This year marks the 30th anniversary of Shanghai's urban greenbelt, a beloved destination for recreation and ecological experiences encircling the city.
On May 20, Zhaqiao Park in Jiading district hosted the first Shanghai Urban Park Life Season under the theme "Coexistence and Sharing", inviting citizens to celebrate.
Visitors to Zhaqiao Park were greeted by a unique flash mob event titled Walking Chairs. Fifty artistic chairs, featuring images of the city's parks, were arranged around an ancient ginkgo tree, creating a dynamic ecological tableau.
A visitor participates in the Walking Chairs flash mob event. [Photo/WeChat ID: sh-jiading]
"I was immediately drawn to these chairs," said visitor Wang Meifang. Another visitor, Li Xiaofen, found inspiration in the designs and plans to explore more parks.
Nearby, the Zhaqiao Market featured traditional crafts like lacquer fan painting, making the occasion culturally richer. "It's like a bustling fair," said Wang Li, who enjoyed learning about plant care and took home a potted plant.
Tang Haibo, from Jiading's Landscape Management Office, highlighted the Jiading section of the greenbelt, spanning 4.2 kilometers and completed in 2020. The greenbelt, evolving since 1999, stretches 12 kilometers from Shenji Port to the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Jiading is developing three parks — Suide, Dieyu, and Shenji Port — enhancing the greenbelt's ecological fabric. Together with Zhaqiao Park, they form a "four-park synergy", transforming the area into a vibrant urban playground and a crucial ecological barrier.
Jiading's vision of park development along the greenbelt. [Photo/WeChat ID: sh-jiading]