MINHANG isn't letting the lingering winter weather chill its efforts to improve the district's environment. It is continuing work to turn local eyesores into pleasant green space.

The next plot of land designated for rehabilitation is at the northern corner of Fanghe Road — a patch of land covering about 14 hectares that is designated to become a greenbelt with some farming amenities.

"Rice paddies will probably be planted in part of the area," said Zhou Jianxin, an official with Wujing.

Located in Wujing's Gonghe Village, the site was originally filled with illegally constructed buildings housing unlawful businesses. Peddlers' carts littered the roadways.

The land was cleared of illegal buildings last September. Work is now underway to remove weeds and refuse from the site. Rich soil sits underneath all the cracked concrete.

Drainage pipes will be laid and a road built. The project is set to be completed this year.

The town plans to rehabilitate a total of 37 hectares of land, according to Zhou. Large sites will be broken up into smaller, more manageable plots. Once land is restored, Wujing has implemented plans to see that it doesn't deteriorate again.

Town residents are pleased with the rehabilitation work.

"It used to be impossible to drive down Fanghe Road without hitting a peddler's cart," said a local taxi driver. "Now it's becoming a regular two-lane road. The carts have disappeared."

Indeed, as illegal businesses were shuttered, the carts that used to convey their goods have moved on.

Wujing town officials said the decrease in illegal activities has meant fewer complaints to the government hotline and a drop in road accidents.

The campaign has been a long one, in close consultation with urban planners, companies and local residents.

Last year, 300,000 square meters of land was cleared, and the remainder will be completed this year.

Ultimately, Wujing will completely transform itself, setting a solid base for sustainable development of the area in the future.