Delta region to focus on cleaner water, smoother traffic
Experts and officials share opinions during a development and spatial planning seminar in the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Qingpu.
Abundant and clean waterways will be a major highlight of the ecological integrated development demonstration zone in the Yangtze River Delta, a senior planner told a forum in Shanghai.
A harmonious ecological balance between humans and nature will be created for the demonstration zone, where "mountains, rivers, forests, fields and lakes coexist," Zheng Degao, vice dean of the Chinese Academy of Urban Planning and Design, told a development and spatial planning seminar.
According to the master plan for the demonstration zone, the coverage of waterways and lakes within the zone will be increased to 22 percent by 2035, from the current 20 percent.
Multi-level waterways and greenbelts will be developed, including the Taipu River, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Wusong River and Suzhou Creek, said Zheng, who is involved in the zone's planning.
The Yangtze River Delta region covers Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui. In November 2018, the integration and coordinated development of the area was declared a national strategy. It was announced by President Xi Jinping at the opening of the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
The ecological green development demonstration zone covers Wujiang in neighboring Jiangsu Province, Jiashan in Zhejiang Province and Qingpu District in Shanghai.
A bird's-eye view of the city's Jinze Reservoir.
A scientific innovation base will be completed near the Jinze Reservoir in Shanghai's outskirt in early 2021, said Hu Xin, chief engineer of the Shanghai Chengtou Group, a major constructor of the integrated zone.
The base on the northern bank of the Taipu River will feature an ecological popular science park to promote water treatment knowledge and help to improve the ecological network of the Yangtze River Delta, Hu told the forum at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Qingpu.
Apart from water treatment, the group will focus on the “sponge city” program and sightseeing creation in the region, Hu said. The “sponge city” program is aimed at making local neighborhoods, streets and greenery better able to capture and store rainwater. The program's goal is to ease the impact on the city during both rainy and arid seasons.
The local state-owned enterprise has taken active part in the construction of the demonstration zone, said Chen Qingjiang, president of Shanghai Chengtou.
A comprehensive traffic system connecting Yangtze delta cities is under construction. They include 11 highways in Shanghai, the Donghai Bridge and three tunnels. Three inter-provincial channels – the S32 Shanghai-Jiaxing-Huzhou, S26 Shanghai-Changzhou and G40 Chongming-Qidong expressways – have largely enhanced traffic efficiency in the region.
Construction has started on a new section of the S3 Expressway, to connect the Zhoudeng Highway in the Pudong New Area to Lianggang Avenue in the Lingang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone to further optimize Shanghai’s connection with neighboring provinces. Work on the expressway is expected to finish by the end of 2021.
A bird's-eye view of the Lingang Special Area in Pudong.
Furthermore, the group will improve garbage sorting and treatment practices in the region. A smart transfer station for harmful waste in the Lingang new area, for instance, has been officially in use since June.
The waste station is the first unmanned site for temporarily keeping harmful garbage and will serve 43 neighborhoods in Nanhui New Town.
After preliminary sorting by residents, harmful waste will be collected and delivered to the 10-square-meter transfer station by special staff. It will then be sent regularly to garbage-sorting centers for further disposal.
The station is equipped with real-time monitoring and automatic doors, through which workers enter via methods including facial and fingerprint identification.
The group will offer “butler plus expert” services to take part in the water treatment, garbage sorting and traffic planning for the integrated Yangtze delta zone, said Chen.
The general plan for the zone has began soliciting public opinions for further improvement, said Zheng.
“Planning alone may not guide the action in detail,” he said. “Sometimes a standard is more important than the plans. Within a common clear standard, we can achieve better results together. Our current plan is a process of reaching an agreement, and it will promote the standard formulation,” Zheng told Shanghai Daily.
