Shanghai has completed preliminary planning for a major project that will revitalize land on both banks of the Huangpu River.

The project, according to Jiao Yang, a municipal spokesperson, will include the construction of a world-class entertainment and shopping area.

"Residents will have more public space for activities and they'll be able to better enjoy nature," Jiao told journalists at a news conference on December 17.

She said the city has completed urban planning for the Northern Bund and the Shiliupu-Dongchang Road areas, as well as for future ferry stations.

The Waitanyuan area, known as the Bund Headstream, is to be preserved. She added that several corporate and residential structures have been successfully relocated, in accordance with the plan.

Meanwhile, details to renovate key buildings of the Southern Bund, including the Dongfang Restaurant, a historical building, have been finalized.

"By the end of the year, we will clear up advertising boards on top the Dongfang Restaurant in a wish to to restore its previous style," Jiao said.

Meanwhile, the city will begin construction of an international passenger shipping service center, to be completed by the end of 2006, according to Jiao. The multi-million-dollar center will include a number of buildings and a dock.

The new dock will be able to berth three large cruise ships at one time. The center will extend on a plot covering 160,000 square meters.

Twin towers will be built in the Northern Bund that will house a five-star hotel and corporate offices. Large areas of land on both sides of the Huangpu River are being turned into parks, officials said.

The revitalization plan, which involves the development of nearly 74 square kilometers of land, was launched in early 2002, and is expected to take about another eight years to complete.

Docks, factories and warehouses are being replaced by large patches of grassland, large-scale cultural and entertaining facilities and riverfront residential quarters and office grounds.

The Yangpu Bridge district will feature residential homes and high-tech offices, while the area between Shiliupu and Dongchang Road will contain a combination of historically preserved buildings and modern structures, officials said.

(eastday.com December 18, 2003)