Zhongshan mayor Xiao Zhanxin on April 12 visited East District to inspect the construction of the Zhongshan Overseas Chinese Park.

The park is located at the site of the former Zhongshan Elderly Home on Taoyuan Road, East District, and it covers an area of about 46,000 square meters. In 1984, overseas Chinese as well as natives associations and social organizations in Hong Kong and Macao donated HK$3.26 million and HK$1.67 million respectively for its initial construction. Later in May 1985, the Zhongshan Elderly Home started construction. Due to the serious aging of its facilities, the Zhongshan Elderly Home closed in 2011.

At the former site of the Zhongshan Elderly Home, Xiao Zhanxin inspected the current situation of the remaining buildings, the artificial lake and the footpaths around the lake. He listened to the report on the protection of these historical buildings and the design of the Zhongshan Overseas Chinese Park, and studied and made arrangements on the construction of the park.

The Zhongshan mayor stressed the importance of protecting the historical and cultural resources related to overseas Chinese. Greater efforts should be put in the planning and construction of the park to better meet the needs of the people for a better life.