An aerial view of the Clifford Estates of Zhongcun street in Guangzhou's Panyu district. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]

The Clifford Estates of Zhongcun street has been selected to apply for an international community pilot project representing Guangzhou's Panyu district, local media outlets reported on Aug 3.

Guangzhou is now selecting 10 to 15 communities for the pilot project and they are expected to be an important fulcrum for Guangzhou's high-level opening-up by 2035.

Close to Dafu Mountain Forest Park, the 4-square-kilometer international culture-oriented community is known as "China's No 1 village" due to its living environment, supporting facilities and convenient transportation network.

More than 11,000 school-age children from various countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Japan, have been enrolled in 15 schools, including private kindergartens, primary schools and middle schools. 

The Clifford Hospital, which is part of the first batch of foreign-related authorized hospitals, and the only general hospital in Guangdong that combines natural medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and Western medicine, is situated in the neighborhood. 

Additionally, celebrations of holidays and cultural exchanges are arranged to strengthen community members' sense of belonging to the community and Chinese culture.

Aiming to become a high-quality demonstration community in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Clifford Estates is now home to more than 200,000 residents from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and 107 countries around the world, making it equivalent to a medium-sized city.