Construction of Beijing's sub-center in Tongzhou runs smoothly

Tongzhou District at sunset on July 29, 2017.[File Photo: IC]

Officials in-charge of building a new municipal government sub-district in the suburbs of Beijing are suggesting the work on creating the new administrative center is progressing quickly. 

Occupying an area of 155-square kilometers, the new administrative center in the southeastern Beijing suburb of Tongzhou takes up one-sixth of district.

It's being built with the latest in advanced technology and urban planning.

Zheng Zhiyong is in charge of the overall project.

He says the new administrative center is designed to be powered by 100 percent clean energy, 40-percent of which will be renewable.

"We have also been using renewable energy during the construction, and are also working to create geothermal energy sources. Renewable energy will be used for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter."

The new administrative center in Tongzhou is also being built with the 'sponge-city' concept.

Authorities hope to collect and recycle 90-percent of the rain which falls on district.

Tongzhou is also being turned into a "smart city."

Liu Haifeng, one of the people in-charge of construction and planning, says they plan to make living in the new administrative region as simple as possible.

"Everyone's information will be gathered and put into the Internet of Things, which will be available for people to use. Cameras will also be established throughout the area for easy access. People will be able to swipe their public transport card to enter the administrative area through a bus or on the subway. These same cards can also be used at the local banks and hospitals."

During an inspection of the new administrative area back in February, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that safety is the top priority as part of the construction.

Hu Xianzhang with the Beijing Urban Construction Group says each worker on the site has undergone extensive training.

"A supervision network have been set up so that we can monitor the whole construction site through an App. We also have an app for fire alarmings which pinpoint exactly where the nearest extinguisher and fire hydrant is. Our workers also go through security training. Each worker has to pass a security course before being allowed on the work site."

Beijing's Municipal Party Secretary Cai Qi says the new administrative center in Tongzhou is already prepared to start accepting administrative functions currently in Beijing's city-center.

"Four major municipal organs and certian other departments will start moving to the new sub-center by the end of this year. This will include around 10-thousand people. Once fully finished, the new administrative region is going to shift aproximately 400-thousand people into the new area. We plan to build 26 parks here to ensure a balanced eco-system."

The shifting of Beijing's municipal functions to Tongzhou is part of the broader development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. 

It's also meant to help ease pressure in central Beijing, which is currently innondated with offices both Beijing municipal and national-level administrations.