Shanghai Daily News

Chongming Island  is taking further steps to showcase its image as the city's most environmentally-friendly place by launching a series of activities at Mingzhu Lake after its first phase completion.

During the recent National Day holiday, more than 10,000 city dwellers visited the new "eco paradise," enjoying such attractions as a fishing competition, photography contest, boating and sampling typical farm food.

Located on the northwest side of the rural county, the 3,000-meter-long, 1,000-meter-wide Mingzhu River is the newest tourist attraction on the ecologically-promoted island.

An abundance of trees and plants of about 50 varieties have been preserved alongside the river to maintain good air quality. Currently, more than 70 species of birds, fish and wildlife make their home in this ecologically-sensitive area that previously was only accessible to scientists and researchers.

Future plans call for the construction of a multi-functional conference center to accommodate visitors. Regular checks are being conducted to ensure that any building is in harmony with nature.

Construction of the Mingzhu River project's second phase started last month and when complete, it will include a 6,000-meter-long river bank protection project, a bird exhibition hall and other supporting infrastructure. The total project will cover 10 square kilometers, accommodating leisure, commercial and science and research activities.

In recent years, Chongming's effort in developing ecological projects is evident by the increasing government funding the county receives each year. With a total investment of six billion yuan (US$750 million), the country's third largest island has created several successful examples in environmental protection. These include the Dongping National Forest Park, Qianwei Ecological Village, and the Dongtan and Xisha wetlands.

"Green Chongming" received a big endorsement earlier this year when  London Mayor Ken Livingstone visited the island, describing Dongtan as "breathtaking in scale and ambition."

District official Ding Tao said Chongming is of symbolic importance to Shanghai as the island showcases its environmental activities.

"Chongming endeavors to promote its image as a national model for sustainability, energy efficiency and environmental awareness," he said. "We hope that some of our projects can become a showcase for technologies and urban design that help to protect the environment."

As a semi-rural area, Chongming's economy has always lagged behind that of the city's urban areas. Its residents, most of whom are farmers, cannot financially support such eco-technology just yet. In its current state, its ecological plans are still considered ambitious by China standards.

By 2020, the island has set a goal of using 30 percent renewable energy, up from less than one percent at present.

Chongming is currently considered as a model for responsible environmental practices.

The 630-hectare Dongtan Eco-city project, planned in cooperation with British partners, is still under discussion. It has been designed as the "world's first sustainable city" with minimal carbon output.

According to the plan, by 2010, 25,000 people are expected to live in Dongtan City. The figure will rise to 80,000 upon its completion in 2020.

The government plans to generate 50,000 jobs around Dongtan in such fields as tourism and research. It hopes to attract low-polluting and high-tech industries to the area while boosting its green tourism.