New infrastructure will pave the way for smooth traffic in the Hengqin New Area during the upcoming first China International Circus Festival, local officials said.

Located in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, across a narrow waterway from Macao, the new area on Hengqin Island will be the site for the grand gala from Nov 20 to Dec 1.

Niu Jing, director-general of the Hengqin New Area administrative committee, listed the projects, including new roads, tunnels, and wharves.

Other projects include two helicopter pads and six parking lots .

Organizers have prepared facilities for catering, accommodation and medical aid as well as a mobile information platform, Niu said.

“Our work is expected to make it convenient for tourists to enjoy the circus and get ready for the mega Chimelong ocean resort project later this year,” Niu said.

Funded by Guangdong Chimelong Group, one of China’s largest theme park companies, the Zhuhai Chimelong International Ocean Resort involves investment of more than 20 billion yuan ($3.28 billion) at the initial stage.

The Resort consists of a circus city, ocean theme parks, a luxury hotel, a business convention center, a shopping mall and a recreation center.

“Hengqin pins its hopes on the circus festival and many other Chimelong facilities to help turn the travel and leisure sector into a pillar of the new area,” he noted.

Approved by the State Council in 2011, Hengqin New Area became a special zone of the Zhuhai special economic zone, allowing for more favorable policies than a special economic zone.

Hengqin is strategically located for closer cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, focusing on business, financial service, traditional Chinese medicine and other areas .

The official said each pillar sector has major projects to back .

Official statistics indicate that 61 key projects are under construction with aggregate investment of 240 billion yuan. Contracts have been signed with eight companies.

Negotiations have concluded for 12 massive projects to be funded by Hong Kong or Macao businesspeople, with total invested capital to surpass 57.1 billion yuan.

The new area had 83 registered firms funded either by Hong Kong or Macao investors as of late September. Projects from the two special administrative regions accounted for more than 90 percent of local projects with overseas investments, and their registered capital added up to 5.64 billion yuan.

The official said that the new area will hopefully see an even faster development when construction is completed on the Guangzhou-Zhuhai intercity light railway and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in 2016.

 [a1]Use no more than 3 objects in a list