Connecting External and Internal Networks: How Transport Infrastructure Reshapes Urban Efficiency

As we enter the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, how will Huangpu District, Guangzhou, continue to write a new chapter in improving people’s well-being?

Urban transport determines a city’s speed and efficiency. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Huangpu District made significant breakthroughs in developing an integrated transport system. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the district will further improve its urban transport network connecting external corridors and internal routes, driving road development from basic connectivity toward greater convenience and quality.

Building a transport system that connects external and internal networks is a top priority. The Huangpu District Bureau of Construction and Transportation is leading the preparation of the Special Plan for Transport System Development of Huangpu District, Guangzhou during the 15th Five-Year Plan Period. The plan has preliminarily identified around 150 municipal road projects, involving total investment of nearly RMB 60 billion.

Externally, the district will develop high-quality cross-district strategic corridors connecting with Tianhe, Zengcheng, Baiyun, Conghua, and other areas, with a focus on advancing the Dongjiang Passage project. These efforts will enhance the transport capacity of eastern Guangzhou and accelerate Huangpu’s integration into the Greater Bay Area’s one-hour transport circle. Internally, the district will improve the road network structure within the “Three Cities and One Island” spatial layout, accelerate the development of the “Ten Horizontal and Eight Vertical” district-wide road network, and lay a stronger foundation for building a more livable and business-friendly Huangpu.

At the backbone road network level, three major transport artery projects are progressing steadily. The main section of Kaifang Avenue was fully opened to traffic on December 28 last year, effectively addressing challenges caused by Huangpu’s elongated north-south layout and limited north-south connectivity. The main structure of Linjiang Avenue (Yuzhu Bay Tunnel) was completed in June this year, and once opened to traffic, it will significantly improve travel efficiency along the river. On the Kezhi Passage, the Yongshun Avenue overpass in the southern section has been connected, while the Huangqishan and Dadongling tunnels have been completed. The southern section is expected to be fully completed in the second half of 2026, with the northern section and its extension scheduled for completion by 2028. Upon completion, the three major projects will further strengthen transport links among the “Three Cities and One Island” areas and substantially improve overall traffic efficiency across the district.

While improving motor vehicle traffic, Huangpu is also placing greater emphasis on optimizing slow-moving transport systems. The district will continue upgrading non-motorized lanes, eliminating disconnected sections along major and secondary roads, optimizing cycling space, and building a continuous, convenient, and high-quality green mobility network. Measures such as installing separation barriers and optimizing lane allocation will help achieve more effective separation between motor vehicles and non-motorized traffic.

Meanwhile, Huangpu will foster a new model of smart transport development by expanding the application of technologies including vehicle-road collaboration and autonomous driving across the district. It will also accelerate the development of a three-dimensional low-altitude transport network, enabling efficient coordination among people, vehicles, roads, and airspace. Through these efforts, Huangpu aims to build a transport innovation benchmark in the Greater Bay Area and develop a replicable and scalable “Huangpu Solution” for smart mobility.