Fuxing Island lies in Yangpu district, at the east shore of the Huangpu River and to the north of Pudong New Area.

By Zhu Jialei

Fuxing Island in Yangpu district is set to become an eco-tourism spot, local authorities announced at the Post-Expo and Yangpu Riverside Development Forum held Sunday.

Stretching for 15.5 kilometers, the Huangpu riverside in Yangpu district is the largest heavy industry area in Shanghai, with the 1.13-square-kilometer Fuxing Island lying off it.

"We are going to turn this area into an eco-conscious and tourist-friendly creative zone," Wang Xuhui, an officer from the district government, said. "Four of the world's leading architecture design consulting companies from the UK, US, Germany and China won bidding for the project last Sunday."

According to the master plan, the island is expected to be the first zero-carbon emission area in Shanghai.

The local government will gradually build up international convention centers, gymnastic centers, amusement parks and yacht clubs, while conserving the original wetland on the east side of the island.

"The blueprint handed in by the four companies will be revised and integrated later," Wang said, adding that the final version of the project will be announced early next year.

A detailed time schedule has yet to be decided on. 

Construction of a metro line 12 station on the island has already begun, with the line due for completion by the end of 2012.