“THE tunnel-and-bridge project to cross the Yangtze River will speed up the exploration and development of Chongming Island,?said Professor Zhang Yucheng, an expert with the Chongming Ecological Island Research Centre of Tongji University.

China’s economic engine is set to expand beyond the coast as the government eyes the country’s last virgin island for development. The plan is regarded as a key strategic aspect of Shanghai’s development in the new century, following the successful development of Pudong since the early 1990s.

“It will only take 45 minutes to reach Shanghai’s downtown area or the coastal cities in Jiangsu Province from Chongming, once the cross-river project is completed,?said Hu Jun, vice-magistrate of Chongming County.

Currently it takes two hours to reach the downtown and in bad weather it takes longer. Once bridges and tunnels connect to the island, sea transportation might be cut completely.

Ecological park

“Chongming will be built up into an ecologically friendly island, adopting a sustainable development system,?said Hu.

Under the draft development plan, Chongming, with an area of 1,225 square kilometres, one-fifth of Shanghai’s total area, will be built into a centre for tourism, ecology, scientific and technological research, serving as a bridge linking the Yangtze River Delta and the north, by the year 2020.

Skidmore Owings & Merrill, a US based planning company that won the bid to draw up the plans for Chongming’s development, planned to build five different specialized areas on the island.

The central area, including the Chongming Dongping Forest Park, will become the core area, featuring seasonal forest scenes and a recreational centre.

The northern part, overlooking neighbouring Jiangsu Province, is to be dedicated to high-tech research centres and large-scale projects such as theme parks and sports centres. The wetlands will be preserved for ecological agriculture.

The southern area, the current location of Chongming’s downtown, will be developed into environmentally friendly residential areas.

The western part, with its tranquil lakes and natural charms, is to host facilities for international conferences and international organizations.

The eastern part, where Dongtan wetlands are located ?a resting place for birds migrating between Siberia and Australia ?will be preserved as a showcase for the island’s ecological riches.

“This is smart growth in action,?said Philip Enquist, a planning partner from Skidmore Owings & Merrill which took part in preparing the development blueprint.

Harmonious development

“Shanghai is taking the bold step of embracing growth without sacrificing Chongming Island’s agriculture, wildlife or ecology. It’s the right thing to do, whether it’s in the growing cities of Southeast Asia or the expanding suburbs of the United States,?said Enquist.

“Chongming has great advantages when it comes to developing tourism. As an island separated from the mainland, Chongming is protected from air and water pollution. The environment is well preserved, featuring fresh air, clean water, forests and wetlands,?said Zhang.

“Chongming will also develop its agriculture in an ecologically friendly way,?said Sun Lei, magistrate of Chongming County. “We aim to create an environment in which human beings and nature will co-exist in harmonious development.? Experts also suggest Chongming should develop transportation industries to exploit its position at the intersection of the Yangtze River and the Yellow Sea.

“The development of Chongming Island will not only create another Pudong District but also serve to pioneer a new and ecologically friendly economic development system,?said Professor Zhang.

“But it is no easy task to build Chongming into an ecological island with a new economic development system. A large amount of investment will be required and ?at first ?this investment will mainly come from the government,?said Zhang.