CHINA DAILY TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013 zhanjiangspecial 7

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District gets bank loans Potou signed a loan agreement with the Branch of China Construction Bank (CCB) on July 11, according to Zhanjiang Daily. Under the agreement, the bank will loan 5 billion yuan ($806 million) to Potou district over , ve years to fund the construction of urban facil- ities and infrastructure as well as scienti, c and indus- trial zones. Liu Xiaohua, Party chief of Zhanjiang, said innovation will be the focus in the near future. Construction starts on highway PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Huguangyan Maar Lake in the port city of Zhanjiang, province. Known as a top tourism destination in China, Zhanjiang has made big strides in natural preservation. Construction on the long- awaited Peninsula Loop highway kicked oF in Zhanjiang’s in the southern tip of the Routes showcase top tourist spots Chinese mainland on July 7. 7 e 325-kilometer-long Tours highlight er five islands—Techeng, eight-lane highway will Nansan, Donghai, Naozhou have a speed limit of 100 and Nanping. kilometers per hour and natural beauty, is expected to be complete Of them, the smallest is in three years. It will link Techeng, with a land area cultural heritage the cities of Zhanjiang of 3.6 square kilometers. and Leizhou as well as By XU JINGXI Around half of the island is the counties of Lianjiang, [email protected] covered in forests. Getting Xuwen and Suixi in the there from the city center is Leizhou Peninsula to the One of China’s top travel only an eight-minute trip. national highway network. destinations, the port city of Another is Donghai Island, Zhanjiang has attracted mil- the biggest in Guangdong lions of tourists from all over province, which boasts Chi- Potential HK the world to experience its na’s longest beach. investors pay visit magni, cent natural scenery “If you are lucky enough, and profound cultural heri- you will see Indo-Pacific To promote trade and tage. hump- investment, entrepreneurs Last year, THROUGH LENS backed from Hong Kong sought Zhanjiang dolphins out business opportuni- received more playing in ties in Zhanjiang last week, than 22.39 million tourists, up the sea near Guitou Village,” local media reported. Led 23.6 percent year on year. the o cial statement of the by a senior executive from O cial statistics show the bureau said. the Hong Kong Council for city’s tourism industry gen- Nansan Island is the prov- the Promotion of Trade, the erated revenue totaling 12.7 ince’s second-largest island Hong Hong businessmen billion yuan ($2 billion) last and is known for the shim- visited more than 10 local year, a year-on-year increase mering white sand of its companies in the , elds of of 36.7 percent. beaches. tourism, yachts, real estate, “Tourism has become a The local government papermaking, agricultural new source of Zhanjiang’s plans to develop the island sciences and traditional Chinese medicine. economic growth in terms of into a resort for surfers and LI MANQING / FOR CHINA DAILY boosting consumption and fans of other marine leisure The lighthouse on the Naozhou Island in Zhanjiang, one of the world’s only two crystal mirror lighthouses. attracting investment,” said activities. Paper partnership Deputy Mayor Zhuang Xia- “If you long for tranquility, Cunliang Village, which is mirror lighthouses. Three kilometers north peninsula will give visitors a moves forward odong. you can visit Nanping Island, acclaimed as Zhanjiang’s Another top tourist desti- of the geopark is a tropical glimpse of the past glory. One Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhuang said that the local an uninhabited island, where most beautiful village. Here nation on the island route is botanical garden built in 1954. of the villages is the Bangtang Zhongbing met with Chen government will work harder a seven-kilometer-long nar- travelers can , nd fresh sea- a military port that hosts the It has rare tropical plants of Village, with a history of more Hongguo, chairman of to maintain a growth rate of row beach stretches like a food feast served by the , sh- vessels of the South Sea Fleet, 1,000 kinds from more than than 400 years. Shandong Chenming Paper 15 percent in the future. jade belt. erman, who take in guests. one of the country’s three big- 30 countries and regions. It is praised as the “Museum Holdings Ltd last week to “To achieve this goal, the “And if you are interested Moreover, the local gov- gest. In the meantime, Gold Deer of Ancient Residences”. further strengthen coop- Zhanjiang Tourism Bureau in historical ruins, the old ernment will integrate the Park and the Egret Home are Of the 100 residences, the eration in papermaking. has designed three differ- lighthouse on Naozhou , ve islands and the bay into Place for geoparks resorts where tourists can mansions of two rich men With rich natural resources, ent routes, each with its Island will appeal to you,” the a high-end coastal tourism In addition to its fabulous enjoy close interaction with called Li Guangzu and Li the city aims to be one own unique elements, that statement said. park, which is among Zhan- islands, Zhanjiang also attracts local people outside. Yunlong are widely regarded of the leading players in link scattered scenic spots,” 7 e lighthouse is one of the jiang’s key tourism projects. tourists with its biological as the best, according to the forestry and papermaking Zhuang said. world’s three most renowned, 7 e park will be a top tour- diversity. Peninsula view statement. in the future, Wang said. Here are the three routes and the other two are in Lon- ist resort featuring volcanic The city is a green show- Leizhou Peninsula is also an 7 e biggest in the village, Li Chen said the company recommended by the Zhan- don and the Cape of Good landscapes, mangrove forests, room of tropical plants and ideal place to explore. Guangzu’s mansion has more will expand investment in jiang Tourism Bureau. Hope. coral reefs, hot springs and the a wonderland for birds and Guarding China’s gate to the than 10 villas and four alleys. Zhanjiang to help speed up Naozhou Island is also country’s longest beach. fruits. South China Sea, the penin- Li Yunlong’s is very distinctive the city’s economic devel- Natural wonder China’s largest volcanic Of all the scenes on the One example is the famous sula has been vital in the coun- as well thanks to its layout of opment in the foreseeable One of the routes is titled island. route, the lighthouse is a must- Huguangyan Geopark, which try’s administrative map since homocentric squares. future. “Islands Paradise”, which “You can stroll on the Nay- see destination for tourists, has the world’s largest and ancient times. The peninsula also has includes naturally beautiful an Sea Rock Beach to observe according to the statement. best-preserved Maar volcanic The prefecture-level city a great variety of folk arts, Govt forms ties locales of great cultural sig- volcanic rocks molded by The Western-style light- lake, , lled with giant , sh and is one of the 99 nationally including music, opera and ni, cance. waves into grotesque shapes.” house was built by French turtles. famous cultural and historical stone dogs that integrate the to develop port In the seas around Zhan- 7 e statement said anoth- architects in 1899, and it is one 7 e lake formed 140,000 to destinations. local culture with Western Zhanjiang will promote jiang Bay, there are altogeth- er ideal place for visitors is of the world’s only two crystal 160,000 years ago. 7 e ancient villages on the aesthetics. cooperation with Yantian Port Group Ltd in port construction in the next few years, local media reported. Liu Xiaohua, Local govt works maximize appeal of Nansan Island Party chief of Zhanjiang, said the city is now looking By XU JINGXI ority to Nansan Island,” said ernment has also launched a for cooperative opportuni- [email protected] Liu. series of projects in the , elds ties with other ports and “Our goal is to develop the of transportation, water facili- companies in an eF ort to Relying on its rich natural island into a State-level coast- ties and environmental pro- make the coastal metropolis into a modern port city. Li resources, Nansan Island in al tourism pilot zone, and tection. said Zhanjiang has huge the port city of Zhanjiang, we also want to make it the It will build several tour- potential in terms of port Guangdong province, has country’s winter resort and the ism-related projects, such as development. grown into an international city’s biggest source of tourism a golf theme park, an oceanic coastal tourism attraction, revenue.” museum, and a cultural zone said local o cials. In addition to the white displaying Buddhism culture Partners sought With 83 kilometers of sand beach and the blue sky, as well as luxury hotels. for rail projects coastline and a 123.4-square- the island has a cluster of Meanwhile, the island 7 e local government of kilometer land area, the windbreak covering 23 kilo- will also construct an inter- Zhanjiang is seeking coop- eration with other cities in 1 island—actually a chain of 10 meters to form one of the eight national cruise port with an smaller islands—is famous most famous scenes in Zhan- investment of more than 5 construction of urban light LI MANQING / FOR CHINA DAILY for its seafood and its wind- jiang. billion yuan ($800 million). railway and metro projects. 1: With 83 kilometers of coastline, the island is famed for its white, sandy beaches and clear skies. break, which refers to a wall 7 e windbreak is depicted It will help attract tourists 7 e current poor highway 2: Shown here is the sunrise on the Nanshan island. 3: The location of the Island on a map of trees and shrubs planted by Guan Shanyue (1912- from overseas. network has become a bot- for protection against the 2000), a renowned Chinese More than 20 big enter- tleneck for Zhanjiang’s eco- wind. painter, as a natural wonder prises visited the island, nomic growth, and the city Zhanjiang In the next few years, in his painting the Green Great said local o cials, and they will expand cooperation the local government will Wall. have “shown strong interest with the MTR Corporation construct a coastal tourism Tourists will be attracted by in economic cooperation (Shenzhen) Ltd in railway park that spans , ve islands, the wall paintings of Vietnam- with the island”. construction in the follow- Nansan Island including Nansan Island ese aesthetics in the island’s The joint projects main- ing years, said Mayor Wang and Zhanjiang Bay, said Liu ancient architecture of south- ly include a seaside resort, Zhongbing. Xiaohua, Party chief of Zhan- ern China. a high-end yacht base and jiang. To strengthen the island’s a town built in a Southeast CHINA DAILY 3 2 “We will give our top pri- infrastructure, the local gov- Asian style.