As a "Hunan model" of regional coordinated development, the integration of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan has steadily evolved from being "geographically adjacent" to "deeply integrated."

Focusing on the aerospace and BeiDou industries, the three cities of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan conducted joint investment promotion for the first time. An initial plan has been formed for the ring-and-network layout of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan rail transit system, urban integration trunk roads are being accelerated, and infrastructure connectivity is making rapid progress. The plan for high-level protection and high-quality development of the Green Heart has been promulgated and implemented. The Olympic Sports Center has begun construction. The Huxiang Green Hall and Ecological Greenways are being accelerated. The relocation of the provincial sports training base and Hunan Sports Vocational College is underway. The layout and implementation of beautiful countryside projects, advanced technology industrial parks, and large scientific facilities are being accelerated...

Since the beginning of this year, the provincial Party committee and the provincial government have held two "brainstorming" meetings and a meeting of the integration development leadership group on the integration of the three cities, unifying understanding, broadening thinking, and strengthening determination. In accordance with the deployments of the provincial Party committee and the provincial government, the three cities and relevant provincial departments have firmly embraced the concept of "one city," maintained a combat-ready posture, worked together with united efforts and collective resolve, and jointly driven notable progress in ten reforms and ten major projects.

Statistics show that in the first half of this year, the three cities achieved a combined regional GDP of 1,109.248 billion CNY, accounting for 42.4% of the provincial total, up by 0.8 percentage points from 2024. More scenarios of "three cities as one family, jointly building 'one city'" are becoming reality.

Further Deepening Reform to Help the Three Cities "Embrace Tighter"

Currently, the integration of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan is accelerating the formation of a framework characterized by "infrastructure connectivity, coordinated industrial development, joint ecological protection and governance, and shared public services."

As integrated development progresses further, some deeper issues still urgently need resolution. This year, Hunan issued the Key Work Points for the Integrated Development of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan in 2025, clearly stating the advancement of innovations and reforms in ten key areas to address the "bottlenecks" and "pain points" in the integration process.

This May, during the "Hunan-Greater Bay Area (GBA) Investment and Trade Conference Week," the three cities conducted joint investment promotion in Shenzhen for the first time under the overall image of the metropolitan area. At the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Aerospace and BeiDou Industry Cooperation and Exchange Conference, 31 industrial investment projects with a total investment of about 50 billion CNY were announced.

"From an industrial perspective, the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan area has prominent industrial characteristics and obvious advantages, but there also exist issues such as insufficient development capacity and weak synergy capabilities." A relevant official from the Hunan Provincial Center for Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Integrated Development Affairs stated that innovating the investment promotion model aims to enhance the level of industrial synergy among the three cities with the concept of "one city."

This year, Hunan has continued to improve the mechanism for coordinated industrial development, innovated models for joint park construction and cooperation, and issued an industrial development guidance catalog and implementation opinions on joint industrial park cooperation for the integration of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan. An "advanced technology industrial park" is being built in the Green Heart integrated development zone, the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Integrated Development Fund is accelerating its establishment, and the level of industrial collaboration has markedly improved.

The Green Heart serves as the "ecological living room" connecting the three cities and is a unique resource endowment of the area. This year, Hunan promulgated and implemented the plan for high-level protection and high-quality development of the Green Heart, issued "one method and two lists" for construction projects, and built a "multi-plan integration" system for the Green Heart. It is also advancing a three-year action plan for beautiful countryside construction in the Green Heart, vigorously seeking national-level support for the Green Heart’s green transformation and development. The preparations for the Chinese Medicinal Material Germplasm Conservation Nursery (Shennong Herbal Garden) are underway. The value preservation and enhancement of the Green Heart is "on the right track."

Projects Accelerate Construction, Happiness Becomes Tangible and Reachable

During the summer vacation, many parents from areas surrounding Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan bring their children to the Green Heart, running, roaming, and escaping the heat to enjoy health and fun.

Since the beginning of this year, a batch of projects aimed at preserving and enhancing the value of the Green Heart have been accelerated. Construction of the Olympic Sports Center has commenced, with the main structure construction expected to start by the end of October. The relocation of the provincial sports training base and Hunan Sports Vocational College is being expedited. The overall conceptual plan for the "One Hall, One Way" project has been completed, with Huxiang Green Hall striving to become "a practice ground for integrated production, living, and ecology; a landmark for the three-city integration; and a shared space for a beautiful life." The ecological greenway has formed a linear plan of "one route, three lines, and multiple loops," integrating with National Games events to create a "mountainous full marathon, hundred-mile picturesque scenic belt"...

Centered on promoting the integrated development of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, Hunan is vigorously implementing projects in ten key areas. Not limited to the Green Heart, a series of major projects in areas such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare are being accelerated, increasingly benefiting the people of the three cities. "So close, so convenient!" Living in Xiangtan and working in Changsha, commuting daily by subway across cities has become a routine for citizen Zeng Pan.

To refine the "half-hour traffic circle" for Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, Hunan is accelerating the ring-and-network formation of the "Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan on rails," with three preliminary planning schemes of large, medium, and small scales developed. Currently, the northern extension section of Changsha Metro Line 4 has fully commenced substantive construction, seven urban integration trunk roads have completed over 70% of their investment, and the route planning for the Changsha Xiangjiang Avenue—Xiangtan Binjiang Road connection has entered the planning and design phase.

By advancing a number of major education and healthcare projects, the sharing of superior resources among Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan is being expedited. Phase I of the new campus of Hunan University has commenced full construction. The new campus of Changsha No. 1 High School has been completed, with plans to start classes in September. The main structure of the comprehensive building and infectious disease building for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Epidemic Prevention and Control Base at the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Hunan University of Chinese Medicine has been capped, providing more convenient options for nearby medical treatment.

The increasing "closeness" among Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan brings a tangible sense of gain for the citizens. Currently, 213 types of examination and test results of 83 Grade A Tertiary hospitals have achieved mutual recognition, and direct settlement of cross-city medical insurance has achieved coverage across all county areas and all secondary medical institutions. Over 664 types of electronic certificates (proofs) are inter-recognized and interoperable, and more than 200 government service items are available for "cross-city processing."

United in "One Heart" to Jointly Build "One City"

Promoting the integration of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan is a major strategy that provincial Party committees and provincial governments have consistently advanced.

Since the beginning of this year, the provincial Party committee and the provincial government have held two "brainstorming" meetings on the integrated development of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, fully drawing on collective wisdom and broadly consolidating consensus. The meeting of the integrated development leadership group held in May set forth eight "must" requirements, one of which was the necessity to firmly embrace the concept of "one city," break down administrative barriers, rigorously implement tasks, and synergize work efforts.

Faced with divergent development approaches and interest demands among the three cities, the Office of the Leading Group for the Integrated Development of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan has strengthened comprehensive coordination. Relevant departments have acted as "reinforcement troops," and the three cities have firmly assumed their primary responsibilities, jointly driving forward integrated development.

With gradual adjustments to institutions and mechanisms, the roles and positioning of all parties have become increasingly clarified, and innovations and reforms in ten key areas, along with project construction in ten important fields, have been steadily advanced. Six major projects—including "One Hall, One Way," the Advanced Technology Industrial Park, the ring-and-network rail transit system, the Changsha Xiangjiang Avenue—Xiangtan Binjiang Road connection, the Green Heart Beautiful Countryside initiative, and the Chinese Medicinal Material Germplasm Conservation Nursery (Shennong Herbal Garden)—have been subject to weekly scheduling, with timely coordination to resolve issues arising during project advancement. The integrated development of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan continues to "make breakthroughs."

By the end of this June, the first batch of 20 cross-appointed department-level cadres among the three cities had reported for duty. Hunan is conducting in-depth research to promote the exchange of cadres between the three cities and the construction of the provincial integration affairs center's cadre force, aiming to facilitate integrated development through integrated talent management.

The concept of "three cities as one family to jointly build one city" emphasizes the importance of uniting minds. Since the beginning of this year, themed events such as the 4th Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Integration Half Marathon, the 1st Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Metropolitan Area Basketball League (CZT - BA), and "Little Docents, Discussing Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Together" have been successively held, bringing the minds of the three cities increasingly closer.

A relevant official from the Hunan Provincial Center for Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Integration Development Affairs introduced that Hunan is currently mobilizing national think tanks and provincial and municipal resources to fully engage in compiling the "15th Five-Year Plan" for the integrated development of Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, striving to include more major integrated development projects in the national plan. Forging ahead, working together to build "one city" promises a bright and hopeful future.

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn