FUTIAN aims to be Shenzhen’s “backbone” by concentrating efforts on the innovative development of the axis linking the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong comprehensive transportation network, world-class ecological landscape belt and the city’s new skylines.

The plan is part of Shenzhen’s “axis enhancement” strategy, according to official planning.

The “axis” covers Futian and Longhua districts and stretches to Dongguan, thereby mainly including the middle part of Shenzhen and Dongguan. Specifically, it comprises the Lok Ma Chau Loop area, Futian, Longhua, Guangming New District and Bantian Subdistrict of Longgang District as well as Tangxia and Fenggang in Dongguan.

The axis will connect the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Innovation Park, Futian CBD, Meilin-Caitian area, the business area around the Shenzhen North Railway Station, Guanlan High-tech Industrial Park, Banxuegang Science and Technology Town, Guangming Phoenix Town, Jiulongshan IUR Zone, Dongguan Ecological Park and Songshan Lake Scientific and Technological Industrial Park.

At present, a longitudinal axis has taken shape on the eastern bank of the Greater Bay Area, including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou from south to north. This axis has managed to amass the most-needed aspects for the Greater Bay Area’s economic growth — finance, logistics, science and technology, information and culture which, when combined accounts for more than 80 percent of the area’s total economy and is six or seven times larger than that of the western bank. Therefore, the four cities are expected to become the core driving force for the area’s development.

Futian will connect with Meiguan Scientific and Technological Innovation Corridor to the north and integrate with the New Territories in Hong Kong to the south to form a new developmental axis for the Greater Bay Area.

In terms of transportation networks, Futian will be connected with the Lok Ma Chau Loop area to the south to reach West Kowloon and run through the Meilin-Caitian area and Longhua-Guanlan area to Guangzhou and Dongguan through the Huanggang and Futian checkpoints, Futian Railway Station, Shenzhen North Railway Station, and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-speed Rail Link.

Gao Shengyuan, head of Futian’s district government, said that connecting Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Dongguan and maximizing the “axis enhancement” strategy will make Shenzhen’s urban spatial layout “axis” concept into an internationally advanced one, potentially setting a model for other cities. (Yang Mei)