Fengxian aims to become cosmetics capital

Fengxian district in the southern outskirts of Shanghai aims to become a gathering ground for the world's most influential cosmetics companies and dynamic scientific innovation firms with its Oriental Beauty Valley and Future Space.

The district's fiscal revenue continued to rise between January and August this year despite the novel coronavirus pandemic.

District-level revenue increased by 1.9 percent year on year, while contracted foreign investment increased by 30 percent, said Zhuang Mudi, Party secretary of Fengxian.

"Fengxian is striving to become the world's cosmetics capital with its Oriental Beauty Valley," Zhuang told a press conference on Sept 22. The brand value of the business district in Fengxian exceeded 11 billion yuan ($1.62 billion) by the end of 2019 and is rising rapidly this year, he said.

The industries in the valley, which focuses on the cosmetics and health sectors, have expanded to include pet economy and food additives, among others. China's first online pet hospital was established in the district, Zhuang said.

Fengxian is also developing Future Space, an innovation park in Lin-gang Special Area, a newly expanded Shanghai free trade zone, mainly focusing on the intelligent and new energy vehicle sectors.

Construction has begun on a 9.87-kilometer test road for automated driving tests, while a second phase covering a total of 36.2 square kilometers has already been approved.

Two national vehicle labs and 10 leading enterprises, including smart car manufacturer Allride, are based in the park, said Zhang Xian, director of the district's commission economy and informatization.

The park is intended to become the industrial heartland of the Lin-gang Special Area and aid the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region, the Fengxian government said.

It will gather the world's leading industries in 5G, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, new materials and new energy vehicles.

Two-thirds of Fengxian, covering 14 sq km, are part of the new section of the free trade zone.

Fengxian also aims to become the city's first "national ecological garden urban district," said Zhou Hua, the head of the district's public sanitation and greenery bureau.

The district plans to build 100 additional parks, including countryside, comprehensive, community and village-level parks, so that every resident can enjoy easy access to green spaces. Green coverage will reach 90 percent under the plan. There are already 188 parks across Fengxian.