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Binhu Wetland Forest Park officially became a national forest park on Dec 30, 2013. Hefei city therefore has become the only city in China with two national forest parks in its central area. Hefei now has four national forest parks: Zipeng Mountain National Forest Park, Yefu Mountain National Forest Park, Dashu Mountain National Forest Park and Binhu Wetland National Forest Park.
Binhu Wetland Forest Park sits in an area that had been reduced to a poor ecological environment since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). But in 2002, work began to transform the grain plots back to forests in Baohu district. In August 2012, construction for the forest park started. The park opened in October 2012.
At the second national forest park panel assessment of 2013, Binhu Wetland Forest Park received unanimous approval from the 21 experts, a first for a manmade forest park.
To date, the park has received 2.9 million people. A total of 250 million yuan (about $41.2 million) has already been invested, with 1 billion yuan ($1.64 billion) more in expected investment in the next 5 years.
A series of construction and transformation projects have been planned to turn the park into a more influential demonstration platform for ecological education. By May Day of 2014, visitors can expect to see a drive-in theater and a forest mini train in the park. More bus lines and parking spaces are being introduced, and a new Lijiang-style street will be built.
Edited by Michael Thai, Huang Pei
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