China architect plans 'garden city' in new economic zone

Xiongan, Beijing

THE chief architect of China's latest special economic zone said he expects to submit to the government by the end of this month a detailed proposal including plans for a high-tech garden city in one of the country's most polluted provinces.

The idea of developing the Xiongan New Area, about 100 kilometres south-west of Beijing, was announced on April 1. The planned zone in Hebei province has been touted as having the same national significance as the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone that helped launch China's economic transformation in 1980.