Shanghai Agriculture Industry and Commerce (Group) Co Ltd, the city's largest state-owned agricultural conglomerate, said yesterday it will focus on tourism next year as another major profit engine.
It has recently been investing in Haiwan State Forest Park in Fengxian District.
The company, which owns such business units as Bright Dairy, Haifeng Rice and Kedi and Alldays convenience stores among others, will open the first phase of the park next year as a major tourist site in the district.
It is trying to attract tourists who are interested in country life, said company general manager Cao Shumin.
The park is planned to cover 3,200 hectares and its first phase of construction has been completed.
At another one of its holdings, the Flower Harbor, China's largest flower growing base located at the Donghai Farm in the city's Nanhui District, the company is building Netherlands Park, copying it from the original in Holland. It is collecting all varieties of the world's tulips to be displayed in the new park.
The park is expected to be finished in March and will host flower exhibitions.
In addition, the company will open a 2,000-square-meter museum at Fengxian District's Wusi Farm, displaying photos and articles of historic scenes over 50 years ago when people reclaimed land from the sea at the site.
"We hope agriculture-related tourism will bring additional profits to the firm which earns its major profits from agriculture, retail and real estate," Cao said.