The
Shanghai
government yesterday launched a gigantic program to revitalize
areas along the Huangpu River near the Bund and build it into a
world-class tourism site within 10 years.
A
new city-owned company, Shanghai Huangpu Riversides Development
Construction and Investment (Group) Co. Ltd., with a registered
capital of nearly 200 million yuan (US$24.1 million), was
officially set up yesterday by Acting Mayor Chen Liangy| to take
charge of the project.
A
new government committee led by Chen was also set up yesterday to
oversee development of the waterfront.
"The banks of the Huangpu River, which are now occupied with
run-down warehouses, docks and factories, especially on the west
bank, can not match up with the image of a modern Shanghai,"
explained Chen.
The 113-kilometer-long (70.21 miles) Huangpu River winds across the
city's downtown area. Deemed the "Mother River" of the city, it
used to be the major navigational route in Shanghai.
Huang J|, secretary of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist
Party of China, said yesterday the city is determined to rebuild
and modernize the banks of the Huangpu River so that it will become
the city's answer to the Seine in Paris.
Huang pointed out that the project will help promote the city's
economic growth and further push forward development in Pudong
District on the east bank.
According to the city's plan, the project will cover 22.6 square
kilometers (8.73 square miles), 61.5 percent of which is in
Pudong.
City leaders hope the riverfront site will be developed in a way
similar to the financial district in Pudong, with much of the
needed investment coming from domestic and overseas investment.
The targeted riverfront area runs more than 20 kilometers (12.43
miles) from Fuxing Island in Yangpu District to the Lupu Bridge,
now under construction in Luwan District.
Parts of that area, especially downtown sections, will be used for
the 2010 World Expo if the city wins its bid to host the event.
Otherwise, those areas will be snatched up by real estate
developers eager to build residential complexes along the
river.
Vice Mayor Han Zheng said city and district governments will offer
preferential policies to encourage domestic and foreign companies
to invest in the project. But Han, like other top leaders, won't
reveal details about the city's plans for the river.
He
did say the final plan will combine suggestions from six
international design companies that were hired to consult on the
project.
Some of the already confirmed plans include building a new
international passenger terminal center to replace the existing
passenger dock north of the Bund in Yangpu District, and the
construction of shops and restaurants to replace shabby buildings
along the Shiliupu Wharf, officials said.
(eastday.com January 11,
2002)