Newman Huo

    TEN tourist attractions in Shenzhen have been listed as green scenic spots by the city government in its effort to promote a recyclable economy.

    The 10 green scenic spots include OCT East, Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, Evergreen Resort, Waterlands Resort, Window of the World, Happy Valley, Safari Park, Xiaomeisha and Sea World, Jinshawan Beach Resort and CITIC Minsk World, tourism officials said at a press conference yesterday.

    They were chosen from 14 entries chosen for appraisal by the city’s judging panel for green scenic spots, based on about 150 indexes in eight categories, such as green design, green construction and production, green consumption, protection of the environment, and reasonable use of energy and natural resources.

    “The selection of green scenic spots is an important measure that the Shenzhen Municipal Government has taken to advance the recyclable economy in the city’s tourism industry and build Shenzhen into an ecological city,” Vice Mayor Zhuo Qinrui said at the press conference.

    Green scenic spots are a new management concept, which demands scenic spots in Shenzhen include the development pattern of a recyclable economy into their management and construction to minimize the use of energy and natural resources and offer tourists high-quality products and service that meets the standards of environmental protection.

    In 2006, the city took the lead in determining the standards for green scenic spots.

    According to tourism officials, there are now about 50 scenic spots and more than 100 municipal parks in Shenzhen. The city government plans to include all municipal parks into the annual appraisal for green scenic spots next year.

    The city government announced a total of 105 green hotels in two batches in September 2006 and December 2007.