The high-speed rail service between Shenzhen city and Shantou city is expected to officially start on Jan 5, linking the two Chinese special economic zones in Guangdong province, which has been considered a window of China's reform and opening-up.

The city of Guangzhou established its first international sports think tank at the opening ceremony of the 2018 China Sports Culture Expo and China Sports Tourism Expo on Dec 11.

2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China's Reform and Opening-up. After 40-years of development, Chinese GDP is now 32 times higher than it was in 1978, amounting to 80 trillion yuan in 2017, an increase of 9.5% yearly, while more 700 million Chinese residents have thrown off the yoke of poverty.

Shenzhen is working on the feasibility of building a bridge over the western Pearl River Estuary to connect with Zhuhai City, which is expected to cut the travel time between the two cities to half an hour.