The China Greater Bay Area is a megalopolis that is home to a whopping nine cities and two special administrative regions in South China, and there are around 86 million people living within the area. Of the various cities that make up the urban complex, you will find some of the world’s most prominent megacities there, including Guangzhou, which has a population of 14.9 million, Shenzhen, home to 13.5 million people, Hong Kong with a population of 7.4 million, and Macau with 722,000 residents.
The urban region is the richest in South China, bringing in over $2 trillion (£1.5 trillion), into the economy in 2023. The major economic hub is where you will find most of China’s leading technology companies, including Huawei, ZTE, DJI, BYD, GAC Group, and Tencent, which owns WeChat, China’s instant messaging, social media, and mobile payment app. Whilst, long term goals for the China Greater Bay Area have been set for 2035, the Chinese government hopes that the region’s economy wil reach $4.6 trillion (£3.8 trillion) by 2030, allowing all cities benefit from “major opportunities”.
Every year the area continues to develop, with the government finding ways to innovate the region even further.
The goal for the urban complex is to become an international first-class bay area by 2035, with a strong focus on reform, innovation, connectivity, and environmental sustainability.
Each of the four main cities will be built on their current strengths.
Hong Kong being it’s thriving financial sector, Shenzhen being a technology hub, Guangzhou is a significant trading centre, whilst Macau will focus on developping its tourism and leisure sector.
Additionally, plans to intergate the region even more was a big focus. In 2018, a 55km bridge-tunnel system opened connecting Hong Kong and Macau with Zhuhai, a city on the Pearl River Delta.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the longest sea crossing and longest open-sea fixed link in the world, and has been designed to last for 120 years.
Last year, construction of another bridge, The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link ended, connecting the two cities that are on the oppositie sides of the Pearl River Delta area.
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