What if I told you Guangming District was once mostly farmland? Today, it is a hub of innovation. It is a district with a vision for the future.
Guangming District is one of Shenzhen’s nine districts. It borders Dongguan to the northwest. In 2007, it started as a functional area of Bao’an District. Then, in May 2018, it became a formal district.
Covering 156.1 square kilometers Guangming District is home to over one million people. In 2020, its regional GDP reached 110.77 billion yuan. That’s a 5.7% increase, the second-fastest in Shenzhen. Emerging industries like IT, new materials and biomedicine are booming here.
Guangming District is strategically located. It sits on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong axis. It is an important part of the GZ-SZ Science & Technology Innovation Corridor. The government wants to build a world-class Science City here. It aims to make Guangming the northern center of Shenzhen. As of August 2021, the Guangming Science City project was about 78% complete.
The story of Guangming District is one of rapid change. It began as part of Bao’an District. In 2007, it became Guangming New District. This was Shenzhen’s first functional area. It included the offices in Gongming and Guangming. In May 2018, the State Council approved the creation of Guangming District. Six subdistricts were assigned to it. Guangming District was officially established in September 2018.
Since then, Guangming District has focused on building a world-class Science City. It also aims to be Shenzhen’s northern center. It is promoting major scientific and technological infrastructure. Urban infrastructure is developing rapidly. The district has undergone significant urban planning and construction. This includes the Sponge City pilot project and the Guangming Science City.
Guangming Science City is a key project. The Shenzhen government proposed it in April 2018. It aims to boost basic research and core technology innovation. The city focuses on three clusters. These are large-scale scientific facilities, integrated science and education, and science and technology innovation. By September 2018, a preliminary development plan was in place. It expanded the spatial plan to 99 square kilometers. It created a spatial layout called “One Core Two Zones”.
Construction began in January 2019. It started with civil engineering for brain analysis and synthetic biology research. In June 2020, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory moved to Guangming. The city government approved the Outline plan for Guangming Science City. In October, Guangming Science City was designated a core area for international science and technology innovation. It is also an important part of the national science center. In December, two more innovation centers were unveiled.
The Overall Development Plan for Shenzhen Guangming Science City provides a detailed roadmap. It outlines the strategic positioning, goals, and layout for the city. Guangming Science City has five strategic positions. It is a source of original innovation. It is a core hub for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Also, it is a core area of the comprehensive national science center. It serves as a pilot experiment and achievement transformation base. It is at the frontier of scientific innovation and institutional reform.
The city’s goals are ambitious. Guangming Science City focuses on information, life, and new materials. By the end of 2022, it plans to have a basic world-class science city layout. By 2035, it aims to be a globally influential science and technology and industrial innovation hub.
The spatial layout includes One Core and Two Zones. The One Core is the central area of Guangming District. It provides services and scientific facilities. The Two Zones are the device clustering area and the industrial transformation area. The device clustering area focuses on research institutions and universities. The industrial transformation area cultivates future industries.
Guangming Science City has invested heavily in infrastructure. The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University has opened. Shenzhen Affiliated School of Sun Yat-sen University was put into use in 2020. A Culture and Art Center includes a performance center, art gallery and library. The Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum is under construction.
Transportation is a key part of Guangming Science City’s development. The GZ-SZ-HK Express Rail Link provides quick access to Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Metro Line 6 also serves the area.
From farmland to a science hub, Guangming District embodies Shenzhen’s innovative spirit. It blends agriculture, technology, and ecological preservation. Guangming District stands as a testament to Shenzhen’s ambitious vision.