An ever-improving investment climate is expected to turn Guangzhou's Haizhu District into a hot spot for investors from home and abroad.

Located at the very centre of Guangzhou city, Haizhu District covers an area of 90.45 square kilometres and has a total population of 1.36 million. Surrounded by the Pearl River, Haizhu District with its beautiful scenery and mild climate has long been enjoying the reputation of "a bright pearl of the sea."

"Red carpets have been rolled out for investors from both home and abroad," said the district government.

The district has mapped out its ambitious development strategy during the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) - to establish a "colourful Haizhu" featuring a strong educational foundation, a rich cultural heritage, advanced high technology, a sound ecological environment and an admirable business atmosphere.

According to the district blueprint set for the 11th Five-Year Plan, the average annual growth rate of output value will reach 10 per cent, while the average annual growth of local fiscal revenue will reach 7 per cent.

The district government pledged to perfect the district's investment environment, ranging from offering sound infrastructure facilities to improving administrative efficiency.

And building an environmentally friendly city is on top of the district's development agenda, the government said.

Being a central island district of Guangzhou city, Haizhu enjoys unique geographic advantages and sound transportation facilities. As the gateway of Guangzhou to the Pearl River Delta, it has a sound transportation network of 14 bridges over the Pearl River, several expressways linking to other districts of Guangzhou, and metro lines.

Thanks to a well-developed education system, Haizhu boasts abundant human resources of various levels. There are 46 institutions of higher education, such as Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong University of Business Studies and Guangzhou Academy of Art.
 
Haizhu combines both the hustle and bustle of an urban city with the tranquillity of the countryside. The river-island ecological system featuring "a river, river branches, forests and parks" makes Haizhu a modernized urban ecological district suitable for residence and commerce.

With a long history of more than 2,000 years, the district boasts a rich cultural heritage. The relic of Huangpu Ancient Port in the district was the departure port for the "Silk Road at Sea" in ancient times.

As part of the preparations for the ongoing visit of the Swedish merchant ship Gotheborg, the Huangpu Ancient Port has been renovated, and a cultural tourism district is expected to be developed around the port.

Before 1864, Huangpu was the port where all foreign merchant ships visiting Guangzhou anchored. And between 1739 and 1745, the famous Swedish ship Gotheborg visited Guangzhou three times and was anchored at this port.

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