Editor’s note: On Noverber 21, Yichang was particularly reported by Hubei Daily in a four-page (from page 3 to 6) special issue “focusing on vitality and establishing fulcrum” for its perfected city functions, improved industrial strength and unique regional location, highlighting its important position in China. From today, this paper will forward those six major articles in succession.

　　“Although it’s difficult to push forward information sharing and department coordination, an important part in smart city construction, Yichang still realized it in its network management……” said Yang Liuzhong, the deputy director of Digital City Engineering Research Center of Chinese Society for Urban Studies, who reported Yichang’s fruitful achievements in the information sharing construction at length in China Smart City Innovation Conference held in Guangzhou.

　　“The information sharing and coordination” is just one part of “National Information Benefiting for People in Pilot City” projects undertook by Yichang. At present, up to 15 pilot projects are being undertaken in Yichang, an unusual case in Hubei Province even across China, including “National Innovative Pilot City”, “National Regional Strategic Emerging Industry Cluster Development Pilot City”, “National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Plot”, “National First Batch Model City of New Energy”, “National E-commerce Model City”, “National Food Safety Pilot City”, “National Second-class Logistic Park Layout City ”, “National Logistic Park Circulation Renovation Pilot City”, “National Catering Wastes Resource Utilization and Biosafety Disposal Pilot City” and so on. These nationwide pilot projects concerning national welfare and people’s livelihood are undertook in Yichang as “gold-lettered signboard”, preferential policies, accelerators of social and economical transformation and upgrading, and mission carrier of state-level priority to implement innovation as well.

　　“ As the only model city of new material industry in China, Yichang will seek innovation breakthroughs in the key technologies of graphite, giant magneto resistance, high-end silicon and high-fluorine-based materials to basically achieve the relatively complete industrial chain and technological innovation system with new functional materials as the major part and advanced structural materials as well as high-performance composite materials supplement and then establish a new material industry clusters with international competitiveness. ” said Li Dong, the chief of high-tech industry section of Yichang Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

　　Presently, Yichang has 139 new material enterprises above designated size with an output value of ￥51.8 billion, among which there are 12 leading enterprises and 21 enterprise technology centers identified at the national and provincial level. Furthermore, it got 179 patents for new material industries with 71 for invention, hosted or participated in the making of national and industrial standards,  and produced some products with the international advanced level.
 

　　At present many national key pilot projects are carrying out vigorously in Yichang and numerous achievements have been adopted across China. “One year ago, President Xi pointed out that the Chinese rejuvenation depended on the core competitiveness especially the innovation.” said by Huang Chuping, the member of standing committee of Hubei Province and Yichang Municipal Party Secretary. Thus Yichang regards innovation as its exhaustible source for the rise of megacity. (Originally ran in the November 21 edition of Hubei Daily ) (Reporters, Tang Yigui and Wang Chenglong, Correspondents, Chai Junting and He Fan.)