Explainer | Zhongshan, the birthplace of Sun Yat-sen, revamps as Greater Bay Area transport hub to reinvigorate economy
- Zhongshan is set to benefit from the increased connectivity as it sits at the intersection of major transport projects in the Greater Bay Area
- The city has planned to invest 150 billion yuan in building roads, ports and bridges to increase its importance to the region
Many people living outside mainland China may not be familiar with Zhongshan city, but the birthplace of Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China, is keen on taking its place as a leading city in the country’s ambitious Greater Bay Area development plan.
Zhongshan sits at the centre of the bay area, a region around southern China’s Pearl River Delta that Beijing plans to transform into an integrated 11-city urban cluster to power the nation’s economic growth.
The city, whose economic growth has slowed down in recent years, is revamping itself into a transport hub for the region, leveraging on its central geographical location and several major transport infrastructure projects in the area.
Zhongshan also aims to grow its manufacturing prowess and become a forerunner in advanced manufacturing in the country. Guzhen, a district in Zhongshan, already hosts some of the finest lighting companies in the world, earning it the nickname of “China’s lighting capital”.
Beyond its economic ambitions, the city of some 3.14 million boasts a rich culture.
Why is the city named Zhongshan?
