In recent years, Zibo city – located in East China's Shandong province – has conducted a renovation project for its rivers, to transform the water landscape in the central urban areas into a relaxing and inspiring leisure ecological corridor for residents.
The renovation of the Laozi River, originating from the northern foot of Dabei Mountain, Changling Mountain and other hills in Zichuan District, is a prime example.
The improvements to the waterway have incorporated its north and south sections.
The north section of the river has a total length of 9.8 kilometers and work on it involves an investment of about 630 million yuan ($88 million). The south section totals 4.24 km and 421 million yuan is being spent. Both sections are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The new look of Zhangdian Children's Park is a by-product of the renovation of the Laozi River and it's become a great place for locals to take a walk since its opening.
The Zhangdian Children's Park takes on a new look. [Photo/WeChat account: zibofabu2014]
Eventually, there will be a total of 12 such parks along the Laozi River, promoting Zibo as a parks city, said Bian Xiao, technical director of the renovation project.
The Laozi River used to be a drainage ditch due to its narrow river channel, low flood discharge standards and many blockage points.
To renovate it into a landscape river, the construction team dug a five-meter-deep trench below the surface and buried a sewage pipeline, to make sure the sewage discharged into the sewage treatment plant through the pipeline.
Newly established river green belts will be evergreen all year round, with flowers blooming there all the time, said project leader Chen Bin.
An artist's rendering of the Laozi River project. [Photo/WeChat account: zibofabu2014]
