Guangxi explores the integration of three-level planning to accelerate the construction of new urbanization
On October 26, reporters visited Zhaoping County’s Zhaomao Town in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where the recent upgrades to National Highway 241 have dramatically changed the town’s environment. Once characterized by dusty roads and chaotic traffic mixed with street vendors, the area now boasts wide, newly-paved roads, clear warning lines, and well-organized stalls, creating a refreshing atmosphere for visitors heading to the market.
This transformation of the main roadway in Zhaomao Town is emblematic of the local government’s commitment to accelerating a new type of urbanization. Since 2022, the Guangxi Land Resources Planning and Design Group has undertaken several major projects, crafting the “Overall Planning for Zhaomao Town’s Land Space (2021-2035),” the “Detailed Control Planning for the Town Center,” and the “Planning for a New Type of Urbanization Demonstration Town.” These efforts have established a pioneering model of three-tiered planning and are laying the groundwork for a more human-centered, optimized, and comprehensively supportive urban development.
PENG Yuru, the project leader from Guangxi Land Planning Group, noted, “The implementation of a well-coordinated planning approach is the key innovation of our three-tiered planning model.” By using higher-level plans to guide more detailed lower-level plans, the project has effectively increased efficiency in planning creation and ensured the successful execution of the development blueprint.
Zhaomao Town is the largest tea-producing area in Zhaoping County and plays a key role in the organic tea industry. This autumn, tea farmers in Fuxing Village are busy with the fresh harvest as their thousands of acres of tea fields burst into lush greenery. The vibrant aroma of tea has attracted numerous tourists eager to experience the unique culture of autumn tea picking and handmade tea processing. The establishment of the Fuxing Village Liu Bao Tea Agritourism Demonstration Park is gradually evolving into a distinctive area that integrates tea farm sightseeing, production, sales, research, and cultural experiences, showcasing the region’s full industrial chain from cultivation to commerce.
With a focus on “integrating industry and city, promoting the city through industry,” the planning team has clarified a scientific and feasible path for Zhaomao Town’s urbanization. Now, leveraging the convenient transport provided by National Highway 241, Zhaomao Town is enhancing the development of its specialty industries—tea, citrus, yellow bone fish, and forest-based economic activities like cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum—resulting in a growing agricultural hub that deeply connects with leisure tourism and health industries.
At the entrance of the town’s central primary school, it’s common to overhear parents saying, “Dinner’s not ready yet, let’s go play in the park for a bit.” The newly constructed ecological leisure park, which connects the school and the local market, is now a favorite destination for residents seeking relaxation and recreational space.
In the planning process, the Guangxi Land Planning Group’s technical team aimed to create a model for rural township development by customizing a “renewal project” for Zhaomao Town. This plan addresses home renovations, public utility improvements, ecological landscaping, and the provision of public services, driving enhancements to the town’s core infrastructure.
As the comprehensive land planning continues to unfold, Zhaomao Town is embracing a new vitality as a model of urbanization, having been selected as one of the first new urbanization demonstration towns in Hezhou City. Tourist routes like “Zhaomao Guan Hua” and Fuxing Ecological Tea Gardens are booming, marking the emergence of a vibrant, high-quality ecological tourism destination that moves beyond the blueprints into everyday life for its residents.
