Archipelago 'opens up' to tourism and marine future

By Han Tianyang (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-10 08:41

Although most of China adopted its hugely successful "opening up" policy almost 30 years ago, some isolated pockets of the country have remained relatively untouched by its reforms and developments. One such place was the Changshan Archipelago in Dalian's Changhai county, but now this largely unspoilt island group, set in northeastern China, has finally been approved for partial opening up.

The State Council officially approved the change to Changshan's status in April of this year, but what does this move actually entail for the 142 reef islands that constitute the archipelago? How will life change for the residents of the country's only island boundy county and Dalian's nearest point to both Japan and South Korea?

Above all, the local government is committed to maintaining the archipelago's status as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Due to its unique geological features, Changshan is blessed with many advantages in terms of its environment and national resources.

As a national island forest park, the Changshan Archipelago will be sensitively developed as an ideal resort for leisure, sports and recreation. With its fresh and moist environment and clear skies, the area has long been seen as a "natural oxygen bar".

Archipelago 'opens up' to tourism and marine future

The scenery throughout the Changshan Archipelago is, of course, breathtaking. Its sinuous coastline, endless sandy beaches and steep cliffs all combine to create an unforgettable landscape and one widely regarded the most beautiful spot in its home province of Liaoning.

As well as its singular scenery, the archipelago is also renowned as an excellent place for fishing. With direct access to more than 100,000 hectares of surface water and with some 30 million hectares of seabed available for oceanic agriculture, it retains huge potential to develop its marine-based economy.

The vast seascape surrounding Changshan is home to in excess of 400 different varieties of marine organism. Sea products farmed from its depths, including sea cucumbers, abalone, purple sea urchins and scallops, are widely in demand both at home and further afield.

During the past few decades, despite its exemption from the opening up policy, the islands have made steady progress in the development of their fishing and aquaculture industries. However, the area has remained too dependent on its natural resources, including its fish, and has been left vulnerable to vagaries and shifts in the market.

Following its State Council approval to now partially open up, local officials have been swift to seize the opportunity to readjust the industrial and economic balance of the islands. Diligent and detailed scientific research, carried out on behalf of the local government, has seen the adoption of a strategic initiative aimed at transforming the island cluster into an international tourist destination and a modern oceanic farming zone.

Blueprint

Work on a blueprint for the Changshan Archipelago tourism resort has already been finalized.

From the very early planning stages, local officials have sought to sensitively develop the archipelago's natural resources whilst, ultimately, seeking to establish it as an international island leisure resort. The far-reaching plan sees it emerging as a high-end tourism services center within 10-20 years, complete with a range of facilities for conferences, sports, sightseeing and entertainment.

The local government is also working on a scheme to boost the scale and capabilities of its local fishing industry. This will see its current traditionally-based and relatively inefficient fishing fleet transformed into a streamlined contemporary industry, engaged in both cultivation and marine conservation.

Their overall mandate has been to establish the Changshan Archipelago as a safe, efficient, resource-responsible, eco-friendly fishing zone, well-known for its production and processing facilities and one with considerable appeal for marine-minded tourists.

This proposed strategic adjustment has been welcomed by senior figures in both the provincial and municipal governments. The municipal party committee and the government of Dalian jointly approved Changhai County's proposal to establish the Changshan Archipelago Marine Ecological Economic Zone at the beginning of this year.

The provincial government also subsequently endorsed the scheme as forming an integral part of the overall plan for the development of the Liaoning coastal economic zone.

The Changshan Archipelago Marine Ecological Economic Zone will eventually extend to an area of 105 sq km, following on from a launch phase of just 39.5 sq km. Within its confines it will include five industrial parks - the Changhai (Pikou) Fish Processing Zone, the Big Changshan Island Economic Zone, the Small Changshan Island Economic Zone, the Guanglu Island Economic Zone and the Zhangzi Island Economic Zone. While the first is reserved for industrial projects, and the following three zones are focused on tourism, the last is keyed to the development of a contemporary fishing industry.

Work on the initial construction of the zone has now begun, whilst the planning for other aspects of the scheme - notably its tourism industry, the proposed urban-rural development initiatives and an enhanced transportation infrastructure between the islands and the mainland - is now well advanced.

The potential of the economic zones has successfully attracted investment interest from Hong Kong special administrative region and Singapore and has seen the signing of several cooperative undertakings.