The development area is located in southern Wujin District of Jiangsu City fringing the northern shore of Lake Taihu. Covering some 30 square kilometres the resort area forms the city¡¯s entire frontage on the lake. The study area can roughly be described as consisting of seven components or general ¡±zones¡± of very different nature, land use and environmental condition. These zones are defined by and/or separated from each other by the original landform, the Taihu Lake shore and the surrounding main roads.

Accessibilities

The site is at present bounded by roads along the three landward edges of its perimeter. Along the northern boundary runs the old Yixi Road. Although this road is a four lane highway it is of extremely limited capacity due to the

strip development along its length and the large number of turning movements made on and off the roadway. Access to the northern areas of the site is made a grade from this road. The main road through the north of the site passes through a series of existing villages and is constrained in width by them to 2 lanes. Heavy on-road parking and servicing greatly reduces the capacity of this access road.The western access road emanates from the old Yixi Road and is subject to the capacity constraints of that route. Capacity on this western road is further reduced by poor road condition and roadside industrial uses generating a high proportion of heavy goods traffic.

The eastern approach road issues from Marshan to the southeast of the study area. This is a 2-lane highway, recently constructed and little utilised at present.

Strategically the resort area is accessed from the Shanghai to Nanjing Expressway providing easy access to these major source markets. Access routes from the Expressway and urban area require to be upgraded and detailed recommendations for this have been identified.