On April 18,a press conference for the "Discover Guangdong's Rural Charm" series was held in Yankou Village, Zhongshan. The event highlighted the city's significant progress in rural revitalization under the High-Quality Development Project for Guangdong's Counties, Towns, and Villages.
Zhongshan has achieved remarkable results in economic growth, environmental improvement, and enhanced public services, positioning itself as a model for rural development in Guangdong.
Economic transformation and growth
Zhongshan has prioritized strengthening its towns and villages through high-quality development. By focusing on industrial transformation, the city has explored ten different models, resulting in the release of nearly 50,000 acres of low-efficiency industrial land. This initiative has attracted over 180 billion yuan in new investments, effectively doubling industrial investment over three years.
Additionally, the city has established ten major agricultural platforms, nurturing well-known brands such as Shiqi Crispy Pigeon, Zhongshan Crispy Grass Carp, Shanwan Pineapple, and Huangpu Delicacies. These efforts have significantly boosted rural collective incomes, with 17 villages reporting over 100 million yuan in collective income in 2024.
Environmentalupgrades and enhanced public services
Zhongshan has made substantial progress in environmental improvement as well. The city has eliminated black and odorous waterways in urban areas and upgraded 106 main rivers. It has been designated as a national pilot city for managing rural black and odorous water bodies and recognized as a demonstration city for sponge city construction.
To enhance rural housing aesthetics, Zhongshan has implemented tailored strategies, renovating nearly 59,000 rural houses to improve the appearance of villages.
In terms of public transportation, Zhongshan has achieved full coverage of bus routes across all administrative villages, with a 95.56% coverage rate in natural villages, setting a provincial benchmark. The city has also strengthened education and healthcare services, establishing 25 basic education groups and expanding medical alliance coverage to 80%.
Regional integration and innovation
Zhongshan is advancing its integration with Shenzhen and Hong Kong. It has established the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Economic Cooperation Zone and the Hong Kong-Zhongshan High-Quality Development Cooperation Zone. The new Zhongshan Passenger Port is now operational, and cross-city buses and air routes are connecting Shenzhen and Zhongshan.
Looking ahead, Zhongshan will continue its comprehensive development strategy. Through 30 key projects, the city aims to accelerate high-quality rural development and achieve further milestone outcomes.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guo Chuhua
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
