An artificial island will be created in the coming four years in Tianjin, north China's port city near Beijing.
   
The project, now in full swing, will cost an estimated 6.9 billion yuan (US$831.33 million), according to local government sources.
   
Between 2005 and 2009, the project will create a 33.5-sq-km plot of land by piling up 258 million cubic meters of earth into the water at the Bohai Bay, the sources said. The construction of the island will be undertaken in two stages. In the first stage, from now up to 2007,a land plot of 13.5 sq km will be created, and in the second, from2007 to 2009, the remaining 20 square km will be formed, the sources added.
   
The artificial island will function as a cargo harbor and logistics service and processing center. Office buildings and housing units will also be built, and recreational and tourism equipment will also be put on the island. A special lot will be demarcated as wetland to accommodate sea birds, the local government sources said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2005)