A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Monday in Longhua, Shenzhen's Bao'an District, to mark the beginning of construction on the nation's largest media high-tech park.

The park, a key cultural industry project listed by Shenzhen government and built with investment from the Shenzhen Press Group, will have two phases, with the first phase costing 1 billion yuan (US$125 million).

The first phase, the Long-hua printing center, will occupy an area of 44,800 square meters. Upon completion, it will not only relieve pressure on the press group's printing resources, but also increase the competitiveness of the local printing business in the international market, local media reported.

The second phase will occupy an area of 58,000 square meters and provide supporting facilities for the printing center. It is expected to reform the traditional printing processes through cutting-edge technology.

Shenzhen's first printing museum will also be built in the park, showcasing the development of the printing business not only in the city but also in the nation.

The project will become a milestone in Shenzhen's media development and a symbol of the city's cultural industry in the next five years, said Xuan Zhuxi, vice head of Shenzhen's publicity department of the CPC, at the ceremony Monday.

The park will provide a platform for graphic design, attracting innovative personnel working in the printing industry, said Huang Yanglue, president of the Shenzhen Press Group.

(Shenzhen Daily May 17, 2006)