Chongming Island, Shanghai’s ‘last virgin territory’, woos foreign investors as it looks to sports, health care to boost eco-friendly economy

The district dubbed ‘Long Island in the East’ is fine-tuning its business climate to draw capital from global investors, says its governor

It is looking to develop health care and sports like cycling and hiking that are likely to attract tourists as part of its aim of becoming a world-class ‘eco-city’

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Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, Chongming is also known as the “last virgin territory” in Shanghai. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Published: 11:58am, 3 Jun 2021Updated: 10:34pm, 3 Jun 2021

Chongming district in Shanghai, dubbed the “Long Island in the East”, has set its sights on sports and health care to buoy its economic growth and help it achieve its goal of becoming a world-class ecological territory.

Miao Jing, governor of Chongming, an island which at 1,400 square kilometres covers more than a fifth of Shanghai’s total area, told a government conference on Wednesday that the district is fine-tuning its business climate to draw capital from global investors, with priority given to environmentally friendly industries.

“In tandem with new consumption patterns, we are looking to nurture the growth of sports, health care and other modern service industries,” he said. “We are trying to create a brand new path to prosperity based on our beautiful ecological environment.”

He did not specify which sports, though cycling, boat racing and hiking have been mooted in the past as they are likely to lure athletes and tourists.

The governor was speaking to foreign diplomats, representatives from overseas companies and journalists who attended the conference. It was a rare pitch by a Chongming official to attract foreign funds because of the island’s role as an agricultural base for Shanghai.

Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, Chongming is also known as the “last virgin territory” in Shanghai, the mainland’s commercial and financial capital.

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