Hengqin-Hongwan-FTZ building joint city center

Hengqin New Area, adjacent Hongwan area to the north, and the Zhuhai Free Trade Zone abutting it in Wanzai will become integrated as a new city center in the next five to 10 years, spearheading in-depth cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.

To achieve that goal, nine major projects came under construction on Dec 26. In addition to the Shizimen, Jiangjun Mt, and Da Heng Qin Mt tunnels, listed are pilot projects of Sponge City construction in Hengqin, Urban Garden, China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC) Square, South China headquarters of China Everbright Ltd, Hengqin Tianmu Qintai (a landscape and business complex project), and Hengqin Science Town. 

Signing ceremony 

Signings took place for 18 social investment projects: Second Theme Park of Chimelong International Ocean Resort, Phase II of Hengqin Laisun Creative Culture City, South China headquarters of Herun Group, Asian base of Visoy, sales head offices of Maoming Tianyuan Trade Development, Dynamic City, Macao Future Center, Goldcommon Smart Space, Witland Commercial Complex, headquarters of Zhongzhu Healthcare, Gree Tower, an optical glass global headquarters base, second phase of XH Smartcard, Longguang International Entrepreneurship Park, and office building of Qiheng Logistics HQ.

A plaque for Zhuhai Da Heng Qin City New Center Development Co Ltd was unveiled the same day. The company will oversee infrastructure construction, investment promotion, project management, industrial development, and urban renovation in the integrated zone.

Maliuzhou Waterway

In support of the integrated zone's development, China Development Bank Guangdong Branch, and other nine banks granted Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Investment a comprehensive credit line of 260 billion yuan ($39.7 billion). 

The Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee also forged strategic partnerships with China Communications Construction Co Ltd, China Resources (Holdings) Co Ltd, Power Construction Corporation of China, China Railway Construction Investment Group Co Ltd, Huafa Group, and Zhuhai Gree Group Corp.

Covering 164.97 sq km, the integrated zone will eventually encompass the 139-sq-km Hengqin New Area and a 25.97-sq-km extended area north of the Maliuzhou Waterway.

Hongwan area [Photos by Li Jianshu / Zhuhai Daily]