Chengdu announced its intentions to complete a massive "greenbelt" recreational path network connecting the city with outlying suburbs and towns.

The first of the nine paths measures 158 km total and is meant to be a "jade belt encasing the brocade city."

The project, which will eventually encompass a total of 800 km of green paths connecting the city to outlying towns, is part of the city's bid to become a "modern, world-class garden city."

Monday was declared "Experience the Modern World-Class Garden City Lifestyle Day" for the city of Chengdu. Four Chengdu families and several governmental figures cycled 2.5 km along the first greenway, the building of which started last August.

A spokesperson for the project explained that the path will connect greater Chengdu's points of interests, including cultural, historical, natural, and ecological sites, to one another. By the project's end, a total of nine large recreational paths will have been constructed.

On a related note, construction on a 5 km green path stretch along the city center's Binjiang Lu will kick off during the upcoming May holiday. The path will extend for a total of 13 km and connect the Second Ring Road via the Qingshuihe Bridge with Dongzhigaopan Dong Lu to the east and Laonanmen Da Qiao, Jinjiang Qiao, Xinnanmen, and Jiuyan Qiao. This path is expected to be completed in June.

Path 1 ("Jade Belt") will pass Fenghuang Shan, Tianhui Shan, Mopan Shan, Shiling, Wuhouci, Dufu's Cottage, the Jinsha Site, Kuan Zhai Xiangzi, Wang's Tomb, People's Park, Wangjiang Park, the Panda Park, the Chengdu Zoo, Two Rivers Forest Park, and other sites of interest for a total of 8 to 11 hours of cycling time.

Path 2 (Baishuiguan Shan - 192 km) will originate at Pujiang Shou'an Town and will end in Dujiangyan. Points of interest include the panda habitat, Qingcheng Shan and Dujiangyan, Xiling Snow Mountain, Le Shan, and Huojing.

Path 3 (Sports Challenge - 149 km) will originate at Jintang Zhao Town and end at Shuangliu's Baisha Town. Points of interest will include Longquan Flower and Fruit Mountain, Yundingshi Cheng, Peach Blossom Ravine, Garden Ravine, Luodai, and Wufeng Zhen.

Path 4 (New Life Post-Disaster - 65 km) will originate in Pengzhou and end in Dujiangyan. Points of interest will include: Bailu Zhen, Xiaoyu River, Jinqiao Community, Tiansheng Qiao installation, Lingbao Seminary, Yunjuyuan White Pagoda, Fazang Temple, Zhengjiao Temple, Xiangcao Plantation, Cold-Water Fish Farm, and Tianpeng Peony Park.

Path 5 (Shuiyun Tianyuan - 184 km) will originate on the High-Speed Ring Road (Fourth Ring Road) and end in Dujiangyan. Points of interest include Dujiangyan, Shou'an Zhen, Baiguan Tomb, Yufu Tomb, Qingcheng Shan Kiwifruit Base, International Scenic Botanical Garden, Flora Land, and Yunhu Tianxiang.

Path 6 (Chama Guifeng - 88 km) will originate at Jiang'an River and end at Pujiang Shou'an Town. Points of interest will include Linqiong, Xinchang, Chayuan, Liu's Manor, Qiquan Village Farm, Yangma Wetlands Park, and Shuzhou Park.

Path 7 (Tianfu Jiang'an - 92 km) will originate in Wenjiang's Jinma Town and end in Pujiang's Shou'an Town. Poionts of interest will include Yongshang Town, Baodun Ruins, Longquan Temple Cliff Etchings, Yangma Wetlands Park, and Atlantis Paradise.

Path 8 (Jinxiu Dongshan - 87 km) will originate on the High-Speed Ring Road and end at Dalin Zhen. Points of interest will include Huanglongxi, Tianyuan Modern Agricultural Area, Er'jiang Temple Arched Bridge, Guangducheng Ruins, Polar Ocean World, and the Modern Pentathlon Competition Center.

Path 9 (Binghe New City - 102 km) will originate at Jintang's Zhao Town and end in Dujiangyan. Points of interest will include the Phoenix Lake, Muddy Branch, and Mulan Shan, Memorial Hall for General Peng, Baoguang Temple, Sichuan Embroidery Academy, Chen Ancestral Hall, Garden Modern Grape Agriculture Base, Yihu Park, Wetlands Park, and the Moonbear Conservation Base.

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