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Jiangxin Island

Jiangxin Island
江心洲
Island
Coordinates: 32°1′51.76″N 118°42′4.79″E / 32.0310444°N 118.7013306°E / 32.0310444; 118.7013306Coordinates: 32°1′51.76″N 118°42′4.79″E / 32.0310444°N 118.7013306°E / 32.0310444; 118.7013306
Country China
Province Jiangsu
Sub-provincial city Nanjing
District Jianye
Area
 • Total 15 km2 (6 sq mi)
Area code(s) 25

Jiangxin Island, or Jingxinzhou (Chinese: 江心洲; literally: "river-center islet"), is a spear-shaped island in the middle of the Yangtze, east of the Jianye District in Nanjing, China, 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) from the city's downtown district.

It is best known for the wide variety of grapes produced on the island and its annual Grape Festival. Because of the rich vegetation on the island, the air quality is better than most other places in the city and it is a national scenic area. Beginning in 2009, an economic development project began to create an eco-urban city that has a low carbon impact, renewable energy use, and creates a sustainable residential and commercial community. The three-phase project is targeted for completion in 2020.

The island is known for its grapes; it has about 130 varieties which range from small creamy green to ping-pong sized purple grapes. During July and August the Nanjing government hosts an annual Grape Festival (江心洲葡萄节). About 50,000 people visit the festival each year. To support tourism, restaurants, farmhouses, and hotels have been built so that visitors can pick grapes, eat rural food, and access quality services.

On the southern tip of the island is a forest park. The island is also known for its Folk and Culture Village. It has market gardens, canals, ponds, and redwood avenues. Due to its scenic areas, it is designated a National Grade AA scenic area and one of the city's four "".

The island is also undergoing urbanization to be completed in three stages by 2020. The City of Nanjing, Jiangsu Provincial Government, and the Sino Singapore Eco High Tech Island Development Company have partnered to urbanize about 750 hectares, or one half, of the island. Its plan is to maintain much of the island's existing scenic environment while creating multi-story and high-rise residential housing for up to 200,000 people on 182 acres of land along canals, a new metro station, and additional recreational and commercial enterprises. The "garden city" plan includes low carbon strategies, such as water reclamation, green energy and sustainable development. The RMB 100 billion development enterprise has partnered with Bayer Material Science to design low and zero energy buildings. The buildings will operate on renewable sources, like hydrogen and solar energy. Other sources of energy are photovoltaic power and wind power, with energy managed via smart grid. Buses will run on electricity. Modern agricultural and service industries, Information technology (IT) firms and eco-environmental service organizations are targeted to expand the island's economy. There will be no manufacturing businesses or factories. The southern section of the island has a forest park, adjacent to the Youth Forest Park on the mainland. Before the project is completed additional recreational facilities will be expanded to include an aquarium, a wedding themed square, and entertainment features like a roller coaster and a water activity feature.


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