Crowd jostles for turf as gates open

More than 13,000 people poured into Shanghai's Luxun Park on Thursday morning after its gates reopened following the completion of a yearlong renovation program.

Most were members of more than 50 groups that exercised regularly in the park prior to its closure, and they were determined to reclaim the sections of turf they used before.

Many had started queuing at 4 am, an hour before the gates opened, in their eagerness to ensure that their chosen spots were not taken over by others.

Not everyone was lucky, however, and some less-established groups struggled to find a space in the rush for turf.

The 118-year-old site was previously known as Hongkou Park and was designed by the British. It is a major historical and cultural area and is also famous for being the country's first sports park.

For years many residents enjoyed taking part in various types of exercise there every morning.

There were few conflicts when it reopened because most of the groups had long-established claims to particular areas, so there was no need for them to jostle for space, said a man surnamed Jiang.

But new groups had to make more of an effort to stake out their territory.

A group of tai chi enthusiasts and a group of ballroom dancing amateurs began their race for a place in a small square in front of the park's east gate. Clothes and bags were initially used to create a boundary between them.

Men in their 60s sought serenity as they practiced tai chi while the other group danced to lively music only meters away.

Eventually the tai chi team gave up and left, allowing the dancers to take over the entire plot.

The tai chi group was established recently and has 30 members.

"If we fail to find a proper place we'll have to drift between different places," said a man from the group surnamed Liu.

More than 150 security staff and volunteers patrolled the park to ensure public safety, official Zhang Xinhua told The Paper, a news outlet in the city.

He said they would maintain order and prevent any conflict between rival groups.

Twenty staff members were stationed at each of the five gates when the park - which has been restored to its original British design - was formally opened at 5 am.

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn