Tianjin is a coastal city; local rivers flow into the Bohai Sea. Standing on the estuary of the Haihe River, people can easily see the inspiring sight of the seemingly endless stretch of the river’s fresh blue water.

The Haihe River is the cradle of Tianjin’s culture. Noted for its “openness, tolerance and variety”, Tianjin has also played a significant role in the shaping of China’s contemporary history. Many historic events have taken place in the city, making it an important cultural icon across China and, indeed, the world.

Many cities develop in accordance with local geographical features. Similar to the rise of cities located on the Yangtze and Pearl River deltas, Tianjin has grown thanks to its proximity to a major waterway, the Haihe River.

The Binhai New Area is located at the center of the Bohai Bay Rim city belt, in the east of Tianjin. If looking at a map of China, Tianjin looks like a horse holding its head up high. Taking a closer look at the city itself, many have noted that the Binhai New Area is shaped like an eagle. Adding to this, many inspired commentators note the eagle shape creates an image of the city’s promising future, and reveals the coming economic boom of the Bohai Bay Rim area.

Twenty years ago, the central government launched reforms of Tianjin’s administrative system. Local people began concentrating on setting up an economic development area and a Port Free Trade Zone. These two zones are some of the most open and vigorous in Tianjin and play a crucial role in the development of the Binhai New Area.

The Chinese government has highlighted the development of Binhai New Area. Many state leaders have paid a visit to the area, including the initiator of China’s Reform and Opening-up policy, Deng Xiaoping. In 1986, late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping visited Tianjin and inscribed the inspirational slogan “The Development Area Enjoys High Hope”. To the excitement of many, Tianjin’s economic development area has become one of China’s most outstanding development zones. Today, it is widely recognized that the Binhai New Area is full of hope.

In 1994, the Tianjin city committee and municipal government drafted four development goals. One of the goals is a decade-long plan on the development of Binhai New Area. Today, Tianjin people are proud that some of the Binhai New Area’s development targets have been realized ahead of schedule and that the Area is entering a phase of rapid development.

The Binhai New Area occupies 2270 square kilometers of land, with a 153-kilometer long coastline. A large tract of nearby land is also believed to have a huge potential for development.