Construction on the 180,000-square-meter Zhanjiang International Cruise Port Complex begins on Nov 23. [Photo/zhanjiang.gov.cn]

Construction on the 180,000-square-meter Zhanjiang International Cruise Port Complex, the first of its kind in the Beibu Gulf, commenced on Nov 23.

Funded by China Merchants Group, the large urban complex will consist of a cruise terminal, themed apartments, commercial centers and shopping malls selling high-end consumer goods.

Costing 784 million yuan ($114 million) to build, the cruise terminal is designed to handle up to 500,000 passengers annually. It is expected to begin trial operations in 2021.

The complex is expected to become a new landmark of western Guangdong and an important headquarters economy cluster, invigorating the cruise market in South China and even Southeast Asia, according to Jiang Jianjun, mayor of Zhanjiang.

Mayor Jiang Jianjun expects the project to be a new impetus to the cruise market in South China and even Southeast Asia. [Photo/zhanjiang.gov.cn]