China will invest 80 billion yuan (US$12.7 billion) over three years until 2015 to build 90 smart cities nationwide, including one in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, under a smart city program, a ministry said yesterday.
The new high-tech cities will be energy-friendly and intelligent as part of a move to enhance people's daily life, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Development said.
"It's an activity to improve people's daily life and stimulate domestic economic demand with a huge investment," the ministry said.
The project will also elevate the urban environment and better manage city resources, the ministry added.
The China Development Bank will extend loans worth 80 billion yuan over three years till 2015 to support the program.
Shanghai will build 16 smart communities that will adopt the Internet of Things technology, including in Lujiazui and Biyun regions in Pudong.
The Internet of Things, which connects devices through a network, is a promising technology that allows consumers to program, for example, washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners via mobile devices or by wearing a Google Glass device or a wristwatch.
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