On December 20, the provincial government website released the development plans for the five metropolitan areas of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, the west bank of the the Pearl River Estuary, Shantou Chaojie, and Zhanjiang Maoming. The planning period is from 2023 to 2030, and looking forward to 2035, we will develop a clear "roadmap" for the five major metropolitan areas according to local conditions. The five "circles" are launching together, adding another spark to the high-quality development of Guangdong urban agglomeration. In the view of Li Xiaolin, Deputy Director of the Regional Development Strategy Research Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, the current urban agglomeration planning in Guangdong fully reflects the comparative advantages of different regions and the differentiated development path with their own characteristics. She pointed out that from the perspective of the five metropolitan areas, Guangzhou and Shenzhen metropolitan areas are relatively mature, with strong radiation and driving effects from the Guangzhou and Shenzhen two cores, outstanding comprehensive strength of Foshan and Dongguan, and a relatively high overall development level. However, the metropolitan area on the west bank of the the Pearl River Estuary, Shantou Chaojie metropolitan area and Zhanjiang Maoming metropolitan area are in the cultivation stage, and the energy level of central cities is low, and the economic and population agglomeration capacity is weak. "The planning of the five urban agglomerations respects the differences in the development stages of different urban agglomerations, designs the spatial structure, ecological pattern, industrial pattern, infrastructure and public service facility layout of urban agglomerations in a differentiated manner, respects development laws, fully leverages the comparative advantages of different urban agglomerations, and promotes differentiated development with different focuses in different urban agglomerations," said Li Xiaolin. Why form a circle? How to define urban agglomerations based on the basic scope of 1-hour commuting circle driven by the radiation of large cities? The Guiding Opinions of the National Development and Reform Commission on Cultivating and Developing Modern Urban Agglomerates, released in February 2019, clearly states that firstly, the urban agglomeration is centered around mega cities or large cities with strong radiating and driving functions, and secondly, the basic scope is a 1-hour commuting circle. Collaborative development, transportation first. In recent years, Guangdong has continuously strengthened its transportation infrastructure construction, creating a world-class airport cluster and a "large bay area on the rail". According to the plan, the five major metropolitan areas will build a comprehensive transportation network with internal and external connections, further promote infrastructure integration, and pave the way for high-quality development. In terms of transportation infrastructure construction, the Guangzhou metropolitan area plans to build a modern comprehensive transportation pattern with high standards that connects the metropolitan area, the whole province, the whole country, and the world. The central urban area is accessible in one hour or even less. The Shenzhen metropolitan area will fully leverage its role as an international comprehensive transportation hub, forming a reasonable layout, smooth connection, and collaborative management infrastructure system, effectively supporting the construction of a half hour commuting circle and a one hour commuting circle in the core urban area of Shenzhen, and creating a convenient, intelligent, and resilient metropolitan area. The Zhuxi metropolitan area will build a comprehensive transportation pattern of "two horizontal, three shooting, and one vertical", improve the layout of high-speed railway stations, ports, airports, and other hubs, and effectively support the construction of a 1-hour close cooperation circle and a 2-hour coordinated development circle. The Shantou Chaozhou Jiezhou metropolitan area will accelerate the construction of the Shantou Chaozhou East Chaoshan Chaoshan Airport Shantou "One Ring" and Chaoshan Airport Jieyang South Jieyang "One Shoot" intercity railways, timely promote the construction of the Shantou Puning and other intercity railways, and achieve 2.5 hour access to major cities in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, Xiamen Zhangquan, Gannan, Minxi and other areas, and half an hour access within the metropolitan area. The Zhanmao metropolitan area will build a three-dimensional collection and distribution network of "rail+aviation+port+road"