Shanghai to enhance roles of river and creek

Shanghai will continue to develop the banks of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek to create a world-class name card for the city, municipal government officials told a news conference on Tuesday.

The development plan, known as the river and creek project, has been included in the city's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). It focuses on the integrated development of the city's riverfronts, which offer green space for business, leisure and cultural preservation.

"The areas along the Huangpu River will demonstrate the core competitiveness of Shanghai as a highly developed modern international metropolis," said Wang Weiren, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal Government. "Areas along Suzhou Creek will demonstrate the megacity's lively neighborhoods with multiple functions."

The plan said the municipal government will add 20 kilometers of waterfront leisure paths and 400 hectares of green space along the Huangpu River, which opened 45 km of riverside paths to the public in 2018.

The 42 km path along both sides of Suzhou Creek in the downtown area will be fully opened, along with 80 hectares of greenery, it said.

As for historical heritage, Wang said the government will promote the preservation and renewal of 330,000 square meters of industrial relics, mostly deserted ports, factories and warehouses built from the 19th to the early 20th century.

"We will revitalize the industrial heritage to showcase the cultural elements of the city. Old architecture will be repaired and given new functions, creating new landmarks and scenic spots," Wang said, adding that around 7 sq km of commercial space will be created for business and office buildings.

To protect the environment, the plan said an antipollution campaign will be carried out along the banks, around 4 sq km of riverside land will be recovered from other uses, and ecological corridors will be built in the 35 km upstream of Suzhou Creek, and at the intersection of the Huangpu and Dazhi rivers.

Yao Kai, director of the river and creek project and the Shanghai Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Commission, said the riverfronts will become a new world-class name card for Shanghai.

"Eight new rest spots along the Huangpu River and 12 rest spots along Suzhou Creek will be built, providing various public services and making the riverside a living room for citizens," Yao said.

Around 50 rest spots are currently open along the Huangpu River, providing services such as toilets, shower rooms, small libraries and baby care facilities to the public.

Xu Jian, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau, said the Bund, on the west bank of the Huangpu River, its North Bund extension, and the Lujiazui area on the opposite bank will continue to be the city's core business area.

Along the southern part of the Huangpu River, the World Expo area, Qiantan and Xuhui Riverside will form a culture and museum zone to attract more high-end cultural facilities, Xu added.

On Suzhou Creek, the area around East China University of Political Science and Law will focus on the preservation of historical buildings to showcase the history of the creek over the past century, he said.