Fenghuang Mountain Forest Park, to abut Zhongshan City in the west, link Tangjiawan Town in the north and face downtown Xiangzhou in the south, will become the largest of its kind in the city, according to the Zhuhai Fenghuang Mountain Forest Park Overall Plan, which was approved on July 16.

Experts from South China University of Technology, Guangdong Institute of Forest Inventory & Planning, Beijing Normal University Zhuhai, Zhuhai Institute of Urban Planning & Design, Zhuhai Gardens & Landscape and other departments were on the evaluation panel.

Designed to cover 70.08sqkm, the city-based forest park is to be well preserved and feature restorations, sea views and ancient paths. It will offer hiking, sightseeing and leisure recreation.

With total investment of nearly 1 billion yuan ($146 million), the park will encompass four sections -- rural farming and university campus, science education, urban leisure and ecological conservation. There will be one core of culture, and corridors first of mountain and sea views, second of history and culture, and third of exercise and leisure.

In accordance with the terrain and sightseeing resources, the park will have four zones: sightseeing, ecological preservation, administration and service.

The forest park is to be completed in three phases. The first will contain Baishaling Park, Shixi Rock Engravings, Hongmenlou Park, ancient paths and the Putuo Temple. Works to protect the ancient paths will be conducted first and construction of mountain trails and then roadways will follow. Fenghuang Mountain Greenway, from Dongkeng near Putuo Temple in Qianshan to Beijing Normal University Zhuhai in Jinding, will be renovated to serve as a north-south ecological greenway of Fenghuang Mountain.

Most of Fenghuang Mountain is in ecological and key protected areas; for example, the Yangliao and Dajing Mountain reservoirs are first-grade drinking water protection sites. In addition, rock and mountain scenes as well as animal resources abound.

Nevertheless, the mountain's overall ecological environment is flimsy with native vegetation severely damaged and planted forest ageing. As a result, protection of natural and cultural landscape will be focused upon while construction around the reservoirs and at the foot of the mountain will be strictly controlled, the plan states.

Having considered the forest tour, fire protection, environmental protection and park management, the plan has also given reasonable account to the entrances, parking lot and paths in the park as well as measures for forest renovation, pest control and wildlife protection.

Forest tour activities feature walking through the woods, keeping fit, sightseeing and ecological research. At the same time, ancient paths, ancient villages and buildings, rock engravings, former residences of historic figures, relic sites of the War of Resistance Against Japan and related sites will be preserved. Moreover, walls, benches and small facilities will be built out of recyclable materials while solar and wind energy will be utilized for site amenities, according to the plan.

Construction could commence early next year.

ZD News