Chikan: a bellwether of Zhanjiang

As Zhanjiang's center of politics, culture and economic activities, Chikan district has made great strides in economic development, urban construction and improving people's lives over the past five years.

Located in downtown Zhanjiang, Chikan takes advantage of its location and purchasing power of its local residents, having attracted more than 20 auto dealers to settle in its three motor cities.

With a wide coverage of auto brands and all-round service system, the local auto sales industry is able to provide one-package services including car purchase, license registration, insurance and loans to buyers. Of every 10 cars sold in Zhanjiang, eight are sold from Chikan.

Meanwhile, e-commerce has found a fertile ground in Chikan. Haitian Logistics Industrial Park set a good example with an annual online turnover of 3.7 billion yuan ($557 million) in 2016, an increase of 18 percent-year-on-year. The sector is expected to further prosper upon the opening of the first phase of cross-border e-commerce industrial park and of Zhanjiang Alibaba Service Center.

Last year, a total of 54 projects got launched in Chikan, of which four are large-scale projects worth more than 1 billion yuan, two are from China Top 500 companies and two are from key enterprises of Guangdong province.

Seven more primary and middle schools were also built in the district over the past two years to reduce classrooms' sizes and provide a better quality of education to local students.

Construction on the Dongshandong Wetland Park will be completed soon, which will join the Cunjinqiao Park, Nanguo Tropical Garden and Jinsha Bay, a national 4A-grade scenic spot, to beautify the environment and enchant Zhanjiang residents.