“The construction of the new town will start this year and the first stage of it will cost 5 billion yuan. Investments are welcome.” Li Hao WELL-KNOWN for its picturesque scenery, Yangshuo in southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is planning a new urbanized area in the hope of becoming a world-class tourist attraction. Located in the south of Yangshuo, the new town will be divided into four areas, all fulfilling different functions, the county head, Xie Lingzong, told Shenzhen Daily last week. An administrative area will be constructed at the center of the new town, which will include cultural centers, museums and streets full of bars, according to planners. A tourism area will be built on the west side of the new town, introducing up-market hotels and golf courses. The area is expected to be built on the southern side of the town’s newly constructed Shanshui Road. Business English schools will be built in the area. On top of that, an area featuring architecture in the Zhuang minority style will be built on the east side of the Tianjia River. “The construction of the new town will start this year and the first stage of it will cost 5 billion yuan (US$762 million). Investments are welcome,” Xie said. Xie said the land acquisition for the new town is close to completion. Besides the new town, Yangshuo is striving to make better use of its rich resources for tourism in the next five years. Night cruises along the Yangshuo reach of the Lijiang River, which is flanked by Karst peaks in various shapes, will be introduced. Colorful LED lighting will be employed to illuminate the mountains at night. “Planning for the lighting has been completed and the installation project will be finished within two years. In addition, tourists will be able to tour Yangshuo on foot or by bamboo raft,” Xie said. Besides, environmentally friendly high-tech industries will be introduced to the new town to diversify its industrial structure, Xie said. “We are also welcoming enterprises to establish their headquarters in the new town,” Xie said. According to Xie, a portion of the income from the new town development will be distributed to local villagers to have them share in the economic windfall. With a population of 310,000, Yangshuo received 8.13 million sightseeing visitors last year and reported 3 billion yuan in tourism income, according to statistics from the county government. The county’s per capita income ranked first in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region last year. | 