The foundation is laid for the construction of a 20-billion-yuan ($2.9 billion) Big Nianhua Bay in Yixing, a county-level city under Wuxi, on June 30. [Photo/IC]

The foundation was laid for the construction of a 20-billion-yuan ($2.9 billion) Big Nianhua Bay in Yixing, a county-level city under Wuxi, on June 30. The bay will serve as a demonstration of how to properly manage a water environment and is expected to increase tourism in the area.

The project is designed to echo Nianhua Bay, a modern Buddhist resort that is among the most popular tourist attractions in Wuxi. The two sites will stare at each other affectionately from across Taihu Lake, located just 3.6 kilometers apart.

Wu Guoping, chairman of Wuxi Lingshan Cultural Tourism Group, envisioned a "paradise" featuring green fields, a tranquil bay bustling with small fish, and egrets soaring through the clear, blue sky. Natural beauty will be the bay's main draw, according to Wu.

Creation of Big Nianhua Bay is significant – it will not only expand the Taihu Lake National Tourism Resort, but also strengthen the coordinated development of Binhu district, Wuxi and Yixing.

It is positioned as a pilot project for the integration of Wuxi and Yixing, demonstration project for the governance and transformation of Taihu Lake, and landmark project for the upgrade of Wuxi cultural tourism, according to the planning.

Wuxi Party Secretary Li Xiaomin (L2) learns about the plan. [Photo/IC]

Wuxi's exterior transportation network is developing rapidly. With the construction of the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou South Highway and the Yima (Yixing-Mashan) Fast Track, the major tourist attractions in Wuxi and Yixing that were previously separated by Taihu Lake will be integrated into one. When the road is complete, it will take just 15 minutes to get to Big Nianhua Bay from the Wuxi city center.

Local officials also expect the project to propel tourism development in the southern mountainous area and eastern part of Yixing, and make eco-tourism a viable pillar industry in Yixing.