Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center (HEMC) is located on Xiaoguwei Island in southeast Guangzhou. With five university clusters scattered across the 18 square kilometers area, HEMC boasts around 150,000 students from ten universities including Sun Tat-sen University, South China University of Technology, South China Normal University, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Xinghai Conservatory of Music and the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.

According to the overall plan, Guangzhou University City will be constructed into a center for nurturing senior talent, as well as scientific research exchange in South China. Guangzhou University City will also integrate studies, research and production. It also aims to develop into a modern, ecological, first-class Chinese university zone of the 21st century, rich in cultural atmosphere and unique characteristics.

Guangzhou University City is a model for the intensive construction of new areas in Guangzhou. The construction incorporates a distributed energy system (distributed energy station, DES, and central heating), a comprehensive piping system and a comprehensive information integration system. A "smart all-in-one card system", the University City Museum and an energy conservation system have also been incorporated into the construction. Through an optimized project structure, the cost of construction has been effectively reduced.