From top: Tourists treated to the hospitality of locals: enjoying a cup of tea in a rustic setting or bouquets made by flower farmers.

Various levels of governments in regions of China often view globalization and investment as key to progress Wenjiang, a district in Chengdu, is no exception, but authorities have declined to follow the path of many other areas by bringing in projects that might harm the environment.

The message the local government is conveying to investors is that the service industry, not manufacturing, is the key.

Modern services including information consultation, sports, healthcare, ecological tourism, cultural creativity and logistics are helping drive the local economy.

Services are expected to become the most important sector in three to five years, accounting for more than half of local gross domestic product.

To promote the development of the service industry and attract investment, the district government plans to invest 60 billion yuan in building eight business zones and parks.

A large part of the investment will be used in building infrastructure.

A traffic network of roads and light rail systems — including the city’s subway line 4, an inter-city railway between Chengdu and Ya’an, and an expressway linking Chengdu, Wenjiang and Qionglai — will offer a quick link between the district, downtown Chengdu and neighboring cities.

While the eight zones are under construction or still in the planning stage, a number of domestic and overseas business have already signed deals with the local government.

On December 20, Qiaobo Snow and Ice World, a company founded by Ye Qiaobo — China’s first Winter Olympics champion — signed up to build western China’s largest indoor skating facility in Jinma Sports Town.

On December 28, Beijing-base CapitalBio Corp, a biomedicine company, agreed to build a 150 million yuan R&D facility in the Chengdu International Medical Industry Park.

On January 20, representatives of US medical group United Family Hospitals & Clinics visited Wenjiang to talk with local authorities about investing in a hospital in the Chengdu International Medical Industry Park.

Wenjiang business parks

After billions of yuan in infrastructureinvestment, the district o??ers an attarctive business climate to investors.