Two of the Shanghai's old townships will be developed into countryside tourist attractions over the next few years, the city government released yesterday.

Blueprints for Huating Town and Xuhang Town in the Jiading District were publicized on the official Website of the Shanghai Urban planning Administrative Bureau yesterday.

"Both townships will become ecologically based residential and business complexes," the draft plans revealed.

The two towns are located in the north of the district.

The heart of the Huating Town has a ground area of 6.5 square kilometers, comprising five villages.

The plan calls for the development of golf courses, resorts and farmers' home inns over the next decade.

Farmers' home inns are gaining popularity with visitors from the city. They allow tourists to eat with the farming family or do farm chores for fun.

At Xuhang Town, the development will focus on the town's ancient traditional houses and canals, which will be conserved.

Jiading District is also planning to build an artificial lake as a tourist attraction.

(Shanghai Daily February 20, 2008)