Future. These four elements precisely form the underlying logic of a district's "value". In simple terms, it assesses whether the area has talent, whether it has industry, whether capital is willing to come, and whether it holds potential for the future.
More importantly, this year's ranking added a key indicator: "Number of newly listed IPO companies in the region". Why was this added? According to the organizers, IPO represents a successful exit for venture capital, only with exits can there be returns, and only with returns can there be reinvestment. This serves as a "litmus test" for whether a city's venture capital ecosystem is healthy and sustainable.
Haidian delivered an impressive report card in this critical assessment.
Haidian's "Value Code"
These four dimensions are precisely Haidian's "value code".
People—The Gathering Place of the "Most Powerful Brains". If investment is fundamentally about backing people, then Haidian stands out as China's most talent-dense district. Home to top universities such as Tsinghua and Peking University, it also draws leading researchers from across the globe. On every street and in every office tower, there may be a startup team working on the next world-changing idea. They bring technology, ambition, and Haidian's most valuable asset: an innovative spirit bold enough to dream and bold enough to act.
Industry—The Stronghold of the "Hardcore Corps". From the early days of "Electronics Street" to today's clusters in hard technologies such as artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, and biomedicine, Haidian's industrial landscape has always stood at the forefront of the times. Here, not only do large enterprises stand as giants, but countless small and medium-sized enterprises also thrive in abundance. With a complete industrial chain and a vibrant innovation ecosystem, capital can always find the "right people" and the "right ventures" here.
Capital—The Gathering Place of "Patient Money". Some say that on the streets of Haidian, you might find an investor sitting right next to you while having a cup of coffee. Though somewhat exaggerated, this saying speaks volumes about Haidian's capital vitality. From angel investment to private equity, from government-guided funds to market-oriented funds of funds, Haidian has developed a multi-layered, full-cycle capital support system.
Future—A "High-Yield Field" for IPOs. The number of newly listed IPO companies was the new evaluation indicator in this year's ranking, and it was also Haidian's bonus point. Whether it's hard technology enterprises listed on the STAR Market or emerging internet companies going public in Hong Kong or the United States, Haidian-based companies remain frequent players in the capital market. Every bell-ringing represents a realization of value; every exit plants the seeds for the next wave of innovation.
The "Positive Flywheel" Effect
The release of this ranking is not only a recognition of the district's investment environment, but also the beginning of a positive cycle.
As Haidian's reputation as China's most valuable urban district for venture capital continues to rise, it is expected to attract more capital, more businesses, and more talent. Seizing this momentum, Haidian will continue improving its business environment and accelerating the growth of industrial clusters.
This is the "positive flywheel" behind the ranking: a stronger environment draws in capital, capital powers upgrading, and upgrading attracts talent. With each turn, the cycle accelerates, making "value" a measurable, comparable, and sustainable indicator of district development.
For two consecutive years, Haidian ranked first nationwide.
This honor belongs to every entrepreneur, investor, and researcher striving in Haidian, as well as to everyone who walks alongside this district.
We understand that a ranking only represents a thing of the past; true value always grows on the path toward the future.
Haidian has never been enough with being "number one". We look forward to the day when the next person to ring the bell is you.
