You can't understand a city without using its public transportation system. —Erol Ozan

Art Park boosts city shopping mania

A heavyweight landmark of the Hongqiao Central Business District, Art Park opened on the last day of 2021, which added great color to the construction of Shanghai into an international consumption center.

The new commercial complex has attracted more than 250 brands and was selected as one of the 15 new landmarks of consumption in the city. 

As the Metro superstructure project of Songhong Road Station with an average daily passenger flow of over 100,000, it takes about 10 minutes to reach Hongqiao International Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station, and only 20 minutes to take the Metro from Jing’an Temple in the city center. 

Good traffic accessibility makes it one of the most potential business high grounds in the east area of the Hongqiao Business District.

The underground square will also give full play to the advantages of “morning economy” and “night economy,” extend the business hours, from self-supporting trade fairs, business dinners, social dinners to relaxing drinks at night, bring full-time life convenience to the consumer group, and provide strong commercial support for the people’s livelihood circle in 15 minutes.

In Art Park, there is also a market with an area of more than 1,000 square meters, which is divided into three functional areas: fresh food stall, novel market and light meal area. It is a diversified space integrating vegetable market, restaurant, supermarket and innovative community business.

There is also a digital public service area on the first floor of the Art Park, including “all-in-one” self-service terminal, residence permit self-service machine and other devices, involving medical insurance, human resources and social security, archives, housing construction and other lines, or nearly 100 items, and providing many convenient services for citizens, such as business handling, license printing, data query and so on.

Better city better life

Changning’s goal in the next five years is to fully complete the 14th Five-Year Plan of the district, strive to build a more competitive and open city, a more creative and intelligent city, a more attractive and livable city and a more cohesive people’s city, accelerate the construction of an international community of excellence with global influence, and vigorously promote the socialist modernization of the district for Changningers to enjoy a better life, according to the 11th Party Congress of Changning .

It stressed at the Party congress that opening up has always been a significant feature and unique advantage of Changning. This advantage is reflected in the high degree of internationalization of Changning and the prominent effect of factor agglomeration and talent agglomeration of opening to the outside world. 

At the same time, as the only downtown district of Shanghai within the 7,000 square kilometers of Greater Hongqiao, Changning has unique opening advantages.

Hence, Changning will build more platforms and integrates into the construction of the Greater Hongqiao and further undertakes the spillover effect of the China International Import Expo, holding more international exchange activities to attract the gathering of trade-oriented headquarters.

Meanwhile, “Digital gene” has profound accumulation in Changning. After 20 years of development, “Digital Changning” brand enjoys popularity and influence in the whole city and even the whole country. 

In recent years, Changning’s “all-in-one” platform has continuously innovated in the fields of intelligent transportation, intelligent elderly care, intelligent environmental protection and so on.

Standing at a new starting point, with the rapid development of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial reform, in Shanghai’s important strategies such as unswervingly taking the road of emancipating the mind, deepening reform and vigorously promoting urban digital transformation, Changning should be benevolent and dare to take the lead, continue to consolidate and expand its advantages, further stimulate creativity, unleash imagination and enhance its power of change for smarter economic and social development.

The goal of building a more attractive and livable city makes all Changningers look forward to a brighter future.

In the future, Changning will further cultivate its livability, continue to strengthen the construction of its soft power, constantly improve the modernization of urban governance, promote the construction of “15-minute community life circle,” and create a warmer living environment, and let comfortable life, convenient service and quality experience be accessible everywhere in the district.

Great places doorway away

Five places in Changning, including Wuyi Road, Colombia Circle and Gubei Civic Center have been included in the 100 “great places at doorway” in Shanghai, according to the Shanghai Administration of Culture and Tourism.

The 100 “great places at doorway” include communities, blocks, new commercial circles, innovation parks, plants, ecological and green spaces, and cultural venues.

Apart from the three above-mentioned places in Changning, two habitat gardens at Jianhe Road and Xiehe Road respectively are on the list also.

The list is based on the online voting result of 530,000 residents and tourists and experts’ evaluations.

The majority of these recommended places are the results of urban renewal projects with involvement and innovation from various sides, such as the public, designers, universities and companies, according to the administration.

Instead of demolishing and rebuilding, micro-revamping aims to revitalize the old communities with subtle renovations and innovative ideas.

Travel agencies in the city have launched five tourist routes stringing together some of these recommended places.

Street lights add warmth in winter

The naive “giant panda” and the clever “sika deer”... There are large 3-piece LED lighted holiday panda and deer families near the intersection of Hongqiao Road and Hongmei Road. Their lovely images give people surprise and warmth in winter.

They are just part of the whole night view improvement project of Hongqiao Road. 

All the way west along Hongqiao Road, the scenery spots near the Outer Ring Road also spread new vitality in the night scene improvement project.

The fallen tree trunks and branches are covered with dynamic lights, and the flashing lights and shadows are like fallen leaves from the branches one by one, adding a touch of color and interest and giving passers-by the illusion of returning to the fallen leaves season in late autumn.

This time, the landscape lighting improvement project of Hongqiao Road has made great efforts in details. This meticulous management undoubtedly adds more warmth, comfort and poetic and also creates many warm little surprises for the people.

Shanghai longing for global professionals more than ever

Professionals in electronic information, automobiles, high-end equipment, advanced materials, life and health and fashionable consumer goods will become the most sought after by local companies in 2022, according to a survey released on December 26.

The 2021 Shanghai Talent Shortage Index Report, jointly released by the city’s talent office and economy and information technology commission, analyzes supply and demand of local employers and top professionals, such as overseas returnees and those with doctor decrees.

The report was unveiled at the Talent Service Innovation Forum in Changning on December. It was part of a serial event of the Shanghai’s Global Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit.

The meet the demands of employers, a government-sponsored talent recruitment platform was released at the forum. The online platform developed by the talent office of Changning is now open free to companies and professionals.

Talent agents and communities will be developed on the platform to help match up companies and top professionals, said Zhang Yuan, director of the Changning human resources and social security bureau.

The government will release the latest talent policies on the platform. Recruitment information, salon, training, forum and services will also be available.

Editor：Li Xinran Shanghai Daily