Guangzhou's Tianhe district was named the "2025 Happiest District", marking the sixth consecutive year it has won this national recognition.

This announcement was released on Dec 9 at the Happy Cities of China Forum 2025, where Tianhe shared its "happiness formula", driven by major sports events, supported by high-quality development, and guaranteed by meticulous governance.

People relax at a park in Tianhe. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

In preparation for the 15th National Games and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, Tianhe Sports Center launched an initiative to open public spaces. Key transport corridors saw 126,600 square meters of green area added, refreshing the streetscape. Urban renewal progressed steadily, with multiple urban village projects underway in northeastern Tianhe.

A flying car flies over Tianhe. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

It is home to over 740,000 enterprises (31 per 100 residents), with over 900 new businesses added daily. Entrepreneurship here requires only "one form and one step", with the fastest processing in half a day. It has built five leading industrial clusters, including finance and high-end services, fostering dynamic convergence of knowledge, technology and capital.

A greenway in Tianhe. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

It prioritizes grassroots resource allocation and community services to ensure equitable sharing of development benefits. With 114 parks, 95 percent of residents are within 500 meters of a park. It has added nearly 15,000 new enrollment slots at public schools, with the coverage of top-tier medical resources expanding. All 21 sub-district cultural centers are at the provincial level, and Tianhe's average life expectancy stands at 83.23 years.