WHILE best-known as the home of China’s biggest, most powerful iron-steel enterprise, Baoshan District in north Shanghai has much more to offer, including a historic temple, parks and art galleries. The district also is aiming to transform itself into a cruise tourism powerhouse, and with a huge new cruise-ship terminal it is steaming ahead. Two enormous international cruise liners, Sapphire Princess and Mariner of the Seas, made a huge splash as they berthed at Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal at the same time.

The dockings in July were a warm-up to the 2014 Shanghai Cruise Travel Festival that began Tuesday. The festival has myriad “marine-themed” activities including a photography contest, a business forum on the cruise economy, themed games at the Estuary Science and Technology Museum and more.

Developed by Baoshan District and Shanghai Yangtze Shipping Corp, the Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal cost 870 million yuan (US$139.5 million) and it’s set to rival Singapore and Hong Kong as the best in Asia. The depot is shaped like a giant silver shell representing the “eyes of the Yangtze River.” The terminal has two main parts- a 1,700-meter-long wharf and passenger terminal.

Compared with the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal in downtown Shanghai, the Wusongkou terminal features the advantage of deeper water and a location closer to the ocean, which saves time on an international trip.

Only cruise liners weighing less than 70,000 tons can berth at Shanghai Port due to height restrictions to clear the Yangpu Bridge. Wusongkou terminal has no such restriction and it can berth two 200,000-ton super-sized cruise ships at one time.

The district government has recently announced an expansion plan to start at the end of this year. The port will be able to berth four big cruise vessels at a time when the expansion is finished, possibly by 2016.

“Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal is the largest in Asia and it is estimated to receive 217 vessels ships and 1.1 million travelers by the end of this year,” says the district official.

According to Chen Xiqi, president of Shanghai Wusingkou International Cruise Terminal Development Co Ltd, the terminal is set to become the heart of the Asia-Pacific region’s cruise industry.

Not only is the terminal boosting the economy through cruises themselves, but it also brings opportunities to other businesses in the area. Baoshan plans to build recreational facilities, luxurious hotels, shopping malls and a marina in the area.

With business quarters built adjacent to the terminal, “Wusongkou will eventually be like a ‘mini city’,” says Wang Hong, director of Baoshan District.

Wang says the Wusongkou terminal is a key project for Shanghai. “It will contribute to Shanghai becoming an international shipping center. The terminal will foster better development in the cruise travel market while it is also a great opportunity for Baoshan to transform its economy and rely less on heavy industry.”

The terminal is the home port of seven international cruise liners so far, including those from Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

An around-the-world cruise lasting 83 days is a coming highlight. Tourists will find themselves living la dolce vita on the cruise liner Costa Atlantica. Each of the 11 decks is named after a Fellini film.

Entering the ship, tourists will see an immense, sumptuous entrance hall decorated with Carrera marble, Italian glass and mosaics. The big boat features 1,057 cabins, 12 bars, three restaurants, four swimming pools, four Jacuzzis, a multipurpose sports pitch, outdoor jogging track and other attractions.

Fellini films will be screened during the cruise. Scenes from Puccini’s opera “Madame Butterfly” will be staged. There’s also a replica of the historic Cafe Florian in Venice where passengers can sip espresso.

On board, passengers can shop for Italian designer brands and other items at tax-free boutiques and enjoy Italian cuisine. Chinese and other international cuisine also will be served.

Gianni Onorato, director-general of the Costa Cruise group, told media in Italy that Asia is the company’s fastest-growing market, pushed by newly wealthy Chinese.

“It’s true that the Chinese don’t love the sun; tanning for them is still synonymous with manual labor out in the open, but they really love the sea and they’re true romantics,” says Onorato.

Wusongkou does not accommodate Chinese cruise vessels after a trial run failed to bring economic benefits. But as foreign visitors are now able to enjoy a 72-hour, visa-free transit in Shanghai, the terminal may reopen a cruise line along the Yangtze River to give visitors an extraordinary view of the Chinese landscape.