The project on the resumption of the river net on Changzhou Island that cost nearly RMB17 million was started last month and is to be completed before the flood period in 2009, said officials from the Huangpu District government departments in charge of hydraulic engineering on December 15th.
On the island were many riverlets that joined the rivers outside the island. Shengjing Riverlet is one of the major riverlets. It joined the newly-built waterway in the south and Xingzhou waterway in the north. The officials said that due to the establishment of the Huangpu Shipyard, the section of Shengjing Riverlet near the workshops was blocked in 1969. There was little and almost still water in the Shengjing Riverlet for winter was a dry season in Guangdong Province. Part of the river bed was covered with massive black mud and terrible-smelling sewage could be found flowing out of the pipes. Officials said that although it covered 8.5 square kilometers, the island featured over 40 attraction sites, including national cultural relics including the site of Huangpu Military School, Kebai Dock, Baomo Garden and Changzhou Fort. However, the ecological and cultural environments have been badly damaged by the Shengjing Riverlet.
Officials introduced that a 422-meter-long riverlet would be dug which would be about six meters deep and about twelve meters wide. By then, dragon-boat races can be held on the riverlet.
In addition, said officials, a green belt would be built along the southwest bank of the riverlet. In addition, around the island will be a highway along which people could enjoy by bicycle the improved river net as well as the architectures of eastern and western styles.
(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)
Editor: 寮犺幑
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