Chongming County, the least developed but also the most pristine area of Shanghai, has much to look forward to as blueprints for the island's development have been approved by the municipal government recently.

"Chongming will become a garden island on the sea by 2020," said Sun Lei, the county director. "We will make full use of its good environment and vast land."

Plans for the island are ambitious. Developers envision a scenic, environmental friendly paradise that will attract throngs of visitors from around the globe.

The present wetlands, rivers and lakes and forests will all be well maintained, Sun said.

By 2020, nearly half the 1,200-square-kilometer island will be forestland, making for a forest coverage ratio greater than that of Singapore or Canada.

The massive project includes plans for the construction of a bridge and a tunnel connecting Chongming with Jiangsu Province. The cross-river project, with a price tag of 12.2 billion yuan (US$1.5 billion) and which will be completed in 2007, will make it easy for visitors from the mainland to enjoy a weekend getaway. Upon its completion, travel to the island by car will take just 45 minutes as opposed to the current two hours by ferry.

If all goes well, the island will be divided into five distinct parts.

The eastern sector, 180-square-kilometers in area, will be comprised of wetlands, a bird reserve zone and a natural garden to be developed by the state-owned Shanghai Industrial Investment (Holdings) Co Ltd and Chenjia Town.

As Chongming visitors will enter the island through the East Coast, efforts are being made to create a welcoming environment.

A vast park will be built featuring exotic birds and other wildlife. Millions of migratory birds fly to the East Coast to spend the winter months. In addition, a public golf course and an equestrian center will be developed.

The middle area, covering 500 square kilometers, will be almost entirely covered by trees.

In addition to the famous Dongping National Forest park, which will be expanded from the current 3.6 square kilometers to 10 square kilometers, three additional parks featuring farms and nursing homes will be built.

The northern sector, 170 square kilometers in area, will have theme parks and scientific research centers.

The southern sector, covering an area of 200 square kilometers, will be a major residential area comprised of eight towns.

Chongming New City is being designed to accommodate a population of 550,000, accounting for two-thirds of the island's total population.

The 150-square-kilometer western area will include the island's largest lake, perhaps the most beautiful part of Chongming.

That area has been designated as an "Oriental Geneva," boasting a large conference center, headquarters for international corporations as well as exhibition centers.

"We welcome first-rate universities from around the world, software companies as well as international nongovernmental organizations to settle on the island," Sun said.

Impressive villas and recreational programs, such as sightseeing by yacht, will be offered for the relaxation of businessmen.