The new-type urbanization projects in Yuan’an County are being carried out efficiently. 60% of the extended part of Antai Avenue has been completed. Antai Avenue project belongs to the municipal project, in which 150 million yuan will be invested. The main part of the county’s water plant reconstruction project has been finished, in which more than 36 million yuan would be invested. The land expropriation and relocation of sewage network construction project in Anlu District has been initiated. And the reconstruction of drainage pipelines in the delta of Hangtian Road has been finished. Furthermore, the 2 billion yuan tourism construction project and its integrated supporting projects that were signed between Yuan’an County and Zhuo’er Holdings, Ltd. will accelerate the urbanization of Yuan’an County.
　　In recent years, through implementing the strategy of “transferring work focus and project fund to cities and towns”, Yuan’an County has redefined itself as “having a permanent resident population of 100,000 with an area of 10 square kilometers.” It is expected that a new-type urbanization system with the main urban area at its core, small towns as its important connecting points and central villages as its network can be generally formed. The county has put forward the goal of “building an ecological, strong and happy Yuan’an”. Following the concept of “passing down yesterday, changing today and saving for tomorrow”, the local government has invested more than 10 million yuan in the re-planning and reconstruction of the county. By now, over 380 square kilometers of digitized topographic map have been updated. And the urban - rural overall planning have been completed. Specialized planning, such as flood control and drainage, environmental sanitation and gas engineering, has been launched. More than 20 detailed regulatory and site planning for Eastern District and Southern New District have been completed and the planning of 100 administrative villages in the county have been finished. Through carefully-designed planning, the 136.98 square kilometers of planning area has been enlarged to 240 square kilometers and the coverage rate of detailed planning area has reached up to 90%, basically forming the county - town - village regulatory system.
　　Urban construction is the engine that can speed up urbanization. A total of 500 million yuan has been put into the construction of infrastructure, such as the sewage treatment plant, refuse disposal station, drinking water resource and natural gas projects. Meanwhile, the project of eliminating muddy road, dead-end road and lightless road has been launched. The initiation of “building green, bright, purified and beautiful organizations (residential quarter)” project in Mingfeng District has widened the area of green sceneries. The green space construction project in Taohuadao Ecological Demonstration Park, Pengcheng International Airport, Yingbin Avenue and the brightening project in main trunk and sub trunk have been completed. Currently, the green space ratio and green space coverage in Mingfeng District have reached 37.15% and 41.76% respectively, and the per capita green area is 11 square kilometers.
　　Balancing urban and rural development plays a key role in the process of urbanization. Yuan’an County attaches much importance to talent and capital introduction and vigorously develops small towns with distinct features. Jiuxian County and Hualinsi Town are incorporated into the urban planning area. The county government gives full support to help Hehua Town to be elected as the Famous Historic and Cultural Towns in China and Famous Tourism Town in Hubei Province. It also supports Yangping Town to be built as a pilot town in the construction of new countryside. Furthermore, the government encourages Maopingchang Town to be built as an agricultural town that focuses on the processing of farm products and Hekou Town to be built as an agricultural town that focuses on coal mining and the processing of farm products. Aiming at becoming a livable county, it promotes the construction of some ecological and environmental protection facilities such as the sewage treatment and solid waste landfill plant. (Reporter: Li Lanfang; correspondent: Yao Dingan, Yu Qiang)