Olympic showpiece to open

By Chen Qian and Li Xinran  |   2008-6-19  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

BEIJING plans to open Olympic Park next month with the first phase of construction almost completed, The Beijing News reported yesterday.

The park will have some of its scenic areas open to the public from July 1 to 5. The first group of tourists is expected to enjoy a free tour, said the newspaper.

An upper limit of 25,000 visits a day during a five-day trial run will help authorities check ticket vending, security and fire safety, said Tang Tong, vice director of the park's building administration.

In the north of the city, the 680-hectare forest park will open part of its southern area only for athletes, officials and group tours during the 2008 Games, Tang said.

The biggest man-made park in China's capital, the park has more than 180 types of plants and 530,000 trees. The water in the park, which includes a 26.7-hectare man-made lake, comes from two water recycling plants and is cleaned by animals, plants and microbes in the park's wetlands.

After the construction is completed, the park will help improve the neighboring environment and relieve the urban heat effect in Beijing by annually releasing 5,400 tons of oxygen and absorbing 7,200 tons of carbon dioxide.

Beijing's north fifth ring road will divide the park into two parts - north and south - which will be linked by a plant-filled bridge.

The south park includes natural mountains and waters, while the north boasts forests and creeks.

The park will launch its second stage of construction after the Games, building more tourist facilities including restaurants and shops, officials said.