Beijing's eastern Tongzhou District is aiming to build into a more livable district in its effort to become the capital's subsidiary administrative center.

The advantages of the sub-center lie not in its construction standard but its advanced designing philosophy, said Zheng Zhiyong, a sub-center official responsible for the construction of the government facilities in Tongzhou District.

He said the most valuable thing for the sub-center's development is to explore solutions to "urban diseases" and build it into a harmonious and livable district.

The sub-center now boasts the world's "smartest" underground pipelines, incorporating water supply, water recycle, heating, and gas all in one corridor that provides safer, more reliable and more efficient public utility networks.

The prefabricated buildings, which account for 80 percent of all the new structures in the sub-center, can cut construction time, save energy and reduce pollution. All the buildings in the sub-center will be environment-friendly.

Moreover, Tongzhou District is committed to a low carbon standard in its transmission of electricity and heating as well as in constructing green buildings.

The sub-center is also viewed as a "sponge" that can soak up rain water from nearby areas to reduce flood risks. Finally, light poles in the district can be automatically turned on during reduced visibility due to weather changes, while also having the capabilities to charge electric vehicles, broadcast emergency signals and serve as Wi-Fi hotspots.

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