In the future, within the 415-square-kilometer expanse of Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone, two north-south green corridors will emerge. One winds along the South-to-North Water Diversion Canal, while the other stretches gracefully along the new National Highway 107. Surrounding them, forest parks, ecological water systems, and leisure landscapes will be dotted everywhere.
● Citizens Cycle to Discover “Green” Central Plains
For Zhengzhou’s veteran cycling enthusiast “Date Cycling,” who has been passionate about biking for 11 years, the two green corridors are exciting news, because wherever nature thrives, it’s a paradise for cyclists.
Eleven years ago, when most people had not yet heard of outdoor sports, “Date Cycling” took a chance step into this world. Back then, his favorite spot was the Yellow River levee—the road was smooth, there were no traffic lights, and cycling felt as free as the wind. To the north flowed the mighty Yellow River, flanked by lush green trees on both banks. That sense of liberation, merging with nature and escaping the fast pace of city life, was pure bliss.
The week before last, “Date Cycling” rode his beloved bike along a section of the South-to-North Water Diversion Canal and even spontaneously ventured down into the canal bed, though it was completely dry at the time.
“This stretch isn’t easy to ride yet—there’s construction everywhere,” “Date Cycling” said. “But in the future, it might become a beautiful green corridor, attracting more and more cyclists.”
Currently, reports about the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone are everywhere. He didn’t pay much attention to the other details, but he and fellow cyclist “Free Soaring” are particularly interested in the planned ecological corridors.
The *Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone Development Plan* (hereinafter referred to as the *Plan*) explicitly mentions building a “three zones, two corridors” spatial development framework. The two corridors are the ecological protection corridor along the South-to-North Water Diversion Canal and the ecological corridor along the new National Highway 107. Regarding the “ecological protection corridor along the South-to-North Water Diversion Canal,” the plan states that the wide protective forest belts on both sides of the main canal should be fully utilized to establish an ecological protection corridor. Following the principle of prioritizing water quality protection, the corridor will be developed in an orderly manner along the canal according to management regulations, including forest parks, water system landscapes, and greenways. This will create a scenic belt that reflects aviation culture and integrates ecological conservation with leisure tourism.
The “ecological corridor along the new National Highway 107” section states that protective forest belts will be planned and constructed on both sides of the new National Highway 107 within the experimental zone, forming a well-arranged, north-south ecological landscape corridor.
“Date Cycling” and “Free Soaring” believe these two ambitious projects should be exciting news for cyclists who love life, nature, and exploring the world.
● Green Corridors Reveal the Beauty of Zhengzhou
Nowadays, “Date Cycling” rarely visits the Yellow River levee—since Garden Spot Scenic Area became free, it’s turned into a haven for self-driving tourists. He also avoids Zhengkai Avenue, which is too noisy with constant traffic.
The rapid development of the city has left fewer and fewer good cycling routes. He’s started venturing out on his own, following village-to-village roads, gradually delving deeper to find the joy of “exploration and discovery.”
He has an idea: within this 415-square-kilometer area, could dedicated bicycle lanes be built along these two vast north-south green corridors, allowing cyclists to ride freely through nature?
“Date Cycling” says that in places like Xiamen and Taiwan, there are dedicated island-wide cycling routes that attract tourists from home and abroad, boosting tourism economies. Meanwhile, in France, the Tour de France has grown into a world-renowned top-tier sporting event.
“Date Cycling” hopes that in the future, the two green corridors of the airport economic comprehensive experimental zone will include planned cycling lanes, making these ecological passages even more beautiful through cycling and earning global recognition because of it.
High-End Interview
Leveraging Major Industries to Drive Metropolitan Growth
The most crucial focus in the development of the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone lies in its role as a major hub, fully leveraging the advantages of such a pivotal position. As an international aviation hub, it aims to become a global logistics center, gathering resources from both eastern and central China, as well as from the south and north, thereby maximizing their benefits.
Under this premise, its industries—especially its distinctive sectors—must develop. The history of urban development is also a history of industries propelling cities forward. For instance, in industrial societies, industrialization often drives urbanization. When an area’s industry flourishes, related sectors such as labor, raw materials, and logistics naturally concentrate there, forming what we call a city. Thus, industrialization is a vital force behind urbanization. Without it, a city becomes an empty shell.
In today’s modern economy, where the service sector is rapidly expanding, services also play an increasingly important role in urban development. In this sense, urbanization is underpinned by rapid industrial growth. For the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone, its future development will undoubtedly rely on major industries to drive the growth of a metropolitan hub, which in turn will boost the Central Plains Economic Zone. Behind these major industries, it’s essential to identify the leading sectors, their competitive advantages, and how to leverage industrial growth to spur urbanization, ultimately realizing the State Council’s vision for the zone.
— Dai Hongwei, Professor at Central University of Finance and Economics