Bright Star between Beijing and Tianjin

By WU XINYI

Time Square is the most popular place to relax for Langfang people.

On looking at a map of Hebei Province, a big city midway between Beijing and Tianjin municipalities springs to view. It is Langfang. Covering 6,429 square kilometers, and with a population of 3.85 million, Langfang is a peaceful city with excellent transport facilities. It does not have land port or airport, but is only a one-hour drive from Beijing International Airport and the Tianjin New Port. Mayor Wu Xianguo is confident that Langfang will soon become an international aviation hub that will relieve the burden of traffic on Beijing and Tianjin.

After investigation, the State Planning Commission predicts that in the near future Langfang could well be the first point of arrival for foreign visitors to China, as 11 national and provincial highways and several major railways already run through it. The Zhujiang River Delta with Guangzhou and Shenzhen at its center was epicenter of the booming Chinese economy of the 1980s. In the 1990s it was the Yangtze River Delta with Shanghai at its core that was China's economic focus. In the first decade of the new millennium it will be Beijing and Tianjin that will play the important role in China's economic development. Langfang's key position in the Greater Beijing Economic Rim presents a new point of interest for investors.

Langfang has rich resources. Its petroleum reserves amount to more than 100 million tons. It also has 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and geothermal resources of a temperature 39¡ãC to 90¡ãC.

A Green City

The Oriental University Town in Langfang has a 250,000 student and teacher capacity.

Native Langfang residents and newcomers alike love its beautiful green environment. Seventy-five green projects have been implemented that will bring two straight green belts, six public squares, some 60 parks and two other encircling green belts to the city. Langfang's green coverage will then reach 40 percent. Every 300 to 500 meters along the city's major streets there are parks where local people stroll and take exercise. Langfang's five-kilometer long pedestrian street is now the longest in China. A modern garden style cultural and art center covering 44 hectares, planned by a German company and designed by Australian and Hong Kong architects, has also been constructed. It is open to visitors 24 hours a day.

New Investment Spot

Mayor Wu Xianguo's target is to build Langfang into northern China's most beautiful city and a green silicon valley. One of the city's notable achievements is its Oriental University Town. Having begun construction in October 1999, the town was built in less than 3 years at a 4 billion yuan investment, and some 30 universities have been established here with a combined enrollment of about 50,000 students.

Langfang's broad-minded and open city government has helped both individuals and enterprises to create business miracles. A Swedish businessman recently spoke of his experiences in Langfang, "After several years' life and work in Langfang, I deeply appreciate the local government's open and intimate approach to business investors. It is safe to invest in Langfang, and I feel comfortable and at home working and living there."

Practicing taiji.

Its open policy and good environment have made the city the most attractive investment spot between Beijing and Tianjin over the last decade. "We want to build Langfang into a science and education city, a tourism and exhibition city, and an ecologically friendly city," says mayor Wu Xianguo. His policy is based on the government providing a good environment for enterprises to prosper so that they may spur the development of the city. The local government has worked hard to this end in recent years. It has implemented ten projects to improve the hardware environment of the city, and another ten aimed at software environment construction. They include establishment of an environment management certification and standardization system; credit system; market supervision system; intermediary service system; social security system; public finance system; financial innovation system and productivity stimulation center. By the end of 2003, there will be 650 enterprises in Langfang with quality control assurance, and this number will increase to 1,000 in 2004. The Langfang government has also introduced talents from all fields over the past five years. More than 10,000 college graduates and other talents with at least intermediate technological titles have been drawn here.

Mayor Wu Xianguo (middle) on sina.com.

To date, there are investors from more than 40 countries and regions in Langfang, including 20 that are listed in Fortune 500. There are 100,000 square meters of high standard exhibition facilities in the city and more than 30 star-rated hotels. Langfang has been hosting the Hebei Provincial Economic and Trade Fair for three consecutive years and the China Agriculture Fair for six consecutive years. Its fresh air and beautiful scenery attract increasing numbers of domestic and foreign tourists. In 2002, Langfang received more than 500,000 visitors, and the travel industry is becoming one of its new economic growth points.

In order to encourage rapid development, the China Development Bank recently issued a loan of 10 billion yuan to Langfang for city development and infrastructure construction. This has injected new vigor into overall development, and in a few years time the city government expects to create a better environment and a completely new aspect.