Zhuhai

Zhuhai, located in the fast growing Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, is one of the earliest four Special Economic Zones in China for economic-reform experiments early in 1980. While many cities in the PRD region select rapid industrialisation as an engine of economic growth, Zhuhai is an exceptional one to suppress industrialisation to reserve its high quality city environment for sustainable development. This leads Zhuhai to be the 3rd China city recognised by the United Nations as the Best Model of International Residential Environment Improvement in 1998. Considering the potential development of Zhuhai, the National Development and Reform Commission of China has assigned Zhuhai as the centre of the western bank of the Pearl River estuary in a national urban development strategy for the next decade (2008–2020). With the construction of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge with a main span of 35 km, Zhuhai is looking forward to the great business opportunities for the new geographical integration with Hong Kong (the world’s leading international financial centre) and Macao (the world’s No.1 gambling hub). Zhuhai will soon be the new focus of PRD in China and it is necessary for city planners to be familiar with the city. This paper will introduce the policies and characteristics of economic development in Zhuhai as one of the earliest four Special Economic Zones in China. The paper will also discuss the evolution of sustainable development in Zhuhai and the underlying reasons for Zhuhai’s unique development trajectory.

► We discuss the evolution of sustainable development in Zhuhai.
► We analyse the underlying reasons for Zhuhai’s unique development trajectory.
► Zhuhai has experienced three stages to explore the road of sustainable development.
► Environmental protection in Zhuhai is ahead of many other cities in China.