Centuries-old ginkgo trees growing in a nature reserve in Changxing. The ginkgo is called a living fossil because the Chinese-native species can be traced back nearly 200 million years. (Photo Source: China Daily)  

Concurrent trade fair

While welcoming tea enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world to participate in the festival, locals also see the event as a good opportunity to attract investors from home and abroad.

The Changxing International Investment and Trade Fair is underway concurrent with the tea culture festival to showcase the county's investment environment and present its investment projects.

Rapid economic growth over the past several years and a broadening of the opening-up process have made Changxing an attractive investment destination in Zhejiang province.

To offer a center for investment, the county built the Changxing Economic Development Zone that meets international standards.

With a planned area of 25 sq km, the zone is now composed of three parks - for hi-tech industries, private enterprises and tourism.

Famous international and domestic businesses such as US-based Johnson Controls, Germany's Haniel and Qingdao-headquartered Hisense have established production facilities in the zone, making it one of the top 10 industrial zones in the province.

Changxing's priority industries for investment include tourism, textiles, electronics, machinery, auto parts and new materials.

Changxing now ranks 56th among China's top 100 counties for comprehensive economic strength.

The county's gross domestic product reached 19.35 billion yuan last year, an increase of 15 percent over 2006.

(China Daily May 28, 2008)