BEIJING, July 31 -- Once key drivers of growth in China's southern province of Guangdong, the cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou are now showing signs of economic fatigue, with both reporting gross domestic product (GDP) growth figures that fell below the national average in the first half of 2025.

Shenzhen, known as a major tech hub, recorded 5.1 per cent growth in the January to June period, while the manufacturing-heavy Guangzhou posted 3.8 per cent, compared to the national rate of 5.3 per cent, according to the South China Morning Post.

The slowdown in both cities has sparked calls for stronger policy support to revitalise business activity, amid weakening global demand and domestic consumption that remains too sluggish to compensate...