Jinan, capital of Shandong province, will carry out 242 projects this year to jump-start a new wave of urban development.

A night view of the Jinan Olympic Sports Center, the main venue of the 11th National Games.

Many of these projects are related the 10th Chinese Art Festival, which is scheduled for October. They include infrastructure construction, environmental protection and programs to raise public living standards.

Combined investment in the projects is set to hit 445.5 billion yuan ($72.6 billion), and 80 billion yuan will be utilized this year.

"Jinan will set its sights on overall development to make itself the leader of a Jinan-centered city circle that connects seven cities," said Wang Min, the city's Party chief.

The goal of the development campaign is to eventually have 4.1 million people living within the 400-squarekilometer urban area of Jinan, increasing the city's urbanization rate to 70 percent.

Currently, the 120 sq km new zone in the western part of Jinan, 210 sq km zone in the east and the 120 sq km zone in the north are under construction. At present, a commercial complex that includes Wanda Plaza, Hang Lung Plaza and Harmony Plaza are in operation at the new zones.

Environmental protection efforts will proceed in step with development in the city. Indicators of water and air quality are expected to improve by 20 percent by 2015.

A total of 33,000 hectares of forested areas will be added by 2015 to help increase Jinan's urban green coverage rate to 40 percent.

The city plans to build wetland parks around the White Spring in the western part of Jinan and Huashan Lake as well as the Yellow River Park. When they are completed in 2015, these parks will form an ecosystem that combines wetlands, the lake and a river.

The wetland park in the western part, which covers 33.4 sq km, is now partly open to the public.

Environmentally friendly industries like financial and information services as well as advanced industries are the highlights of the city's economic initiative.

The city now has 10 economic parks for advanced industries, such as the national level Jinan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, the Jinan Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Jinan Comprehensive Free Trade Zone.

Covering 1.3 percent of Jinan's total area, these parks form the major engine of the city's economy, creating 55 percent of the city's gross domestic production last year.

By 2015, local enterprises are expected to achieve a competitive edge in the fields of advanced manufacturing, information services and logistics, with total annual revenue of these sectors reaching 600 billion yuan.

The Jinan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone has already formed four pillar industries-- information, biopharmaceuticals, automotive and electronics. It is already home to national-class centers for software outsourcing, integrated circuits, design and animation.

Jinan will also develop projects to promote the city's urban theme "City of Springs". These will showcase the city's scenic mountains, springs, lakes and rivers.

The renovation of the 600- year old Ming Mansion Area will be finished this year at a cost of 465 million yuan. When complete, the area will be a facility that combines exhibitions and sightseeing with dining and shopping.

In 2015, the city will complete a 336-million-yuan waterway connecting Xiaoqing River with Daming Lake, the most famous spot in Jinan. Tourists will be able to observe many of the city's top scenic spots from boats on the waterway.

The 6-billion-yuan Huashan Mountain Historical Park, covering a planned area 1,460 hectares, is under construction. It will be finished in 10 years.

The 2.47-billion-yuan Jinan Opera House will be finished in August and the 1.2-billionyuan Shandong Culture and Art Center will be put into use next month.

By Ju Chuanjiang and Zhao Ruixue