中國網站品牌欄目（頻道）
The Asian Games that will end Saturday in this southern metropolis have greatly improved the image of Guangzhou and residents' feeling of belonging in the city.
According to a new survey, more than 80 percent of local residents said they are going to live in Guangzhou for a long time.
Only 8 percent of the interviewees said they do not think of Guangzhou as their permanent home.
The survey, which was conducted by the College of Journalism and Communication of the Guangzhou-based Ji'nan University, interviewed 1,100 residents in the past six months. All the interviewees had lived in the city for more than six months.
In the survey, 91.75 percent said the Asian Games have helped Guangzhou improve its status and reputation, while 82.75 percent said the games have also helped improve the city's culture and entertainment industries.
However, previous surveys by China Europe International Business School in 2006 and the Ipsos Group in 2007 showed that the overall happiness index of Guangzhou was the lowest among 10 major mainland cities in 2005, and Guangzhou residents' degree of satisfaction with life was the sixth lowest among seven major Chinese cities in 2007.
Zhang Lei, deputy director of the public sentiment center under the College of Journalism and Communication of Ji'nan University, said more residents began endorsing their city after they benefited from Guangzhou's hosting of the Asian Games.
"Guangzhou's traffic facilities have been greatly improved thanks to an advanced new light railway and extended metro network," Zhang said.
Also, the quality of the city's water and air has been improved after large sums of money were invested to reduce pollution in recent years, she said.
Hu Zhaonian, a Guangzhou white-collar worker, said great changes have taken place in the city since July 2004, when Guangzhou won the bid to host the 16th Asian Games.
"After hosting the Asian Games, I think Guangzhou will become a modern metropolis that can compete with Beijing and Shanghai, which hosted the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2010 World Expo," he said.
（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
