The second decade of 21st century marks the critical point of reform and development of Yichang. Chongqing and Wuhan, connected by the Yangtze River, are 1,000 kilometers away from each other. Since there are no megacity between the two big cities, Yichang, conforming to the times, takes on the great task of building itself into a modern megacity.

　　Top Level Design to Construct a Modern Megacity

　　Yichang is flourishing due to rivers. Thanks to the Gezhouba Water Control Project and the Three Gorges Water Control Project, Yichang has become a new star of the city group in middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

　　The GDP of Yichang was only 1.125 billion RMB in 1978, while topped 10 billion RMB for the first time in 1993. In 2008, it exceeded 100 billion RMB, and it reached 250.8 billion RMB last year.

　　Yichang carries forward its cause and forges ahead into the future. In June, 2012, the Provincial Tenth Party Congress outlined a grand strategy for Yichang’s development. It aimed to support Yichang to be a provincial sub-center city, regional central city in middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, world-famous tourist city and finally a modern megacity.

　　Both the Central Leaders and Provincial Party Committee pay great attention to Yichang Dream. Li Hongzhong, the Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, stressed that Yichang should stand out both at home and abroad. Wang Guosheng, the Governor of Hubei Province claimed to build Yichang into the national first-class city.

　　In the forum held at the end of last year, Huang Chuping, Member of Standing Committee of Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of Municipal Party Committee, emphasized that, to make an important leap, we must emancipate our minds and promote the development with broader vision and more distinctive characters.

　　Advice and suggestions are our top level design.

　　In October, 2012, Municipal Party Committee organized municipal leaders, municipal departments and counties’ leaders to have a study tour. About 100 leaders went to three provinces and eight cities. After they came back, they held a great discussion on how to emancipate minds and accelerate the construction of a modern megacity.

　　Last December, Third Plenary Session of the Fifth Municipal Party Committee made a decision on the contents, concept, path and other major issues of building a modern megacity. To build Yichang into a large and strong, excellent and beautiful megacity is the fundamental meaning of Yichang Dream.

　　The word "Large" means large scale of the city. The word "Strong" stands for strong industries, urban functions and comprehensive strength. The word "Excellent" is to create sound environment for development. The word "Beautiful" represents the pleasing image of the city.

　　We’ve put forward three development concepts, five development paths and five development measures. All these help Yichang make a great leap from large city to a modern megacity.

　　Upgrading the City Functions

　　Data show that the population density in the largest area of Yichang old city has reached 60,000 people/sq km, exceeding that of some first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

　　Since the old city meets with a series of challenges, such as traffic congestion, housing pressure, heavy population density and environmental problems. To upgrade the city functions is urgent. We must build the New District on one hand, improve living standard in old city on the other hand.

　　In March 24, 2013, Huang Chuping, Secretary of Municipal Party Committee led a delegation to Guangzhou and Hong Kong for attracting investment. Along with other activities in Beijing, Wuhan and Hainan, Yichang has attracted more than 400 well-known enterprises at home and abroad. The total investment has exceeded 300 billion RMB.

　　Twenty-nine projects in Yichang New District, with a total investment of 13.75 billion RMB were started on August 19th. Being the key projects of the urban modernization in Ychang, the projects of Chachang Road, Chengxiang Road and Hanyi Road will play a vanguard role in the development of industries.

　　Five months ago, 51 key projects in the New District, with a investment about 16.7 billion RMB, were initiated concurrently, which started the construction of the New District.

　　The planning map showed that the old city was surrounded by the New District. In the future, the new city will be formed by the northern region and the southern region of the Yangtze River, connected by Yiling Yangtze River Bridge, Miaozui Yangtze River Bridge and Wujiagang Yangtze River Bridge.

　　The Leading Group for Construction of the New District included Huang Chuping, Member of Standing Committee of Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of Municipal Party Committee, and Ma Xuming, the Deputy Party Secretary as well as Mayor of Yichang City.

　　For the expansion of the New District, the transportation, the public construction, the resettlement and the ecology should be taken into consideration firstly. Taking road network for an example, cross-district and cross-group city ring network expressway, BRT, low-speed system, greenway system and tiny-cycle system will be built in new district so as to enrich trip modes. “We must pay attention to the construction as well as the living standard to develop the central city.” said Huang Chuping. The city image should be improved by beautifying and greening.

　　The action of beautifying and greening city started on February 19th. The landscape project has given initial results: The main arteries have taken on a brand-new look with more than 9 million trees planted and a comprehensive improvement has been carried out along the 7 city roads.

　　Industries prosper the city. Modern industries are playing a main role in building a modern megacity.

　　Projects are the foundation of a industry. In August, 117 major projects came into construction, with a total investment of 37.799 billion RMB, among which 10.792 billion RMB will be invested this year. Eight of the major projects enjoyed a investment of more than 1 billion RMB. “These projects are of high quality.” said Jiang Zhengxiong, Director of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission. About 60 percent of the 117 projects are “six 100-billion-worth industries”, among which 36 projects are equipment manufacturing ones with a total investment of 7.760 billion RMB, 16 projects are food and beverage, bioengineering and pharmaceutical industries with 6.986 billion RMB and 9 are modern service industry projects with an investment of 2.301 billion RMB.

　　The “six 100-billion-worth industries” in Yichang refers to the fine chemical industry, the food and beverage, the bioengineering and pharmaceutical industry, the advanced equipment manufacturing industry, new material industry, modern logistics industry and cultural tourism industry. In May, a thematic meeting was held by Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government to make development planning and top design of “six 100-billion-worth industries” and quicken the establishment of an international standards and a local feature modern industrial system.

　　On May 16th, “Urban Ark” AUV car was officially offline in ZXAUTO Yichang Branch Company. In early July, the polycrystalline silicon’s second stage technology reformation of Yichang Csgholding Company in Xiaoting Industrial Park has been accomplished. On August 16th, the caprolactam item of Hubei Sanning Co., Ltd., with an investment of 5 billion RMB and an annual output of 200 thousand ton has been formally put into production.

　　To be a megacity needs 13 counties, cities and districts of Yichang to work together. Having been the top three of the county-level economy for the last ten years in Huibei Province, Yidu is still progressing. On May 9th, Huang Chuping, Secretary of Municipal Party Committee, Ma Xuming, Mayor of Yichang City, and other leaders of relevant departments came to Yidu and expected Yidu to be top 100 counties in China with the help of Yichang City.

　　Dangyang and Zhijiang also are striving to be the top 100 counties. The leaders of Municipal Party Committee said that the 13 counties and the New High-tech Zone are the important parts of the city. The development of each county can help Yichang to be a better city.