A brewery renovation project is undertaken by a Rugao construction company in Shanghai. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

The output value of Rugao's construction industry exceeded 150 billion yuan ($23.16 billion) in 2020, according to a report at a recent seminar that discussed industrial development plans during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

The construction industry is a major driving force behind Rugao's economic growth after more than half a century of development.

The city currently has 657 construction companies focused on design, housing construction, road construction, water conservation, hydropower engineering, city-planning, environmental protection, telecommunications, decorations, and equipment installation.

The companies have also worked to promote the integration of information technology with traditional engineering. 

Nantong Liujian, one such Nantong construction company, has established a research and development center for Building Information Modeling technology, which has been applied in the company's engineering projects, outpacing its peers across the country.