The Liuheng town in Putuo district of Zhoushan, which is set to build itself into a "Sponge City" [Photo/VCG]

Liuheng town in Putuo district of Zhoushan has recently reconstructed one of its avenues as part of its efforts to build itself into a "Sponge City", local media reported. 

A "Sponge City" is designed by the central government to act like a sponge that can collect, cleanse and store storm water for future reuse when needed. 

The Sponge City initiative was launched in 2015 with 16 "model sponge cities", with the number later extended to 30. 

To answer the government's call, Liuheng town reconstructed its 4-kilometer Longshan Landscape Avenue to have it built with a special permeable material that can absorb 31 to 53 litres of rain water per hour for every meter of the avenue. 

In addition, there are gutters between the road and the vegetated median strip to collect the rain water and infiltrate it into the nearby farm lands, so to fully realize the recycling of water resources. 

The town plans to expand its greenery and grow more waterlogging-resistance plants early next year, and to invest around $288,000 in the reinforcement project of the nearby mountains to improve the ecological environment of the town.