The move is an important part of Shanghai's century project to turn the Huangpu River, used mostly for industry, into a true "Mother River" which can offer Shanghai's people beautiful scenery and enjoyment.

Covering 24.5 hectares, the terminal, the investment in which has been roughly estimated at 200 million yuan (US$24.2 million), will run 700 meters along the coastline and have a channel 11 meters deep. The port will have corresponding land transportation, and commerce and entertainment facilities.

A 180-metre-high iron tower to lift up high-pressure wires will be a landmark, and visitors will be able to take elevators to a platform 120 meters above the ground to enjoy a view of the estuary.

"The terminal will serve as the water gateway to Shanghai and a transportation hub which is expected to drive development in the north of the city," said Lu Mingqi, chairman of Shanghai Wusongkou Development Co Ltd.

The port will service the regular routes that now run through Shiliupu Wharf, such as boats to Dalian of Northeast China's Liaoning Province, the Zhoushan Archipelago of neighbouring Zhejiang Province, Shanghai's three islands of Chongming, Changxing and Hengsha, and cities along the Yangtze River.

Debarked visitors to the city can be delivered to any part of Shanghai via buses or taxis or to neighbouring Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces via long-distance buses.

"To comply with the city's long-term plan, Shiliupu is sure to fade from glory into history and this is the trend of development," Lu said.

An ancient migrant population founded this city at Shiliupu, which used to be one of the busiest shipping stations in China.

Statistics indicate that the terminal handled more than 6.7 million passengers during its peak year of 1988. In sharp contrast, the passenger flow had shrunk to a little more than 1 million by last year with the phasing out of boats as a conventional means of transport.

"The city needs such a function and we are preparing to tap the tourist cruise market as the demand grows," said Ye Xing, an official with the Shanghai Port Authority.

There are more and more luxury tourism liners on international routes and officials hope that people who want a relaxing trip will choose to explore the Yangtze River. Wusongkou will be ready to open early next year when the government may order the services at Shiliupu to move, but no one is sure of the exact date.

(China Daily November 21, 2002)