A photo taken on Dec 31, 2018, shows the Haohe River Scenic Spot covered with snow. [Photo/IC]

Construction work on a renovation project to upgrade the Haohe River Scenic Spot in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, will fully begin after the Chinese New Year holiday this year.

The local government will improve the landscape and facilities at the scenic area, making it a window to Nantong’s history and culture, and the location of choice for local residents' leisure activities, as well as a model of urban management.

The first stage of the renovations will focus on the landscape which covers an area of about 3.5 square kilometers. The work is expected to be completed in October.

The construction project is estimated to last for two years.

Located in the center of Nantong, Haohe River is one of the most well-preserved city moats in China. According to historical records, it was built around the old town in the fifth year of the Xiande Period in the later Zhou Dynasty (958). The river, known as “the Emerald Necklace of Nantong”, is a national 5A-level scenic area.