The Yixing government signed a 21 billion-yuan ($3 billion) contract with two companies in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province on August 10.

The contract represents the largest investment the city has ever received. The companies will invest the money to build an international tourism resort and an eco-industrial park in the center of south Yixing, the most beautiful part of the city.

Costing 13 billion yuan, the 650,000-square-meter international tourism resort will be located in Mingling Mountain area in Zhangzhu town and will house sightseeing, leisure and recreation facilities, as well as a center introducing the art of "zisha" (purple clay) pottery.

The 500,000-square-meter eco-industrial park will be built at a cost of 8 billion yuan in Hufu town. Surrounded by tea fields, bamboo forests, green mountains and water, it will be a livable place for people of all age groups.