Refresh and recharge at scenic Yuandang Lake

Yuandang Lake is an ideal spot for a weekend getaway to enjoy camping, cycling and even some water sports. Located on the border of Qingpu District in Shanghai and Wujiang City in Jiangsu Province, it forms the core area of the Yangtze River Delta Ecology and Greenery Integration Demonstration Zone.

The lake covers 12.9 square kilometers, with its waterfront stretching 23 kilometers – 6.2 kilometers in Qingpu and 16.8 kilometers in Wujiang.

In the past, the lake's water quality was poor as there were issues such as unclear division of responsibilities in environmental governance between the two regions.

But Since 2020, the Qingpu and Wujiang governments have jointly started projects to improve water quality. They've also funded construction of bridges, as well as walking and cycling paths around the lake to make it more accessible.

Now Yuandang Lake boasts clear water, green banks, wild birds, and a constant stream of visitors. The area represents the efforts gone into making the demonstration zone a major attraction rather than an eyesore.

The area's revamp was the first integration program between different local governments within the demonstration zone, according to Liu Wei, director of the department of ecological planning and construction within the demonstration zone.

"The Qingpu section has opened all the previously closed and occupied areas, creating a 25-kilometer cycling and walking paths and 1,450 mu (roughly 234 acres) of space open to the public," Liu said.

He said the best lake views were designed for residents and visitors.

As of last year, three phases of the project had been completed.

The third phase embodies Jiangnan (regions south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River) culture with the arrangement of new plants and cultural elements included in the design. The tourist attractions along the bank of the lake include Shanghai Daguanyuan (Grandview Garden).

Apart from its own natural advantages, the area surrounding Yuan Dang is speckled with ancient towns that have a profound cultural heritage.

With Jinze Ancient Town and Zhujiajiao Ancient Town are just two of nearly 10 ancient towns near Yuan Dang Lake.

"We hope these abundant tourism and cultural resources can attract tourists and stimulate the local economy," Liu added.

Established in 2019, the Yangtze River Delta demonstration zone for integrated ecological and green development includes Jiashan County Zhejiang Province, Wujiang District of Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, and Qingpu District in Shanghai.

Over the past four years, the zone's executive committee has guided 136 institutional changes.

Qingpu, Wujiang and Jiashan established the country's first inter district territorial spatial plan and implemented the "river and lake chief" rotation mechanism to manage waterways.

The handling method for registering births and marriages has been constantly improved.

Furthermore, five interprovincial dead-end roads have been cleared, and construction on a number of traffic projects has been accelerated. They include Shanghai-Suzhou-Jiaxing inter-city railway, Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou high-speed railway, the western extension of Metro Line 17, and a transfer hub in Qingpu New City.

The pooling of medical resources, cross-regional medical insurance settlement, vocational education and senior care initiatives have also been announced.

Construction of Fangtingshuiyuan, another core project in the demonstration zone, started in May.

It is located at the juncture of Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. It will serve as a foot bridge connecting the third region after completed.

The project will also provide a platform for exchanges between residents and businesses in the demonstration zone. It features four exhibition halls to show and sell specialty goods, as well as tangible and intangible cultural heritage items from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui.

Construction is expected to be completed in the middle of next year, according to Liu.