After three years of reconstruction, the distinct Frech features of Bailu?are beginning to take shape.

A European-style tourism street will open May 12 in Bailu town in the county-level city of Pengzhou in Sichuan province. French-style architecture will be part of the new, heavily landscaped area.

Following three years of construction, the Pengzhou municipal housing reconstruction office on April 14 announced the May 12 opening date.

A "brilliant Bailu”

"After three years of reconstruction, Bailu town with its distinct features is beginning to take shape. The opened districts mainly will include Xinglu Street, Qiaoren Street, French-style Street and a riverside landscape belt,” the head of the reconstruction office told China Daily.

"Presently, we are losing no time to complete the projects to ensure that you will see a brilliant Bailu on May 12,” the official said. “We plan to design some green areas at some sections to enhance the landscaped effect.”

The first round of invitations to invest in the new tourism area have been made, and some operations already have been established, including a restaurant, Internet café, bakery, wedding photo gallery and winery.

Opening day activities

A series of opening day activities are planned for May 12. “On opening day, the activities are mainly commemorative in nature. Then we will hold a series of related thematic events such as outdoor photo-taking,” the official said.

Two memorial parks with museums, including a science museum, also will be opened to the public.

Future development

Within the next five years, the township of Bailu will follow a series of development steps, including opening up the tourism streets in May. In 2012, other town improvements will be made. During the next three years, efforts will be made to develop and construct other scenic spots in the township that will correspond to the core scenic district. The town also will build supporting facilities and expand park construction.

Bailu town will use Bailu River Valley as the axis, and the town and the Shangshuyuan Church, as the two cores of construction The town will be divided into four industrial and economic districts according to industrial layout and administrative regions to build a skeleton with “one axis running through, two cores corresponding in the south and the north, and four supporting districts”, the official said.

The town will incorporate Chinese and French styles in line with 4A scenic resort standards. Shangshuyuan Church will welcome wedding celebrations, photo-taking and cultural events. “We’ll try to complete reconstruction of the damaged Shangshuyuan Church in 2012, accelerate land consolidation around the church, and complete construction projects for a nearby Wedding Celebration Theme Park, Ecotourism Flowers Garden and Alsace Castle,” the official said.

"In the following three years, the emphasis will be on the industrial chain of Western-style wedding celebrations, wedding photos, interactive and cultural experiences, high-end tourist industry construction,” the official said.