Jiaxing has long been praised as "a land with abundant fish and rice " and "the Home of Silk". It has been honored a National Model City for Mutual Support between the Civilian and the Arm Forces, a National Model City for Greening, a National Excellent Tourism City and a National Garden-like City. Since China's reforming and opening up to the outside world, especially in recent years, Jiaxing has witnessed vigorous development and Jiaxing's comprehensive strength has been enhanced obviously. Statistics shows that Jiaxing's GDP in 2007 reached 158.518 billion yuan, an increase of 14.4 % in comparable prices，0.5 % higher than the growth rate in the previous year. The primary industry accounts for 10.022 billion yuan, increasing by 4.7 %；the secondary industry accounts for 94.726 billion yuan, increased by 14.8%;and the tertiary industry accounts for 53.77 billion yuan, increased by 15.7 %. The percentage of contribution of the three industries to economy were 6.5%, 60% and 33.5% respectively in 2006, and were  changed to 6.3%, 59.8% and 33.9% in 2007. The per capita GDP amounted to 47,153 yuan calculated according to the total registered residents, equal to $6,201, increasing by 14%. The per capita GDP amounted to 38,354 yuan calculated according to the total permanent residents, equal to $5,044, increasing by 11.8%.

Jiaxing, with the coordinated development of society and economy, enjoys a higher level of social development in Zhejiang Province. Jiaxing Municipality and the five county and county-level cities have all been edged into the national advanced ranks in science progress and all of them have been honored provincial model cities (counties) and provincial advanced counties (cities) in education.