The past years has witnessed great changes in Guangzhou City, such as the construction of Metro Line No.1 and 2, Huanan Expressway, Guangzhou Inner-Ring Expressway, Liede Sewage Treatment Plant, New Guangzhou Gymnasiums, and Guangzhou Olympic Sports Center for the 9th National Sports Games in Dongpu.

Heading into the 21st century, a dozen symbolic projects are initiated. Under construction at present are Metro Line No.3 and 4, Guangzhou Light Rail System, Outer-Ring Expressway, Pazhou International Exhibition Center, New Baiyun Airport in Huadu, Guangzhou Culture & News Plaza, Tianhe Software Garden, Guangzhou Science City, Guangzhou University Town, Nansha Economic Development Zone, Honda Automobile Co., the Pearl River Scenic Belt, Baiyun Green Mountain Belt and Urban Sidewalk Scenic Belt.

The development of Nansha Economic Development Zone brings a rosy dream of future not only to Guangzhou but also to cities around, especially Hong Kong. In a beautiful surrounding of the riverside, islands and the Pearl River, Guangzhou University Town is located on the southern bank of the Pearl, mainly on Xiaowei Island in the Pearl River and the southern riverside, bordering Laoxi Island in the west, Eco-Island in the north and Changzhou Island in the east. It occupies an area of 43.3 sq km with a planned population of 0.34-0.40 million. Connected with urban expressways, MTR Line 2 and 3, it is quite convenient to get around in Guangzhou. With a dozen universities intending to move in, it is to enroll students in 2003 and will become an important academic center in South China.

With Guangzhou's economic growth developing at top speed. Science, education, sports and sanitation are progressing coordinately. With Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen and Zhuhai nearby, Guangzhou has become one of the three most influential financial and economic centers in China.

An urban corridor of modern economic and hi-tech zones has being formed since 1980, stretching from Guangzhou to Dongguan, Huizhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao along the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railways. This economic corridor is the locomotive of the most robust South China Economic Region. Guangzhou has been rejuvenated in the past two decades and is now striding ahead to fulfill its goal of modernization ahead of schedule.

As a member of the World Association of Metropolises, Guangzhou has been vigorously developing its international exchange, cooperation and foreign trade, leading the way to globalization.

Editor: Catherine