The construction of Jinan New and Old Growth Driver Conversion Pilot Zone has been vigorously developed.

The State Council authorized in January 2018 the Shandong Implementation Plan for the New and Old Growth Driver Conversion Pilot Zone, the first regional development strategy in China approved after the 19th CPC National Congress and the first one themed on new and old growth driver conversion. The plan is officially integrated into a national strategy. Shandong will pioneer new and old growth driver conversion and seek to be a national demonstration base.

"We are supposed to advance the construction of the pilot zone with all strength in 2018, which marks the first year of building the New and Old Growth Driver Conversion Pilot Zone," said the Jinan municipal government work report.

The development of the pilot zone was a key recommendation of the fifth Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Jinan Municipal Committee. The session required that it should, adhering to project priority, transport priority, ecology priority and reform priority, take full advantage of priorities to achieve new breakthroughs in the construction of the pilot zone, leading the new and old kinetic energy conversion across Shandong province.

Kinetic Energy Conversion - industrial development focusing on "four-new-industry"

The pilot zone, guided by the concept of "the current investment structure is exactly the industrial structure of the future", has focused on the development direction of the "four-new-industries" principle–new smart manufacturing, new technologies, new services and new consumption–in the process of attracting investment. It has introduced a batch of major industrial projects, laying a foundation for its own sustainable high-quality development.

The planning area for Jinan New and Old Growth Driver Conversion Pilot Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: sdsbqmt] 

"Taking the project of Greenland International Expo City signed on June 23 as an example, this project worth nearly 100 billion yuan ($14.4 billion) covers 453 hectares which will be used to build new centers for the conference sector, scientific and technological innovation and high-end education in Jinan," said Song Weidong, deputy secretary of Party working committee of Jinan New and Old Growth Driver Conversion Pilot Zone and director of its management committee.

Many projects, such as the International Convention and Exhibition Center, the International Conference Center and Qilu State Guesthouse, have aroused wide public interest.

According to Song, the area of the International Convention and Exhibition Center in the Greenland International Expo City project will reach up to 550,000 square meters with 450,000 square meters for indoor exhibition halls. It will be capable of undertaking the largest auto show in China, changing the current situation where Jinan has not had the ability to undertake world-class exhibitions due to limited exhibition areas. 

Such high-end projects can be found everywhere in the pilot zone. The project for China Hydrogen Valley, which was signed in December 2017, is aimed at fostering an innovative cluster of the hydrogen energy industry. 

The innovation cluster will focus on key materials, components, electric piles, dynamic systems as well as the research and development of complete vehicles with hydrogen energy research at its core. 

In addition, efforts will be made to promote and apply hydrogen-power business vehicles, buses and municipal vehicles, facilitating the pilot zone to serve as the demonstration area for hydrogen energy operations. 

Another 10 projects, such as the Cainiao Network Jinan Smart Logistics Center and the Raycom Info-tech Jinan International Info-tech Center, are expected to be signed soon.

Work has started on over 120 significant projects, including Zhongyun production-education-research cluster, the Liandong Technology Valley, the China Resources Health Town and the city complex.

All of these projects will work together to inject new energy into the pilot zone's sustainable high-quality development.

Transport priority – turning the Yellow River from a deep chasm into a thoroughfare

Encouraged by the municipal Party committee and the municipal government, construction of the "three-bridge and one-tunnel" river-crossing project has been succesfully developed in its early stages.

The projects, including the Yellow River Bridge on Qilu Avenue, the Jinan-Luokou Tunnel crossing the Yellow River and the Yellow River Bridge on Fenghuang Road, are also under construction.

The reconstruction and expansion project for the Yellow River Bridge in Jinan was approved by the Yellow River Conservancy Commission on June 19. 

It will be constructed in the latter half of this year, facilitating the transformation of the Yellow River from a "deep chasm" into an inland river in the city. 

At the same time, the pilot zone has also built the northern extension of the "three-bridge and one-tunnel" project, forming the main "one-horizontal and three-vertical" road net crossing the interior section.

The Yellow River Bridge on Qilu Avenue has been extended north to Jinan Round City Expressway by 3.4 kilometers. It serves as the major south-north highway in the west of the pilot zone. 

The Jinan-Luokou Road Tunnel has been extended north to the Sangzidian group along the QueShan Reservoir, with total length now 30 km. It serves as the major south-north highway in the west of the pilot zone. 

The Yellow River Bridge will be extended north to Jinan Round City Expressway with total length of 20 km. It will be the major highway in the middle of the pilot zone.

The Yellow River Bridge on Fenghuang Road has been extended west to Jinan Round City Expressway with total length of 17 km.

These extensions, which will operate synchronously with the channel crossing the Yellow River, will guarantee the seamless connection of major roads alongside the Yellow River, opening up a transport bottleneck and improving the gathering of resources in areas north of the Yellow River.

As well as these new road connections alongside the Yellow River, the pilot zone has also developed a new plan for the road network inside the zone and established a "three-vertical and two-horizontal" expressway network and a "four-vertical and five-horizontal" structural major road network.

A planned 150-kilometer-long rail line will connect with the rail transport network south of the Yellow River. The 120-kilometer-long BRT line will link up with various functional groups.

Meanwhile, a sightseeing rail corridor will be constructed alongside the Yellow River, with brand-new scenery appearing on the banks of the river.

Besides, one Jinan North high-speed railway station will be set up in the pilot zone. It will connect with the national high-speed network, expanding the coverage of the provincial capital and enabling better integration with the regional development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei.

Livable Ecological Environment–blue-green space accounting for over 70 percent 

Harmonious development between industries and the ecological environment is an impressive highlight in the pilot zone development plan. 

The pilot zone, adhering to the concept of ecology priority, has set up large blue-green space to create favorable living and working environments, ushering in a new path for green development.

The design sketch for the Huanghe Garden. [Photo/WeChat account: sdsbqmt]

"You can imagine that the pilot zone in the future will develop into a new livable place with green and beautiful scenery," Song said.

According to Song, like Xiongan New Area, the blue-green space in the pilot zone will account for over 70 percent of the land and will include watercourses, wetlands, lakes, woodlands, parks and farmland. That means only about 200 of the total 730 square kilometers of the pilot zone will be under construction.

In addition to the Guanshi Garden's flower sea, which has been basically completed, the pilot zone will unveil hundreds of pocket parks, shaping a livable environment of "seeing the green scenery within a 200-meter range, finding a park within a 500-meter range and stepping into the wetland and forest within 3-kilometer range".

The pilot zone will also arrange a three-level urban public service facility system of "city-cluster-community" to form a five-minute living circle centering on the block streets, a 10-minute living circle for neighbors and a 15-minute living circle for the community, meeting residents' needs for a better life.

Moreover, by actively cooperating with high-level institutions at home and abroad, the pilot zone has established a new batch of international schools and hospitals as well as recreation and sports facilities, attracting more excellent talents to "come and stay" here.

Reform with Keen Determination – the "six-one" concept to optimize the business environment

The pilot zone has vigorously promoted the optimization of the business environment through the recent implementation of the "six-one" concept.

The examination and approval system following up the "six-one" concept includes:

The change to a system of "multiple regulations in one" reflects the speed of the pilot zone's development. One of the most important points is that the pilot zone authorizes institutions to compile comprehensive evaluation reports on the local environment, ore, geological disasters, weather, water and soil. The results of comprehensive evaluation reports have been shared among enterprises to reduce the time and energy they spend on these aspects.

The "multiple licenses in one" regulation for land planning and construction projects allows land planning for construction projects to be included in the scope of the construction license. After preparing relevant procedures, the construction units are supposed to submit a letter of commitment. Then they can deal with relevant procedures and a License of the Land Planning and Construction for Construction Projects in the Pilot Zone will be issued.

Municipal supporting infrastructure will be arranged in "one-stop". The pilot zone has promoted the integrated planning, construction and management of various infrastructures, which are built on the borders of construction projects at the same time. Connectors are preserved to be ready for connection at any time, and examination and approval services are handled by one department.

An operation mode featuring "one-department acceptance", "one package service" and "one-stop management" has been implemented. Besides, an express delivery service is also provided for examined and approved certificates.

A regulation "one seal" for construction projects will be implemented. A "special seal" for the administrative examination and approval of construction projects shall be set up to be used to conduct examination and approval procedures for all items relating to the construction project.

A regulation of "one-time charge" will be introduced. A system for a charging directory for construction projects has been established. Any charge item which is not included in the directory will be canceled. Before the acceptance check on the main body of the construction project, various policy-type administrative fees will be collected at one time.