To protect its coastal natural scenery, the Phoenix Island Development Zone in Qingdao is planning to invest 327 million yuan ($49.28 million) to build a coastal walk lane and scenery landscape, according to a press conference on January 9.

After the Kiaochow Bay Submarine Tunnel comes into operation in the first half of this year, the development zone will be connected to Qingdao. Strolling on the lane, all the city’s coastal scenery will be brought into one’s eyes.

The project runs 11.2 kilometers, from the Golden Beach scenic spot in the west to Ganshuiwan in the east, and covers an area of 81 hectares.

According to a person in charge of the Phoenix Island Holiday Resort, the project aims to return the sea to the people, so reefs and the beach would all be retained to highlight the coastal features.

He also said 238 aquaculture ponds and 731 structures of 410 households there would be removed before the tunnel begins operation.

Apart from the works being done on the East Island Road, the road on the west side of the island is also undergoing great changes. The development zone has put in 137 million yuan to create coastal scenery. A person in charge of the city planning told this reporter that the west is well-positioned to become a high-end leisure area. It would wind 3.9 kilometers from the south bank of Tangdaowan to the Shigou community and cover an area of 30 hectares. The whole project will finish construction in May 2011.