A plane takes off from Lishui Airport. [Photo/Lei Ning for Tide News]

Lishui Airport has served over 100,000 passengers since its July launch, operating 12 routes to cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou. The airport's opening has completed the city's comprehensive transport system, symbolizing Lishui's shift from a mountainous inland area to an open hub. 

The city has also accelerated infrastructure upgrades, constructing projects like the Quzhou-Lishui Railway and pumped-storage power stations.

On Dec 25, 2024, the first Oujiang River container sea-river intermodal route opened between Lishui and Wenzhou, cutting transport costs from over 20 yuan ($2.85) per metric ton by road to under 10 yuan by water, providing the mountainous city with direct sea access.

Lishui has actively integrated into the Yangtze River Delta, attracting 55 billion yuan in regional investment since 2021. It has also established cooperative platforms, such as a "development enclave" with Ningbo.

The 7th Overseas Chinese Imported Commodity Expo was also held in Qingtian county in November, featuring 30,000 products from more than 70 countries. Qingtian's import-export growth reached 33.5 percent in the first three quarters.

Lishui has established five cross-border e-commerce parks, facilitating the export of local products, such as Yunhe wooden toys and Qingyuan bamboo goods, to global markets.

By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Lishui's total import-export value is expected to hit nearly 45 billion yuan, with exports to Belt and Road countries growing 45 percent and retail sales expected to exceed 100 billion yuan.