Shuangliu uses airport, tech park benefits to improve locals'

Shuangliu, a suburban county to the south of Chengdu in Sichuan province, is the only county in western China that has an international airport, comprehensive bonded area, bonded logistics center and a foreign-exchange administration area.

Shuangliu International Airport is the fourth-largest international airport in China. On average, it handles 100,000 travelers a day and more than 400,000 planes a year. Every month, more than a million commodity items are transported from Shuangliu worldwide via the airport and the railway that connects Chengdu with Europe, on which Shuangliu is an important transport hub.

Shuangliu covers an area of 466 square kilometers and has been granted several honorary titles for its economy, governance and ecology.

The county government defines Shuangliu's identity on China's economic map as the science and technology satellite city of Chengdu, and the free trade zone for the international airport. Taking advantage of its import-export ports, Shuangliu promotes the development of international trade, bonded logistics, bonded exhibitions, bonded repairing, financing and renting businesses. The airport economy provides Shuangliu with conditions to boost growth of higher-end service sectors, modern business and the trade and real estate industry.

Shuangliu also boasts innovation strengths as it has cooperated with 21 universities and institutes, including Hong Kong City University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to set up a university science and technology innovation park. The county has 102 research and development platforms of various kinds, among which 24 are State-level R&D platforms.

The concentration of technologies and professionals from the universities and institutes inject vitality into Shuangliu's economy and industry.

Shuangliu is building a big-data center with China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom. Industries related to smart cities and the Internet of things, including cloud services, information security and big data, are also prospering in the area.

Shuangliu's industrial system is based on modern agriculture, dominated by advanced manufacturing industries and led by the development of airport service sectors.

Shuangliu is home to more than 2,000 enterprises, among which 14 are Fortune 500 companies and 26 are listed enterprises.

The emerging electronic information industry cluster is booming in Shuangliu and features fast development of the R&D and applications of Internet technology, electronic consumption products, information security, big data and cloud computing.

Aeronautical manufacturing and repairing industries, which serve auto engines and small and medium-sized aero-engines, are also prospering in Shuangliu.

New energy, biomedicine, green food, machining and new materials enterprises have merged with Internet technology, striving for a higher position in the industrial and value chain.

Shuangliu is also known for its comfortable, attractive and natural living environment and efficient government.

There is a 570-hectare wetland city park in the center of the county that is a popular place for residents to relax and exercise.

The open city park also has other functions, including flood control, wetland preservation, sightseeing, water conservation, ecology protection, education, leisure and entertainment.

Within a five-minute car drive, Shuangliu residents can easily find modern facilities for eating, entertainment, shopping and living. Shuangliu has the modernity of a big city combined with the convenience of a small town.

Huanglongxi ancient town in Shuangliu is popular with visitors, has a river port with more than 1,000 years of history and is known as the No 1 Ancient Town in Sichuan Basin. Tourists are attracted to the area by the places of historic interest in the town, but also the stories and legends surrounding it. Many travelers say Huanglongxi is the best place to taste the origins of Sichuan culture.

Shuangliu's efficient public service system is another reason residents have convenient lives. The county has the best sports venues and facilities in Sichuan province, the largest county-level library in China and three national-level key middle schools.

One of Shuangliu government's central tasks is to turn its economic strengths brought about from the science and technology park and the international airport into concrete benefits to local people, especially those living in rural areas.

The government said its objective this year was "building strong industries, making families rich, harmonizing people's relations and beautifying the countryside", with a main task of increasing farmers' income and improving the living and natural environment of villages.

Contact the writers through liyang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/23/2015 page13)