XIONG’AN NEW AREA

The Xiong’an New Area in Hebei, China, was established in April 2017 as a major national project personally championed by President Xi Jinping. Seen as a long-term strategic move, it stands alongside the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and Shanghai Pudong New Area as one of the country’s key development zones.

Xiong’an New Area, located southwest of Beijing and east of Baoding, is a major development hub in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. It aims to ease Beijing’s load by relocating offices, universities, and R&D centres. Covering around 1,770 sq. km, it plans to grow into a green, smart, and liveable city by 2035, blending modern life with nature.

Future Cities criteria compliance

Environmental & Nature

Xiong’an puts ecological protection first, aligning with the UN’s sustainability goals. Only 30% of the area is for urban use, while the rest is reserved for water and green spaces. Massive tree-planting and lake restoration projects are underway, and over half of the city’s energy will come from renewable sources like wind, solar, and nuclear.

Smart City

Xiong’an is planned as a Smart City and is China’s first city to achieve synchronized development of its digital and physical urban spaces. Its infrastructure centres on advanced technology: the city “Brain,” or the Xiong’an urban computing centre, serves as the operational core, integrating big data, AI, and cloud computing for real-time, intelligent city management.

The city features intelligent infrastructure including smart mobility, smart streetlights, sensors, lighting, and a low-cost indoor navigation system for its underground tunnels. It focuses on attracting high-tech industries like next-generation information technology, AI, biotechnology, new materials, and aerospace information.

Human-Centric

Xiong’an focuses on people-first modernization, creating a city free from big-city stress. Its “15-minute lifestyle” ensures all essentials are within a short walk. Housing is affordable and mostly state-owned to prevent speculation. The city promotes inclusiveness and eco-friendly mobility by promoting electric vehicles.

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