An artist's impression of Jinjing bay civic square in Pingtan, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Jinjing bay civic square, positioned prominently in the heart of Pingtan, will begin construction this month and is expected to be completed by December 2017. Located in Jinjing bay district, the first place most visitors see upon arriving at the island city, the square will cover an area of 65,000 square meters and is estimated to cost an investment of 330 million yuan ($47.9 million).

Lin Shuchang, the head of the civic square project, believes the development will greatly benefit locals.

"People can relax and take a walk or do some exercise in the sport complex, which includes tennis courts, basketball courts, and an indoor swimming pool."

The square will be composed of three different areas; a demonstration area for hosting events, a leisure area, and a recreational area. In a smart touch, an underground parking area will be developed beneath the square as part of the construction.

The demonstration area will be comprised of an open lawn space, a central plaza, and several multifunctional buildings. With fountains and modern sculptures spread across the plaza, it intends to be an inviting space for locals and visitors to gather, relax, and enjoy leisure activities.

Upon completion, the leisure area will be used to host a diverse range of activities including commercial complexes, a central business district, hotels, gardens and a pleasant boulevard.

The recreation area is to be situated next to a lakeside park and will offer the general public the chance to play a range of sports free of charge.

While the December 2017 might seem a long way off for some Pingtan residents, with its wealth of leisure and recreation opportunities, Jinjing bay civic square will definitely prove itself worth the wait.