Reservoir forest park adds to life quality in Jinwan

A 40-million-yuan ($6 million) forest park is being created near Huanglvbei Reservoir in Jinwan District. Work is to continue next year on the leisure park and surrounding hillside greenway.

The site of Huanglvbei Reservoir Forest Park (Guanyin Mt Country Park) is the neighborhood of the Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai College of Jilin University and several Sanzao villages. Site selection took into consideration the needs and interests of thousands of nearby residents and students, said a government official. 

The park covers 120 hectares. A new leisure greenway by the Huanglvbei Reservoir allows all-around access to the lake. Initiated in 2016, the park project has been proceeding well so far, and greenery on south-facing mountains has been finished.

Huanglvbei Reservoir

Preliminary design of the 7-km greenway upgrades has been approved. Tree coverage along the Huanglvbei Reservoir will also be improved, according to a project head. 

In the second phase, there will be three hillside greenways totaling 10 km on Guanyin Mt. Conceptual design has been finalized. This will restore excavated hillsides on the mountain and rise behind Chunhua Garden.

Upon completion, the forest park will consist of a natural forest, lake views, theme activities, a temple, and other functional areas. It will provide leisure places for the young and the old plus sports venues. 

Scenery near the Huanglvbei Reservoir [Photos by Zhang Zhou / Zhuhai Daily]

A government official said the project is designed to handle global warming challenges by creating more forests as important carbon storehouses. Research shows that forests are "sinks" absorbing carbon dioxide and, through photosynthesis, converting it to biomass. Forest soils also store large amounts of carbon in their organic layer.