New lease of life for old town

By Zhang Jun  |   2008-6-18  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE centerpiece of an ancient local town is to be renovated by conservation experts to become a tourist attraction, city officials said yesterday.

The Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau published a blueprint for the new center of Pujiang Town on its Website for public reaction.

"The town will become a brand new residential area and tourist attraction with the typical canal town landscaping of southern China," the bureau said. An area of 6.7 hectares in Pujiang Town in Minhang District on the east bank of the Huangpu River has been designated.

The area is bounded by Shendu Road in the north, Baonan Road in the south, Zhenxi Road in the west and the Shanghai Hualing Valve Factory in the east.

Most of the old houses and canals will be kept while some later buildings will be demolished.

Many of the ancient constructions, streets and canals date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty(1644-1911).