Between the first and the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, some 200,000 tourists took in the beauty of the 1060-kilometer greenways in Guangzhou. Having just been completed, the greenways now become an indispensable part of Guangzhou citizens' life.
The municipal government of Guangzhou plans to add another 500 kilometers of greenways to the city landscape this year. The new greenways will be mainly built in the city center and communities. By the end of 2011, a network of greenways is expected to basically take shape, covering Guangzhou's city center, districts and sub-districts.
Moreover, greenways will be integrated with the urban slow traffic system to add new trails. Apart from cycling trails, pedestrian trails will be constructed in ecological and country greenways. Fitness and jogging trails will be built in urban and community greenways. When this upgrading project is completed, citizens can reach bus stations via community greenways within fifteen minutes, wherever they live.
A representative from the Forestry Administration of Guangzhou indicated that public space and facilities in major parks, squares and waterfronts would be connected by greenways to become an integral whole. In addition, forest parks, cultural sites, old neighborhoods and urban functional areas in all districts of Guangzhou will be integrated with the urban slow traffic system and greenways.
The representative also said that with the newly added greenways integrated with the urban slow traffic system, problems plaguing the traffic system could be significantly reduced.
(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)
