Asian Games give facelift to Guangzhou

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By Liang Qiwen (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-13 10:07

GUANGZHOU -- People in Guanzhou, the host city of the 2010 Asian Games, expect the sports gala will significantly improve the image of the city along while accelerating its development.

Organizers and guests beat a drum to start up two years count-down of the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong province in this file photo taken on November 12, 2008 . [Xinhua]

City authorities have vowed to change Guangzhou into an international metropolis through the Asian Games.

How to upgrade the city's layout and build it into a more modern and better-off city were the challenges posed to Guangzhou government officials.

The city's urban construction committee said it would rebuild the city using the concept of "one core and three satellite areas" with a focus on improving transportation and environmental protection.

The core includes the downtown area of Guangzhou and two towns in Panyu district - Guangzhou university town and Guangzhou new town. The satellites are Nansha, Luogang and Huadu districts, all suburbs of Guangzhou.

When construction is complete, the infrastructure of Guangzhou will be advanced and by 2010, 15 townships in suburban areas of the city are expected to be developed into more satellite areas.

It is expected that more than 100,000 visitors will stay in the city and use Guangzhou's public transportation facility during the Asian Games in 2010.

In order to meet those needs, Guangzhou will build large-capacity public transportation facilities, such as buses and subways, railways and seaports.

By 2010, Guangzhou will have at least nine subway lines stretching nearly 230 km.

The bus rapid transit system from Tianhe Road to Zhongshan Avenue set to be completed before the games will be the first trial of Guangzhou's new public transport system.

At the same time the city has a plan to protect its environment as it prepares for the games.

According to the blueprint, coverage of trees and grass will reach 45 percent by 2010. Per capita greenery will then reach 15 sq m.

The city will also invest more than 7 billion yuan by 2010 to build cultural facilities, including 23 already approved that will cost over 4.4 billion yuan.

The facilities include a big library, a historical museum, a ballet theater, a sculpture garden and exhibition centers.

Hosting the Asian Games is a chance for development and for enhancing the city's influence in the world, said Liu Jiangnan, director of Guangzhou's sports bureau.

Through the games, most sports facilities will be upgraded. Eleven new stadiums will be built and 60 existing stadiums will be renovated, he said.