Mayor pictures Zhuhai's charm at global tourism forum
Zhuhai's allure in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the place to reside, work, and enjoy was portrayed in person by Mayor Yao Yisheng during the April 20-23 International Mayors Forum on Tourism held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.
This year's forum focuses on recovery of the global tourism industry in the post-epidemic era. Online videos were sent from, for instance, Russia, Uruguay, Hungary, Brazil, Greece, and Italy, while 458 representatives from Chinese cities and 100 from 28 other countries attended.
Yao, in an April 21 keynote speech, said Zhuhai is large and affords enormous opportunities and a promising future. Its livability, he said, has been based on ecology-prioritized development since the establishment of the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone.
Strict rules are applied, he said, to control urban development and protect the environment. For instance, real estate development is forbidden above the 25-m (82-ft) mountain contour line, and coastal areas off the 50-km (34-mile) Lovers Avenue are reserved for public architecture and visitors.
Enviable living environment (shown is Xiangshan Lake Park) [Photo by Wu Changfu / Zhuhai Media Group]
According to Yao, Zhuhai has set aside the most expensive land plots for parks, best spaces to public architecture, and best views to residents and tourists. City air quality has been among the tops in the country for a long time. He added:
Zhuhai has numerous theme parks, historic sites, international events, and upscale luxury hotels. Tourists can experience sailing, diving, and angling at more than 100 local islands and sample seafood at low prices. Those seeking a slow pace can take in natural scenery along slow-traffic walkways, coastal boardwalks, and sightseeing spots across the city.
In addition to a land-sea-air comprehensive transport system, Zhuhai offers easy exit-entry to Macao as the new Hengqin Checkpoint implements a "Joint Inspection & One-time Release" mode. Time required for passenger customs clearance is down to 20 seconds.
A fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship, Zhuhai science and technology enterprises include Gree Electric Appliances, Kingsoft Software, Livzon Pharmaceutical Group, and Yunzhou-Tech. Ten institutions of higher education, such as Sun Yat-sen and Beijing Normal universities, cultivate high-end talents to lead industrial development.
The city is at the forefront of the country in public service satisfaction and net talent influx. It had led Chinese cities in sustainable development for three consecutive years, and is 39th worldwide in economic vibrancy, according to the Global Urban Competitiveness Report (2020-21) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and UN Habitat. Over the past four years, Zhuhai hasmadeconstant advances in rankings of GDP and fiscal revenue in Guangdong Province.