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From CZT City Cluster to CZT Metropolitan Area
In 2007, the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster was approved as a National Comprehensive Supporting Reform Trial Area to build a "Two-oriented (resource-saving and environment-friendly)" Society. The CZT City Cluster is an area centered around Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, including the adjacent cities of Yueyang, Changde, Yiyang, Hengyang and Loudi. The three core cities – Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan, are located along the Xiangjiang River in the shape of the Chinese character “品”.
Chronicle of the Development of the CZT City Cluster
In the 1950s, the idea of building a "City of Chairman Mao" by combining the three cities was put forward.
In the early 1980s, the idea of establishing Chang-Zhu-Tan Economic Zone was put forward.
In 1997, the Hunan Provincial CPC Committee and the Hunan Provincial Government made the strategic decision to promote economic integration in Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan.
In 1998, the leading group and corresponding office for the coordination in economic integration of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan were set up.
In 2000, the 10th Five-year Plan for economic integration of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan was compiled. The cities of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan were chosen to be the first batch of the World Bank's pilot areas to carry out the Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan City Development Strategy (CDS).
In 2002, the Planning of Industrial Integration in Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan, the Comprehensive Plan of the Development and Construction of the Xiangjiang River Eco-economic Zone and the Regional Plan of Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster were drawn up and put into implementation.
In 2003, the Hunan Provincial Government issued the Measures for Developing, Constructing and Protecting the Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan Sections of the Xiangjiang River.
In 2004, the Reconstruction Planning of Old Industrial Bases in Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan (2004-2010) was drawn up and implemented.
In 2005, the construction of Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster was included in the 11th Five-year Plan for China.
In 2006, Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster was designated as one of the city clusters of prior construction in the strategy of promoting the rise of central China.
On December 14, 2007, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the Notice on Sanctioning Wuhan City Cluster and Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster as National Comprehensive Supporting Reform Trial Areas to Build a Resource Conserving and Environment Friendly Society.
On July 31, 2008, the 3rd session of the 11th Hunan Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee approved the Decision of Hunan Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee on Promoting the Work of Supporting and Promoting the Building of a Resource Conserving and Environment Friendly Society in the Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster.
During June 18 to 19, 2009, the Four Objectives and Six Tasks of Building a Resource Conserving and Environmentally Friendly Society in the first stage were determined; the Implementation Plan of the Reform and Construction in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Pilot Zone (2009-2010), the Medium and Long-term Development Plan of Comprehensive Traffic System of the 3+5 City Cluster and the Planning Scheme of the Intercity Railroad in the 3+5 City Cluster were approved (3+5 city cluster refers to the cluster of Yueyang, Changde, Yiyang, Loudi and Hengyang, centered by Chang-Zhu-Tan and with a radius of one-hour commute).
On May 4, 2010, the Hunan Provincial Government gave an official reply to the Special Plan for the Reform of Institutional Mechanisms for Environment Protection in the Pilot Zone of "Two-oriented" Society Construction in Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Cluster.
On April 6, 2011, Hunan officially initiated a pilot project of emissions trading.
On April 7, 2011, the Hunan Provincial CPC Committee issued the Notice on Establishing the Working Committee of the Pilot Zone of "Two-oriented" Society Construction in the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster..
On August 8, 2011, the Hunan Provincial Government approved the Planning Scheme for the Overall Plan for the Green Core of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster (2010-2030) .
On March 14, 2012, the Hunan Provincial Government issued the Development Plan on Hunan's Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster in the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015).
On August 16, 2012, the Provincial Government issued the "Instructions for Implementing Regulations on the Planning of Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster of Hunan Province".
On September 27, 2012, the 31st session of the 11th Hunan People's Congress Standing Committee approved local laws and regulations including Regulations on the Conservation of the Xiangjiang River, Regulations on Shaoshan Scenic Area Management and Regulations of the Management of the Botanic Garden.
On November 30, 2012, the Regulations on the Protection of Ecological Green Core in Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster was approved, and has been implemented since March 1, 2013.
Up to December, 2013, the compilation of 18 special plans for the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster was finished.
In September 2019, the Hunan Development and Reform Commission unveiled a revised version of the Master Plan for the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Cluster Ecological "Green Heart" Zone (2010-2030). According to the plan, the "green heart" zone would be built as an ecological buffer of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Cluster, and a world-class city cluster "green heart".
In March 2022, the Hunan Provincial People's Government issued a Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) Metropolitan Area Development Plan, covering the period from 2022 to 2025 and extends to 2035 from a long-term perspective.
Click to learn about more information about Hunan's "Two-oriented" Society Construction>>
CZT Metropolitan Area
Since the CZT City Cluster was approved as a National Comprehensive Supporting Reform Trial Area to build a "Two-oriented" Society in 2007, the progress of urban integration of the CZT Metropolitan Area has greatly accelerated, and the competitiveness and economic strength has enhanced. The area is ready to promote high-quality urban integration and foster a modern metropolitan area with a high starting point. In March 2022, the Hunan Provincial People's Government issued a Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) Metropolitan Area Development Plan. The CZT Metropolitan Area includes Changsha City; Zhuzhou's central urban area and Liling county-level city; and, Xiangtan's central urban area, Shaoshan county-level cities, and Xiangtan County. The total area is 18,900 square kilometers, and the last recorded data of the population was 14.84 million in 2021. The total economic volume reached 1.79 trillion yuan.
According to the CZT Metropolitan Area Development Plan, in 2025, the CZT Metropolitan Area will see significant improvement in urban integration in competitiveness, capacity for driving development in surrounding areas, high-standard infrastructure, modern public services, and social security. An urban integrated development pattern will begin to take shape and become a benchmark of high-quality provincial development, high-level administration, and high-quality life. In 2035, the urban integrated development pattern will be fully formed. The urban-rural gap of regional development and people's living standards will shrink. With these changes, people will get equal access to public services; the infrastructure will be interconnected; people's livelihood will be better; and, a modern social governance model will be formed. The capacity to drive the development of surrounding areas will be significantly elevated. A modern metropolitan area with distinctive characteristics and charms will take shape.
Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn
Updated in January 2023
Chronicle of the Development of the CZT City Cluster
In the 1950s, the idea of building a "City of Chairman Mao" by combining the three cities was put forward.
In the early 1980s, the idea of establishing Chang-Zhu-Tan Economic Zone was put forward.
In 1997, the Hunan Provincial CPC Committee and the Hunan Provincial Government made the strategic decision to promote economic integration in Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan.
In 1998, the leading group and corresponding office for the coordination in economic integration of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan were set up.
In 2000, the 10th Five-year Plan for economic integration of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan was compiled. The cities of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan were chosen to be the first batch of the World Bank's pilot areas to carry out the Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan City Development Strategy (CDS).
In 2002, the Planning of Industrial Integration in Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan, the Comprehensive Plan of the Development and Construction of the Xiangjiang River Eco-economic Zone and the Regional Plan of Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster were drawn up and put into implementation.
In 2003, the Hunan Provincial Government issued the Measures for Developing, Constructing and Protecting the Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan Sections of the Xiangjiang River.
In 2004, the Reconstruction Planning of Old Industrial Bases in Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan (2004-2010) was drawn up and implemented.
In 2005, the construction of Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster was included in the 11th Five-year Plan for China.
In 2006, Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster was designated as one of the city clusters of prior construction in the strategy of promoting the rise of central China.
On December 14, 2007, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the Notice on Sanctioning Wuhan City Cluster and Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster as National Comprehensive Supporting Reform Trial Areas to Build a Resource Conserving and Environment Friendly Society.
On July 31, 2008, the 3rd session of the 11th Hunan Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee approved the Decision of Hunan Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee on Promoting the Work of Supporting and Promoting the Building of a Resource Conserving and Environment Friendly Society in the Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster.
During June 18 to 19, 2009, the Four Objectives and Six Tasks of Building a Resource Conserving and Environmentally Friendly Society in the first stage were determined; the Implementation Plan of the Reform and Construction in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Pilot Zone (2009-2010), the Medium and Long-term Development Plan of Comprehensive Traffic System of the 3+5 City Cluster and the Planning Scheme of the Intercity Railroad in the 3+5 City Cluster were approved (3+5 city cluster refers to the cluster of Yueyang, Changde, Yiyang, Loudi and Hengyang, centered by Chang-Zhu-Tan and with a radius of one-hour commute).
On May 4, 2010, the Hunan Provincial Government gave an official reply to the Special Plan for the Reform of Institutional Mechanisms for Environment Protection in the Pilot Zone of "Two-oriented" Society Construction in Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Cluster.
On April 6, 2011, Hunan officially initiated a pilot project of emissions trading.
On April 7, 2011, the Hunan Provincial CPC Committee issued the Notice on Establishing the Working Committee of the Pilot Zone of "Two-oriented" Society Construction in the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster..
On August 8, 2011, the Hunan Provincial Government approved the Planning Scheme for the Overall Plan for the Green Core of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster (2010-2030) .
On March 14, 2012, the Hunan Provincial Government issued the Development Plan on Hunan's Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster in the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015).
On August 16, 2012, the Provincial Government issued the "Instructions for Implementing Regulations on the Planning of Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster of Hunan Province".
On September 27, 2012, the 31st session of the 11th Hunan People's Congress Standing Committee approved local laws and regulations including Regulations on the Conservation of the Xiangjiang River, Regulations on Shaoshan Scenic Area Management and Regulations of the Management of the Botanic Garden.
On November 30, 2012, the Regulations on the Protection of Ecological Green Core in Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster was approved, and has been implemented since March 1, 2013.
Up to December, 2013, the compilation of 18 special plans for the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) City Cluster was finished.
In September 2019, the Hunan Development and Reform Commission unveiled a revised version of the Master Plan for the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Cluster Ecological "Green Heart" Zone (2010-2030). According to the plan, the "green heart" zone would be built as an ecological buffer of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Cluster, and a world-class city cluster "green heart".
In March 2022, the Hunan Provincial People's Government issued a Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) Metropolitan Area Development Plan, covering the period from 2022 to 2025 and extends to 2035 from a long-term perspective.
Click to learn about more information about Hunan's "Two-oriented" Society Construction>>
CZT Metropolitan Area
Since the CZT City Cluster was approved as a National Comprehensive Supporting Reform Trial Area to build a "Two-oriented" Society in 2007, the progress of urban integration of the CZT Metropolitan Area has greatly accelerated, and the competitiveness and economic strength has enhanced. The area is ready to promote high-quality urban integration and foster a modern metropolitan area with a high starting point. In March 2022, the Hunan Provincial People's Government issued a Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) Metropolitan Area Development Plan. The CZT Metropolitan Area includes Changsha City; Zhuzhou's central urban area and Liling county-level city; and, Xiangtan's central urban area, Shaoshan county-level cities, and Xiangtan County. The total area is 18,900 square kilometers, and the last recorded data of the population was 14.84 million in 2021. The total economic volume reached 1.79 trillion yuan.
According to the CZT Metropolitan Area Development Plan, in 2025, the CZT Metropolitan Area will see significant improvement in urban integration in competitiveness, capacity for driving development in surrounding areas, high-standard infrastructure, modern public services, and social security. An urban integrated development pattern will begin to take shape and become a benchmark of high-quality provincial development, high-level administration, and high-quality life. In 2035, the urban integrated development pattern will be fully formed. The urban-rural gap of regional development and people's living standards will shrink. With these changes, people will get equal access to public services; the infrastructure will be interconnected; people's livelihood will be better; and, a modern social governance model will be formed. The capacity to drive the development of surrounding areas will be significantly elevated. A modern metropolitan area with distinctive characteristics and charms will take shape.
In July 2022, the Hunan Leading Group Office of Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) Integrated Development issued a five-year action plan for the construction of the CZT Metropolitan Area. It specified the construction goals and measures between 2022 and 2026, to boost the implementation of the CZT Metropolitan Area Development Plan.
Several rail transit projects of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZT) Metropolitan Area have been approved by related national authorities. Ten rail transit projects are planned to be launched recently, with an estimated length of 376 kilometers and total investment of 96.3 billion CNY.
The CZT Metropolitan Area will accelerate constructing a multilayer outer ring rail transit system composed of trunk railways, intercity railways, regional railways, and urban railways. In accordance with the overall plan, by 2027, the rail transit system in the CZT metropolitan area will reach a total length of about 1,460 kilometers and cover all areas with a population of over 100,000. A one-hour commuting circle linking the main urban areas of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan and important towns and townships around will basically take shape. The travel time to the main cities of neighboring provinces and the city clusters of the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will be 1.5 to 3 hours.
Updated in January 2023