The Nanhui District government will invest 4 billion yuan (US$482 million) to restore the historic image of the 1,000-year-old Xinchang Town to improve tourism over the next three to five years.

The district plans to conserve most of the town's ancient bridges and houses as well as to treat its polluted waterways, with the eventual purpose of building it into a tourist attraction for visitors during the 2010 World Expo.

"Owing to its convenient location, Xinchang Town could become a new back garden for Shanghai," said Qian Youhua, a senior engineer with the Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau.

Xinchang Town is located between the city's downtown and rural areas - about a 30-minute drive from central Shanghai.

For centuries, the town has been known for its abundant and well-conserved historic sites, including ancient bridges, architecture, waterways and temples.

A typical symbol of the town is its extensively constructed old fishing village homes, which many fishermen and their families still live in.

"Xinchang Town is one of the city's few ancient towns that hasn't been affected by industrial development," said Gao Jun, a professor at Shanghai Teachers University.

He said cleaning up the town's rivers and creeks is a key part of the conservation project, as water symbolizes vitality.

There are around 35 ancient bridges in the town, most of which are still in use by local residents.

Township officials acknowledged they will adopt a strict conservation policy while developing the town into a tourist attraction.

Some of the old streets in the town will be lined with ancient-looking restaurants and shops selling antiques, calligraphy works, craftworks, specialities and other traditional Chinese artifacts.

The town will also set up a residential area, where people will imitate the lifestyle of their ancestors from hundreds of years ago, officials said.

(Source: www.shanghai.gov.cn )