The Urumqi State High-tech Industrial Zone in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has seen rapid progress in the construction of a new area in the northern part of Urumqi.

A mother teaches her child how to feed pigeons in the Urumqi State High-tech Industrial Zone in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The new area will occupy a ground space of 127 square kilometers and accommodate a population of one million.

Work began in May 2013 with the construction of seven roads covering 40.3 kilometers and three overpasses, which were completed in less than a year. Trees and plants were planted along the road sides, increasing the green area to 1.4 million square meters.

An overpass in the new area of Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

To speed up the construction of the new area, the zone signed an agreement with China State Construction Engineering Corporation in 2013. They invested 10 billion yuan in the development of real estate there.

As part of the plan, the zone will build a 22-square-kilometer industrial park in the new area.

The new area in the northern part of Urumqi city, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is currently under construction. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

By Yang Fan and edited by Jacob Hooson