Guangzhou recently announced the opening of applications for the 6th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation, also known as the Guangzhou Award.

Cities and governments worldwide are invited to apply, and those who submit their applications by July 31 will receive additional feedback and suggestions for improvements.

The Guangzhou Award, initiated in 2012 by Guangzhou in partnership with the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and Metropolis, is a commendation to recognize and encourage cities and local governments around the globe for their innovative practices in promoting social, economic, and environmental sustainability, as well as improving urban governance and quality of life. 

Today, the Guangzhou Award has become a crucial global platform for sharing innovative urban governance practices.

To date, the Guangzhou Award has run five editions and has evaluated more than 1300 innovative projects. The deadline for early applications is 11:59 pm (Beijing Time) on July 31, while the final deadline is set at 11:59:59 pm (Beijing Time) on Aug 31.

The Guangzhou Award selection process involves two stages – the preliminary round and final evaluations. The final result will see five cities win the prestigious Guangzhou Award. Concurrently, a public online voting event will be held during the final evaluation stage. The city that receives the highest votes will be awarded the title of "Internet Popularity City."

Participating cities also have the chance to win a cash prize of $20,000, a trophy, and a certificate. They also get the opportunity to showcase their innovative projects at international forums and exhibitions, attract potential partners, and exchange successful experiences with other cities.