Qingpu District is known as the cultural origin of
Shanghai and is famous for the beauty of typical water towns common in areas south of the Yangtze River.
These years, the district in the city's south has accelerated urbanization plans and gradually turned on a new face.
Shanghai Daily reporter interviewed Qingpu District Director Jiang Yao, who talks about the region's recent development and its future direction.
Q: What is Qingpu District's development plan in the following three to five years? During the process, how will the district take advantage of its distinct features?
A: Four functional orientations have been made for the following development of Qingpu.
We plan to build a "green industrial zone" that carries the environmental friendly idea, a recreational tourism area that connects the city with nearby provinces, a characteristic residential area that combines old and modern architecture styles and also a modern agricultural center that provides a large food supply to the city.
However, we must not develop too eagerly. Several years are not enough to achieve the goals. We need more time, say 20 years or even longer.
Our ultimate goal is to create a brand new Qingpu, a district divided into "one town and five areas."
Q: Can you explain the concept of "one town and five areas?"
A: "One town" refers to Qingpu New Town in the center part of the district. It is composed of three parts: yesterday's Qingpu, today's Qingpu and tomorrow's Qingpu.
Currently, "today's Qingpu," an area of 26.89 square kilometers, is under construction. It will be completed in three to five years. Between 250,000 and 300,000 residents will relocate to the area.
Another 8.14-square-kilometer area in the famous water town Zhujiajiao will be built into "yesterday's Qingpu." Between the two areas will set up "tomorrow's Qingpu," covering an area of about 14 square kilometers and with all the novel facilities specially designed for the future.
"Five areas" include Qingpu Industrial Zone - one of the nine municipal-level development zones in Shanghai, Dianshan Lake Tourist Area to the west of the district, the real-estate development area to the east, the auto-parts industry area to the north, and the modern agricultural area to the south.
Q: Qingpu's Xujing Town is among the very first in the city that started to build villas in the 1990s. But other suburban districts such as Songjiang District are also vigorously promoting their villas. Will the town continue to focus on villa-building or will it change to develop other types of residences?
A: Villas sell quite well in Xujing. As is planned, the area south of No. 318 National Express in Xujing will be covered with villas while more townhouses will be built in the north-east.
Q: Tourism has always been a mainstay industry of Qingpu. The beauty of Zhujiajiao -- Shanghai's sole water town -- is well-known to people. What is the district's next plan for tourism development?
A: Qingpu is the origin of
Shanghai culture. Zhujiajiao Town formed about 1,700 years ago. Close to Dianshan Lake, it is famous for its abundant water resources. Nearly 20 percent of the district is covered by water.
On the map, the district looks exactly like a butterfly. In past years, the right "wing" has experienced great changes, yet the left one, including Zhujiajiao Town, has developed much more slowly.
What we plan to create in Dianshan Lake area is a top recreational tourist attraction in the city.
We have already invited famous designers from the United States, Britain and Japan to join in the planning project.
The construction will take a long time. When it is finished, we hope it could be as successful as Long Island in New York or Hakone in Tokyo.
