Yibin宜宾
Tier 4 - County/Small CityA Sichuan city transformed by CATL's decision to build its largest battery mega-factory here. Yibin has gone from a baijiu (liquor) town to "Battery Capital of China," attracting a complete lithium battery supply chain in just a few years.
GDP
$42B
2023
Population
4.58M
residents
GDP per Capita
$9K
71% of national avg
Industry Output
¥100B
1 frontier sectors
History & Context
Yibin was best known for Wuliangye, one of China's most prestigious baijiu liquor brands, and for its location at the confluence of the Yangtze and Min rivers. The city's industrial trajectory changed dramatically when CATL selected Yibin for a massive battery production base, attracted by abundant and cheap hydropower (critical for energy-intensive battery manufacturing) and strong local government support. CATL's first Yibin factory opened in 2021, and by 2024 the complex had grown into one of the world's largest lithium battery facilities. Over 100 supply chain companies followed CATL to Yibin, creating a complete battery ecosystem in what was previously an agricultural and liquor economy.
Key Facts
CATL's Yibin mega-factory is one of the world's largest battery production bases
Attracted 100+ lithium battery supply chain companies in under 5 years
Abundant hydropower provides cheap and green electricity for battery production
Also famous for Wuliangye, one of China's most valuable baijiu brands
Major Companies
CATL (Yibin)
宁德时代(宜宾)
CATL's largest battery mega-factory complex, leveraging Yibin's cheap hydropower for low-cost, green-powered lithium battery production.
Founded 2019