Guangzhou will convene its 12th annual people's congress on March 21 to elect new leaders.
Guangzhou People's Congress Secretary-General Chen Yaohua said the nine-day session, to be preceded by a preparatory meeting on March 20, would elect leaders of the city's legislature.
It would also elect a mayor to replace Lin Shusen and other government leaders.
Under Mr Lin's stewardship, Guangzhou has been transformed, with elevated roads to ease traffic congestion and a new central business district in Tianhe that stands in sharp contrast to the haphazard development in the Dongfeng district and the decaying old city.
Mr Lin's prowess impressed Premier Zhu Rongji and helped earn him a promotion to city party chief.
The new leadership is expected to build on Mr Lin's vision to project Guangzhou on the international stage and create a heavy industry base to support the city's future development.
