Park and stroll for fun at Happy Valley

By Jane Chen  |   2009-4-6  |     ONLINE EDITION

AN underground parking lot being built in the suburban Songjiang District means people will have just a short walk to the city's biggest amusement park "Happy Valley" once they get out of their cars.

The parking lot is just 150 meters from the park, which is almost as big as 10 Jinjiang Amusement Parks, today's Xinmin Evening News reported.

With a government investment of 127 million yuan (US$18.58 million), it is part of the Songjiang Tourism Administrative Bureau's efforts to develop the Sheshan National Scenic Area.

About 45 percent of the underground parking lot has been completed and it will be in use before the amusement park opens later this year, the report said, citing government officials close to the project.

The 40,000-square-meter underground lot, can accommodate 1,117 cars and is designed to withstand a Richter scale-seven earthquake.

More than 600 laborers are working on the parking lot, officials told the newspaper.

After the underground section is completed, construction will start on the remainder of the complex.

Extending 107,137.2 square meters, the above-ground section will handle 222 coaches, 1,275 cars, six tourist buses and 428 motorcycles.

Service facilities will be set up nearby.