The Phoenix Town of Zhangjiagang city, Jiangsu province has officially launched the construction of the Zhongxin Zhishan urbanization project as well as another 18 major projects with a total investment of 8.5 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) on April 16.

Zhangjiagang officials participate in the inauguration ceremony of Zhongxin Zhishan urbanization project on April 16. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

The Zhongxin project covers about 1.5 square kilometers with the theme "Taoyuan Fairyland" (Taoyuan, the land of peach blossoms). Featuring rural communities, green spaces, parks, resort hotels and farm shops, the project aims to build an natural and harmonious ecological leisure tourism resort.

Phoenix Town serves as the south gate and the pilot urbanization area of the city, said Zhu Lifan, mayor of Zhangjiagang, at the project's inauguration ceremony. The Zhongxin is aimed at creating an environment for people to get close to nature and enjoy the outdoors while at the same time enjoying the convenient service and complete infrastructure of urban life.

An artist's impression of the Zhongxin ecological leisure tourism resort. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

The mayor pledged his support for the new projects, which will promote the industrial upgrading of Phoenix Town and provide a much-needed push towards its hopes of qualifying for the UNESCO world heritage list.