A media trip to learn about Guizhou's big data development kicks off in Guiyang, the capital city of Guizhou province on May 24. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Guizhou has become the front runner of China's big data industry as the growth of the province's digital economy has ranked first in China for six consecutive years.

Statistics from the Big Data Development Administration of Guizhou Province shows that during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), the province's digital economy accounted for 29.5 percent of its GDP, ranking 14th across China.

Meanwhile, Guizhou's big data development index ranked third in the country and the scale of its digital economy ranked 18th nationwide.

In recent years, Guizhou has been working overtime to boost the development of its big data industry and has attracted considerable investment from home and abroad.

In February 2019, Guizhou was jointly approved by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and National Development and Reform Commission to establish China's first national big data comprehensive pilot zone.

"Enterprises like Chinese high-tech giant Huawei leverage Guizhou's rich resources and ideal climate to lower costs and fuel growth," according to Hu Zhijie, a staff member of the Big Data Development Service Center of Guian New Zone Industry Development Bureau.