Biz Scene: Local

Coal plan

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will produce 1 billion tons of coal annually by 2020, accounting for at least 20 percent of the nation's total, according to a State plan.

The plan is based on Xinjiang's prospective coal resources of 2.19 trillion tons, or 40 percent of China's total.

Currently, Xinjiang produces 50 million tons of coal a year. The region will turn its coal production into chemicals and electricity and transport them to interior areas through transmission lines and pipelines as freight costs for coal are high in the region, according to the local government.

Amusement park

A major Disneyland-type amusement park covering 1.25 million square meters has opened on a trial basis in Wuhu, East China's Anhui Province.

Fanta Wild Adventure Theme Park is almost the same size as the Hong Kong Disneyland, but boasts more "hi-tech" facilities and water features, with a total of 720,000 square meters of water surface.

The park was built at a cost of 1.5 billion yuan and is designed to receive 3 million visitors annually. Its investors will spend more on supplementary facilities, a residential area and a commercial center around the park.

(China Daily 10/24/2007 page15)