November 14, 2024 marks one year since GDToday's establishment as an international communication center for China's Guangdong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). A major 2.0 update of the GDToday app comes with the first anniversary.

Since its official launch on November 14, 2023, GDToday has offered comprehensive gateway for audiences worldwide to understand Guangdong, the Greater Bay Area, and China through rich multimedia content. The past year witnessed GDToday's rapid growth and substantial achievements, solidifying its mission to serve as the primary source of information about Guangdong for global audiences.

GDToday 2.0: a major upgrade

GDToday 2.0 marks a new phase for this flagship international communication center, with a suite of features designed to improve user engagement and accessibility.

Users can now personalize their content feed by selecting preferred news channels for their homepage, tailoring it to align with their interests.

The new Visuals page offers an immersive experience where users can explore stories from Guangdong and beyond through videos, posters and e-books.

The updated Cities page, while including a complete coverage of Guangdong's 21 cities, offers a refined focus on local news based on the user's location (if given access to the location), bringing them closer to relevant stories in their locality.

A new Media Hub channel gathers official media content and diverse sources of content.

The upgraded personal center allows users to review and manage their activities conveniently, as well as accessing exclusive events for GDToday users.

A major change is the launch of the Traditional Chinese Channel. This new channel offers news reports and multi-media content catering to audiences in China's Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and the overseas Chinese communities, strengthening cultural connections and extending reach.

Massive content productivity

Over the past year, GDToday has produced over 15,000 original pieces of content, focusing on timely, in-depth coverage across multiple sectors.

As the primary source of information about Guangdong, GDToday covered significant breaking news such as the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link project, which highlights Guangdong's infrastructural advancements that strengthen connectivity within the Greater Bay Area.

In the cultural domain, GDToday offers innovative, diversified presentations of important Chinese festivals and traditions. For example, GDToday reporters attended the Tianhe Dragon Boat Exhibition Race in Guangzhou to provide audiences with an authentic experience of this vibrant cultural event.

GDToday also provides comprehensive coverage of China's top national events. During the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), GDToday interviewed NPC deputies who are economists and entrepreneurs from Guangdong, delivering exclusive insights to its audience.

Profound international connections

Within one year, GDToday successfully organized 34 GDToday Salon events in Guangdong and abroad, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding between local and international communities.

These events bridge diverse countries and connect people from various backgrounds. Notable events include the GDToday Salon titled "An Encounter with Marco Polo," which brought together over 200 international participants and featured exhibitions of Guangdong's intangible cultural heritage in May 2024. Following this, the Guangdong-Italy Story Sharing Event was held in Rome, celebrating Sino-Italian cooperation. Another remarkable event, "My Story with the Golden Spike Connection" in Utah, USA, honored Chinese contributions to the construction of the Pacific Railroad.

"An Encounter with Macro Polo"

GDToday also promotes trade and tourism between Guangdong and the world through its news coverage and events. The Guangdong Lychee Exports campaign in Malaysia highlighted Guangdong's agricultural products, while the "Explore Trends of China Chic, Create Memories with Art Toys" Dongguan art toy exhibition in San Francisco showcased Dongguan's cultural creativity and promoted outstanding Guangdong products abroad. Additionally, the "Charming Guangdong" Photography Exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia, featured beautiful landscapes and cultural customs from across Guangdong Province.

Dongguan art toy exhibition in San Francisco

"Charming Guangdong" Photography Exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia

High-profile achievements as a media brand

In addition to producing 15,000 original stories and hosting 34 successful events worldwide, GDToday has achieved several milestones within a year.

GDToday now has over 220,000 daily active users on its official website, approximately seven million followers on social media, more than 10,000 newsletter subscribers from the political and business sectors, and connections with over 1,000 top media outlets worldwide. This extensive network enables GDToday to reach a cumulative audience of over 300 million globally, with its articles and multimedia reports amplifying stories about Guangdong's development, culture, economic progress, and global impact.

GDToday collaborates with seven media bases in Guangdong cities and districts, including Zhongshan, Dongguan, Qingyuan, Shantou, Yunfu, Nanshan District in Shenzhen, and Chancheng District in Foshan, to provide enriched local coverage.

This milestone anniversary reaffirms GDToday's dedication to promoting Guangdong's development and showcasing its significance within China and beyond. With plans for further expansion and innovation, GDToday continues to deliver timely and relevant information, setting a high standard for international communication platforms.

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