Artists add flourish to island development
green badge with pride.
About a quarter of Chongming is forested. Organic farms are producing vegetables and fruits widely prized in downtown Shanghai markets. Natural wetlands, fresh air, a network of hiking and biking trails, bird sanctuaries and clean waterways have made the island a favorite getaway destination for those seeking a respite from the chaos of urban life.
Ecological areas
The Chongming land development plan (2017-35) calls for forest coverage across 35 percent of the 1,267-square-kilometer island. Wetlands will encompass 43 percent. The population will be strictly controlled to protect the environment, with a limit of 700,000 people by 2035.
“Rural revitalization in Chongming is a key element in Shanghai’s campaign to enhance its profile globally,” said Tang Hailong, Party chief of Chongming District. “The island is rich in natural resources and agriculture. We want rural development to be built on environmental principles, using the latest technologies to add value to our farm products.”
The development plan also calls for three scenic tourism areas: Dongtan in Chenjia Town, Dongping in the Beihu Lake area and Xisha in the Mingzhu Lake area. Dongtan will feature a sports center and a conservation area for Chinese sturgeon. It will host a major flower expo in its National Forest Park in 2021.
The Beihu, Dongping Forest Park, Dongtan, Xisha and the wetlands of Qingcaosha are major ecological areas on the island.
Eco-tourism development will be based on traditional village culture and local agriculture. Facilities will be built that allow visitors comfortable accommodation while retaining bucolic scenery.
By 2035, there will be a new urbanrural system compromising a core town surrounded by satellite villages and communities. The core town will be Chenqiao in the middle of the island.
The “ecological island” will incorporate advanced sewage treatment facilities, recycling programs and system to reuse agricultural waste.
Chongming industry will be developed in keeping with the island’s green credentials. It will rely heavily on agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries.
By 2035, cultivated land on the island be a minimum 4,230 hectares. Chongming has earmarked about 2,660 hectares for projects raising rice using only organic fertilizers. The new brand Chongming Rice is prized for its good taste and aroma.
Rice paddies in those areas are all weeded by hand. Ducks, frogs and solarpowered bug-zappers handle pest control. Eventually, the island plans to ban all chemical pesticides and fertilizers.