SHENZHEN’S newest convention and exhibition center will be completed by the end of next year, sznews.com reported.

As the construction of the center is progressing steadily, it has been reported that the total investment of the center’s first phase of construction has reached 19.8 billion yuan (US$3 billion), with a construction area of 1.214 million square meters. The new exhibition center is expected to be the world’s largest exhibition center upon completion.

At present, the soft foundation treatment is finished, with the foundation pit support and pile foundation 70 percent complete. Internal road construction and on-site buildings for temporary use have been completed 90 percent and 20 percent respectively. The construction of three exhibition halls is underway, with the steel structure weighing more than two tons.

According to current progress, completion is expected by the end of 2018. In addition, the new science and technology museum has finished site selection and is conducting planning adjustments, whereas the international convention center is still in the site selection phase.

It has been reported that the new exhibition center, the science and technology museum, and the international convention center constitute the airport new town, which is located to the west of Songfu Boulevard, north of Fuzhou Boulevard, and south of Maozhou River. The airport new town is estimated to have an employed population of about 460,000 people and 250,000 residents.

In addition, two Metro lines will be connected to reach the new exhibition center, including Line 20 and Line 12.

Metro Line 20 will also be put into operation next year, connecting with Metro Line 11 and the intercity railway linking Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou.

Currently, one-third of the total construction volume of Metro Line 20 has been completed as the main structure is in the process of construction.

(Zhang Yu)