Pearl River City

5 Feb 2011 - Authorities in southern China's Guangdong province have denied planning to unite nine towns to create the world's biggest city in the Pearl River Delta, Chinese State media reported. "The reports were totally false and there is no such plan," Guo Yuewen, spokesperson for the Communist party's provincial Commitee, was quoted as saying in the China Daily. Media had earlier reported on a project to unite nine urban areas - including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou into a megapolis with a population of 42 million. The Pearl River delta was always one of the first Chinese regions to open up to foreign business in the 19th century, but also in the 1980s. The area is now among the richest in China and is rapidly growing. Policy or no policy, it seems inevitable that in in 30 - 50 years from now the region will indeed be one big, heavily populated - and polluted - urban zone. Politicians better start planning for it right now.