Fengxian District will likely open a 3-square-kilometer manmade bay by June 15, the district's officials said yesterday.

Officials are promising a blue sea and a golden beach.

Visitors will likely need to pay a 50 yuan (US$6.23) admission charge.

If it is a success, officials plan to expand Fengxian Bay to 30 square kilometers.

Located in the southwest of Shanghai, Fengxian boasts a 31.6-kilometer coastline - the longest of any district in the city.

The bay faces the East China Sea and Hangzhou Bay.

Fengxian Bay Tourism Committee, which is responsible for the project, said the district has abundant tourism resources and is a good place for residents to spend a holiday.

One attraction of the artificial bay is the millions of tons of gold sand, which will be transported from Hainan Island.

The sand won't wash away in the waves and the color won't fade, officials said.

An elaborate system has been set up to keep the bay's water clean.

Two reservoirs will be built beside the bay. Each will filter the sea water before it is pumped into Fengxian Bay. The water will be circulated once a week.

The district's officials got the idea to build an artificial bay and beach three years ago. Construction work began last October.

After the expansion is finished, people will also be able to sail yachts in the bay. But due to the huge investment needed, officials said the expansion won't start for several years.

(Source: www.shanghai.gov.cn )