FOUR major projects in the overall upgrade of the Marine World began in Shekou on Wednesday, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported Thursday.
The four projects included the construction of the China Merchants Group Square, Woods Apartments, a five-star hotels area and a cultural facility, according to the paper.
The Marine World Hotel, next to Nanhai Hotel in Shekou, would cost 800 million yuan (US$120.7 million) to build and cover 56,000 square meters.
Managed by Hilton Hotels, it would have 320 rooms and become the international chain s first seaside hotel in Shenzhen when completed in 2013, according to China Merchants Property Development (CMPD) Co., the developer.
The building of the Marine World Hotel is the first phase of the overall Marine World upgrading project, said He Jianya, vice general manager of CMPD.
According to He, China Merchants Group, a State-owned corporation based in Hong Kong and the major developer of the Shekou area, would spend an additional 60 billion yuan over the next five to eight years to upgrade facilities in Shekou. Three key areas to be upgraded would be the Marine World urban compound, the Taizi Bay terminals for passenger cruisers and the Shekou Network Valley.
Shekou is renowned for its pioneering role in China 30 years ago. The Minghua ship at Marine World Square became a popular tourist attraction in the 1980s after the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping visited the ship in 1984.
In the past 10 years, the area has developed into a commercial area featuring bars and restaurants with exotic flavors to cater for expats living in the city s most populous international community.
Besides the hotel project, construction and renovation of a commercial belt had also started around the Minghua ship. A total of 12,000 square meters would be designated as international food streets for exotic food and specialties.
(SD News)
