A greenery project, said to be the first of the kind in China, was started by Guangzhou railways Monday (Nov. 22).

The barren lands along the railway linking Guangzhou and Xintang Township in Zengcheng District will be planted with shrubs and trees in time for the Spring Festival in February.

The 36-kilometer project covering an area of 760,000 square meters will cost 20 million yuan (US$2.5 million).

A cleanup campaign was launched in September by the Guangdong Railway Group and 10,000 square meters of illegal constructions along the railway had been demolished.

The project is divided into two sections from Guangzhou Railway Station to Guangzhou East Railway Station, and from Guangzhou East Station to Xintang Station.

Unlike greenery belts along roads which were mainly grassed areas, the railway greenery project would have shrubs and kapok trees to save water, railway sources said.

Editor: Olivia