The Guangfulin Relic Park, which demonstrates Shanghai's ancient life and famous Guangfulin culture in Songjiang district, will be partially open to the public in early 2017.
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| The Guangfulin Relic Park offers a spectacular view. Photo provided to China Daily |
Visitors will be able to visit Zhiye Temple and enjoy park views in early 2017, according to Songjiang New City, the developer of the park.
The rest of the park remains under development and will be finished at the end of 2017. Construction of the park started in 2009.
The park, located in the Shanghai Sheshan National Tourist Resort, will allow people to explore the origins of Shanghai culture, discover its natural beauty and enjoy the environment.
The investment will total about 6 billion yuan ($869.75 million).
The park will display relics of Guangfulin culture, which is different from other Neolithic cultures such as the Songze and Liangzhu cultures. Other examples of local historical heritage will also be demonstrated in the park.
"The park is not just a sightseeing place, like what we have in other parts of the city. It is a place for people to explore Shanghai's long development history," said Chen Chao, deputy general manager of Songjiang New City.
There will be about 20 demonstration pavilions in the park to tell visitors stories about the ancient Shanghai people.
The Archaeology Site Museum, which is partially underwater, covers more than 9,000 square meters and will be a special highlight. It will display people's life during the Guangfulin period.
"The part above water symbolizes what we have discovered about the region. The part under the water's surface symbolizes those things that have not been unearthed," Chen said.
"We will use various technologies to give ordinary people some ideas about Guangfulin culture in the museum."
More supporting facilities will be developed in the coming years so that visitors can enjoy a more pleasant journey in the park.
There will be more hotels and dining facilities, with a Hilton-branded hotel due to open within the next two years. China's largest underwater car park by total area has also been opened to the public, which can serve 800 vehicles.
Ancient origin, new name
Guangfulin culture was first discovered in 1958, after some cultural relics from the Neolithic period were unearthed in Songjiang district, including a black pottery zun vessel, patterned with spotted deer and a battle-axe.
The Guangfulin Historical Site has been recognized as a heritage site under the protection of Shanghai since 1977. Local authorities have launched several excavations over the past few decades to understand the life of the original residents long ago.
More than 50 archaeologists from home and abroad came to a seminar in Songjiang in June 2006 to exchange opinions on relics unearthed at the site. It was this seminar that gave Guangfulin culture its name.
