Taicang’s area has expanded from 8 square kilometers in 1993 to 46 square kilometers at present.

“Twenty years ago, when Taicang was transformed from a county into a city, the built-up areas were mainly the central urban area, plus some construction in newly developed districts,” said Liu Renqiu, former deputy director of the city planning department and the Taicang city planning and construction bureau.

Taicang now consists of a major city and a port city, altogether 13 districts. The major city includes the central urban area, the first and second phase of the new district, the newly-built science and education district, and the Jincanghu Lake district. The port city includes the administration and business district, the first phase of the manufacturing industrial park and several dwelling districts.

In recent years, more communities have been established in Taicang, surrounded by riverside parks, dykes and other public parks. Taicang’s rapid urbanization does not pose problems of traffic congestion and environmental deterioration due to scientific planning and green building concepts. Meanwhile, the coordinated development of industry, housing, afforestation and infrastructure will continuously improve Taicang’s living environment in the long run. Taicang also won the 2012 China Habitat Environment Prize.