In the Tianjin Binhai New Area, a smart urban administration system called "urban brain" optimizes the operation of traffic lights to reduce vehicle waiting time and avoid traffic jams. With the use of this high-tech system, morning rush hour now ends 30 minutes earlier.

As a national-level new area, Binhai aims to become a smart and green model that is livable and suitable for business. It will be built as one of the "twin cities" together with the Tianjin city proper some 60 km away, according to Tianjin's 2021-2025 development plan.

A perfect example embodying the smart and green development concept is the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City in the area.

Breaking ground on saline and alkaline land in 2008, the Eco-City is a flagship cooperation project between China and Singapore.

The "urban brain" administration system in the the Eco-City not only eases traffic congestion but also visualizes the underground pipes on screens as one of the measures adopted to build a "sponge city." Other measures include the building of scenic wetlands and permeable pavements for rainwater storage.

To cut emissions, solar panels are installed on building rooftops, outdoor benches and even garbage cans, with driverless electric buses ferrying passengers.

Life in the eco-city has also become smarter, thanks to technology.

By running on a smart and sensor-equipped track, joggers can obtain their running speed and calorie consumption information on the display at the entrance. The benches next to the track are equipped with solar-powered wireless mobile chargers and can also serve as a stereo system.

In the Sino-Singapore Friendship Library, robots are used to shelve books and help readers find those they want to read.

Driven by reform and innovation, Binhai has been developed into a growth engine with industrial clusters surrounding the Bohai Bay in north China. Currently, the area's GDP accounts for about half of the entire Tianjin.

To improve the urban services, Binhai has prioritized the integrated development of the industries and the city to attract people working there to settle down.

High-quality schools and hospitals have been built, including Tianjin Juilliard, the first overseas campus of New York's Juilliard School. The master's degree awarded by this institution is accredited in the United States.

Heavy investment has also been poured to improve the ecology.