Xiamen looks to develop new urban zones

Xiamen is nationally known for both its exquisite marine scenery and its prosperity. The city is now striving to expand its urban development achievements from its centerpiece, Xiamen Island, to many of its more outlying regions.

Xiamen consists of six districts. Two of them - Siming and Huli - are set on Xiamen Island itself, whilst Jimei, Haicang, Tong'an and Xiang'an form external regions. The area of the latter four districts totals around 1,445 sq km, accounting for about 90 percent of the region's total.

According to Bai Xiaohui, an official of the Xiamen Development and Reform Commission, there are significant gaps in terms of infrastructure, economy and social services between Xiamen's inner and outer districts.

In August this year, Yu Weiguo, the newly appointed Party chief of the Xiamen committee, said the focus of urban development would be transferred from Xiamen Island to the outer districts to establish a greater uniformity across all six.

He said: "Urban planning beyond the island proper should focus on the development of education and other social services.

The new outer urban areas will attract more people to settle there and solve the current overpopulation problem on the island."

Yu's sentiments were echoed by Zhao Yanqing, director of the Xiamen Urban planning Bureau: "Both construction and population levels are excessive on Xiamen Island. Through the development of external urban areas, we hope some island residents will relocate.

"In order to achieve this, these news urban areas must be developed to a high standard."

Many government departments and businesses will also be located outside the island, according to Deputy Mayor, Ding Guoyan.

In early November, urban planning proposals for Jimei and Xiang'an, the work of six of the world's leading design institutes, were printed in local newspapers and local citizens were invited to comment.

An undersea tunnel, connecting Xiamen Island with the Xiang'an district, has also now been completed. Following its official opening, the time it takes to travel between the two points will be reduced from 1.5 hours to just eight minutes.

At a cost of 3.2 billion yuan, the tunnel represents the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the city. In addition, Ding said, the provision of light rail transportation is also under consideration.

As the flow of traffic develops, connections between Xiamen Island and the outside districts will be enhanced. As a result, more money will flow to the outside districts and fund urban construction, according to Wang Shizhong, manager of a local real estate company. At this point, Wang believes, more people will choose to work on the island whilst living outside.

Commenting on the proposals, Lin Diqiu, a professor from Jimei University, said: "The development of transportation facilities helps to upgrade living conditions outside the island, which will motivate citizens to make their homes there."

(China Daily 11/16/2009 page6)