Hangzhou-Huangshan alliance in the west

The Hangzhou-Huangshan line opens on Dec 25, 2018. [Photo by Tang Zeyu and Liang Li/chinadaily.com.cn]

The railway connecting Hangzhou and Huangshan in Anhui province opened on Dec 25, 2018, not only ushering in a new chapter in Hangzhou's development in the western end of the YRD area, but also creating an example in cross-city (province) cooperation in the delta region.

The 265-kilometer line, which can facilitate speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, connects popular tourism spots, including seven state-level 5A-rated spots in Hangzhou and Huangshan.

Earlier this year, a delegation from Hangzhou, led by Zhou Jiangyong, Party secretary of Hangzhou, visited Huangshan and inked 10 strategic cooperation agreements in the areas of public service, ecology, regional transportation management, agriculture, business and economy, and industrial development.

Zhou believes that the opening of the Hangzhou-Huangshan line will bring a treasure trove of opportunities. It is imperative for Hangzhou to continue to expand cooperation and find new ways of working with nearby cities.

Linking Shaoxing and Ningbo in the south

Since last year, Zhejiang province has been constructing a demonstration zone which will help to integrate Hangzhou, Shaoxing and Ningbo.

Liu Ting, vice director of the Consulting Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government pointed out that the construction of Ningbo Hangzhou Bay New Zone, a provincial key development area located in the north of Ningbo, will reinforce Zhejiang's advantages in YRD integration by linking Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo and Zhoushan.

Currently, a number of major transportation projects involving Hangzhou and Shaoxing are in full swing, connecting the two cities more than ever before.

With their own unique advantages in industry and manufacturing, Hangzhou and Shaoxing will complement each other and contribute to the Ningbo Hangzhou Bay New Zone.