Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Changxing Island - Take a trip out of Busy Shaghai


Brief introduction:

Changxing Island covers an area of 76.32 sq.km. It is reputed as a green jadeite for its “pure soil, pure air and pure water”. The orchard is located in the middle of the island, occupying an area of 451.67 hectares. It is the largest production site of the “green food”. There are rockeries, long corridors, a potted landscape garden, a Mongolian village with yurts, a horse track,a conch hall, and a hotel entertaining visitors with each of their own attractive characteristics. In autumn, amidst the ripe fruit in the orange orchard, visitors many feel the joy of a bumper harvest.

Changxing Island is closer to the center of Shanghai City and enjoys the reputation as “Longevity Island”, “Clean Island” and “the Hometown of Oranges”.

Place of Note: Novel farm
It is located in the middle of Changxing Island, with an occupation of 451.67 ha. As one of the national largest orange production base, this novel farm enjoys the high reputation in Shanghai and even the Eastern of China.

Tangerine oranges from this farm look bright and smooth, and taste sweet and juicy, with thin skins and few pits. Besides, there are some attractive scenic spots and well-equipped entertainment places and hotels in this farm.


Future Infrastructure accessing the islands to Shanghai Mainland
Shanghai will extend the planned No. 9 Metro line to Chongming Island as part of an already started bridge and tunnel project linking the island to Pudong.

The Metro line will run from Songjiang District in western Shanghai, through Xujiahui, and Waigaoqiao in Pudong. It will then be linked to Changxing Island by tunnel. From Changxing, it will run across a bridge to Chongming Island.The city has announced that it plans to turn Chongming Island, the third largest island in China, into an ecological zone that will be ideal for tourism and international forums.

While many details of the Metro project haven't been worked out yet, the line is expected to be complete by 2010, according to Mao Jialiang, director of the Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau.

"We are planning to merge the new subway line with the tunnel and bridge connection to reach the island," Mao said.Construction has already begun on the 8.9-kilometer tunnel connecting Pudong to Changxing Island."The tunnel will be a two-level tube - its upper level will be used for vehicles and its lower level has been reserved for the subway line," said Yu Sijia, director of the bureau's planning department.

Engineers haven't decided yet how the Metro line will be integrated into the planned 10.3-kilometer cable-stayed bridge connecting Changxing and Chongming.

"One possibility is to build the subway line in the middle of the bridge, dividing the traffic lanes into two parallel sections running in different directions," Yu said.

A 6.3-kilometer elevated highway will also be built on Changxing Island to link the tunnel with the bridge. Yu said city planners are still conducting a feasibility study of how to merge the subway with the bridge.

Location: Changxing Island lie between Congming Island and Pudong New District and belong to Baoshan District.

Transportation: take bus No.5, 51,116,522,728,848,849 to Wusong dock, where you can take ship to Changxing Island, Hengsha Island and Chongming Island.


Above: A local market scene selling fresh vegetables locally produced.


above: a local vendor selling local made Tofus and specialties.




Above: Fishing is an important source of revenue for the islands. During the spring festival, it is the most lucrative period for the locals to sell their catch to the mainland.


Above: A genuine smile you seldom see in the city. An old man posing for a shot at his orchard. The locals grow chinese mandrin for their own consumption as well as exporting to the mainland. Current projects in developing the island into a more robust and industrialised area forces many villagers to relocate. Many chose to build their houses higher in order to receive more stipends and supports from the goverment when they relocate.


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