Beijing plans to turn urban jungle into a real jungle

• Source: Global Times
• [03:53 October 14 2009]
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By Yang Xiaoxin

Beijing plans to plant tens of thousands of trees in the coming year, building five forest parks as part of an ongoing effort to improve the urban ecological environment.

The five new parks include areas east of the Di'anmenwai Street, north of the Guang'anmenwai Street, southwest of Jingtai Bridge, south of Fushi Road in the Shijingshan district and Changxindian in the Fengtai district.

The so-called "urban forest park", with arbors and tall trees, hopes to be quite different from ordinary city parks. The major function of urban forest parks is to improve the city's eco system, with minimum trimming and upkeep. These parks need little gardening, and local species of vegetation will be used.

One of the planned parks by Di'anmenwai Street, covering 1.8 hectares of land, will be inside the Second Ring Road, among a sea of ancient hutong and near Houhai.

Planting will begin in the coming months, and the parks are expected to open to the public next year free of charge. After completion the forest parks, covering an area of 23 hectares and with 60,000 trees and over 100,000 shrubs and flowers, will be installed with outdoor fitness equipment and walking areas for nearby residents.