The gross domestic product (GDP) of Fujian province, for 2013, hit 2.18 trillion yuan, putting the province in first place in growth in East China, and even exceeding Shanghai, China's leading municipal area, according to the provincial Statistics Bureau, as cited by Strait News.

This is the first time for Fujian's GDP (worth $353.8 billion) to exceed Shanghai's, and an increase of 11 percent over the previous year. It also surpassed a number of countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Denmark, while, its per capita regional GDP for 2013 reached 57,856 yuan ($9,407), an increase of 10.2 percent year-on-year.

Fujian's industrial added value output for companies with an annual income above 20 million yuan rose 13.2 percent, also putting it in first place for the eastern region, and fourth nationally. Its fixed asset investment increased 22.4 percent, in second place for the eastern region, and 13th nationally, while real estate investment grew 33.1 percent, for 2nd place in the eastern region and sixth nationally, and retail sales rose 14 percent, first in eastern China and third across the country.

By Zhao Qian and Edited by Roger Bradshaw