Forest panda park to build on conservation achievements

The city plans to increase vegetation coverage on the Longmen and Longquan mountains to build an ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

On March 28, construction started on a forest park on Longquan Mountain in the east of the city, which will cover an area of nearly 1,100 sq km, about two times the size of the city's downtown area.

The park will include three lakes — Sancha, Longquan and Cuiping lakes, and Longquan Mountain, and the first phase is due to be completed by 2020.

When finished, "the park will help to raise the mountain's forest coverage from 61 percent to 68 percent by 2020, and to 80 percent by 2035," said Li Jian, deputy head of the Chengdu Forestry and Gardening Bureau.

A plant zone, a wildlife zoo and other themed zones will be built in the forest park, as well as a sightseeing travel system that comprises environmentally friendly traffic facilities, such as a footpath and a viewing corridor along the mountain ridge.

The park will also develop recreational projects and build entertainment facilities to become a world-class urban ecotourism destination, Li said.