Dongguan Cultural Square 

Dongguan, in many people¡¯ eyes, means a big manufacturing center with lots of export-oriented factories and workers coming from all over China. While in recent years, Dongguan has been making effort to improve its environment and urban planning and promote local culture with an aim to seek sustainable development. The city has entered the final competition of 2006 international ¡°City of Garden¡± and the final result of the event will be revealed on Nov 13 in Huangzhou, China.

In a press conference held by Dongguan municipal government¡¯s information office today, Zhong Yaoxiang, Director of Dongguan Urban Management Bureau, said, this is the first time for Dongguan to compete for an international title for urban development. With a one-year preparation, Dongguan has improved its urban planning and management, and has qualified for the "City of Garden" final competition.

Altogether 350 cities participated in competing for the title, and only 25 entered the final. This year¡¯s competition will be held in Hangzhou from Nov 9-13, where competing cities will have their presentation and International Federation of Park and Recreation Administration (IFPRA) will announce the final result.

The UN-approved international competition, ordinarily reputed as "Green Oscar", has its designated purpose to evaluate world cities in regards to environment and ecological protection, utilizing of resources, men and nature, as well as sustainable development. So far, two cities from Guangdong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, have crowned with the title.

well preserved old building in Nanshe Village, Dongguan

Keyuan Garden, one of the four famous gardens in Guangdong

Young people participating in the city's tree planting activity

Editor: Wing