From January to July, banking institutions in Zhongshan issued a total of 12.636 billion yuan of loans to individual businesses, 1.09 times that of the same period last year, and the weighted average interest rate on loans decreased by 50 basis points year-on-year.

This year, the Zhongshan Central Branch of the People's Bank of China organized financial institutions in Zhongshan to carry out special measures to further strengthen financial support for individual businesses.

"In the past, it was very difficult for self-employed people like us to borrow money from banks," said Mr Liu who runs a hardware store in Zhongshan. "Upon understanding my situation, a local bank offers me help in applying for a loan through the 'Online Tax Loan' program. The whole process took only 20 minutes."

Local banking institutions also conducted in-depth research on the operating status of individual businesses, and they have launched a batch of highly targeted credit products, such as specialized market e-loans and special loans for mahogany furniture industry.