Tranquil parks soothe jangled nerves
March 31, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE wetlands are often called the city's "green lung" for the oxygenation they provide to the environment.
Although Minhang is not rich in wetlands, there are still many places where visitors can go to appreciate an aquatic environment.
According to the Minhang greenery authority, the district contains about eight square kilometers of wetlands, including Zizhu Binjiang Park, Minhang Sports Park and Hanxiang Water Expo Park.
Most of these wetlands have been artificially created, said Mao Qinying, an official from the authority.
Early spring and autumn are the most ideal seasons for visits to wetlands. In spring, the sprouting of new plants creates a picturesque scene in water reflection. In autumn, the colorful trees foliage bathes the environment in vibrant hues.
Mao said the district is currently working on a detailed development and management plan for wetlands.
"We hope wetlands will not only help improve air quality, but also provide a pleasant destination for local residents to relax," Mao said.
Here are some of the wetlands in Minhang that are charming to explore and inviting for a respite.
? Zizhu Binjiang Park
Nestled along the Huangpu River, the Zizhu Binjiang Park offers beautiful views and an ideal environment for relaxing in a wildlife setting.
The park is tucked away in the Zizhu Science Park, so even many local residents aren't aware of its existence.
The park straddles about two kilometers of the Huangpu River.
It is home to several species of birds, including the Chinese bulbul, egrets, white wagtails and long-tailed shrikes. The yellow weasel can also be found here if you look closely. Some have been caught and sent to wildlife protection centers by local residents.
There is a wood plank road built along the river.
Seniors fish, children fly kites and young couples meet here for picnics.
? Minhang Sports Park
The 840,000-square-meter park is dotted with a wide variety of sports facilities and greenery.
As the biggest urban green area in southwest Shanghai, the park boasts a central lake of over 75,000 square meters and a 6,040-square-meter wetland ecological garden. Greenery accounts for about 35 percent of the whole park area.
The Minhang Sports Park complex is linked by 18 bridges.
The park was opened to the public in January 2004, as part of efforts to improve the health and well-being of urban residents.
It is also the first sports-themed complex in Shanghai.
? Hanxiang Water Expo Park
It's said there's nothing more soothing than water, and that makes the Hanxiang Water Expo Park in Maqiao a restful place to take those jangled nerves on days off work. The park is more than just a water wonderland; it's a serene hideaway that's a work of art in itself.
The park, covering about 800,000 square meters along the Huangpu River, contains streams, trees, pavilions, rock formations and replicas of ancient dynasty buildings.
It was built as an ecological protection barrier around one of Shanghai's major sources of drinking water.
Visitors can sit in the riverside gardens, sipping tea and inhaling the fresh air of spring. They can stroll through a bamboo forest, rest their legs alongside an exquisite pavilion, do a little fishing and marvel at the richness of Chinese culture.
Bridges connect areas of the park. There are 56 bridges more than a century old, relocated here from their original sites.
Although Minhang is not rich in wetlands, there are still many places where visitors can go to appreciate an aquatic environment.
According to the Minhang greenery authority, the district contains about eight square kilometers of wetlands, including Zizhu Binjiang Park, Minhang Sports Park and Hanxiang Water Expo Park.
Most of these wetlands have been artificially created, said Mao Qinying, an official from the authority.
Early spring and autumn are the most ideal seasons for visits to wetlands. In spring, the sprouting of new plants creates a picturesque scene in water reflection. In autumn, the colorful trees foliage bathes the environment in vibrant hues.
Mao said the district is currently working on a detailed development and management plan for wetlands.
"We hope wetlands will not only help improve air quality, but also provide a pleasant destination for local residents to relax," Mao said.
Here are some of the wetlands in Minhang that are charming to explore and inviting for a respite.
? Zizhu Binjiang Park
Nestled along the Huangpu River, the Zizhu Binjiang Park offers beautiful views and an ideal environment for relaxing in a wildlife setting.
The park is tucked away in the Zizhu Science Park, so even many local residents aren't aware of its existence.
The park straddles about two kilometers of the Huangpu River.
It is home to several species of birds, including the Chinese bulbul, egrets, white wagtails and long-tailed shrikes. The yellow weasel can also be found here if you look closely. Some have been caught and sent to wildlife protection centers by local residents.
There is a wood plank road built along the river.
Seniors fish, children fly kites and young couples meet here for picnics.
? Minhang Sports Park
The 840,000-square-meter park is dotted with a wide variety of sports facilities and greenery.
As the biggest urban green area in southwest Shanghai, the park boasts a central lake of over 75,000 square meters and a 6,040-square-meter wetland ecological garden. Greenery accounts for about 35 percent of the whole park area.
The Minhang Sports Park complex is linked by 18 bridges.
The park was opened to the public in January 2004, as part of efforts to improve the health and well-being of urban residents.
It is also the first sports-themed complex in Shanghai.
? Hanxiang Water Expo Park
It's said there's nothing more soothing than water, and that makes the Hanxiang Water Expo Park in Maqiao a restful place to take those jangled nerves on days off work. The park is more than just a water wonderland; it's a serene hideaway that's a work of art in itself.
The park, covering about 800,000 square meters along the Huangpu River, contains streams, trees, pavilions, rock formations and replicas of ancient dynasty buildings.
It was built as an ecological protection barrier around one of Shanghai's major sources of drinking water.
Visitors can sit in the riverside gardens, sipping tea and inhaling the fresh air of spring. They can stroll through a bamboo forest, rest their legs alongside an exquisite pavilion, do a little fishing and marvel at the richness of Chinese culture.
Bridges connect areas of the park. There are 56 bridges more than a century old, relocated here from their original sites.
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