June is the time for being in the world in new ways. — Joan D. Chittister

IKEA parent group Ingka to unveil its most expensive property

The Livat Shanghai commercial complex is near completion and will be open to the public in the second half of the year.

The fifth Livat mall and the 10th “gathering experience center” under the brand in China, the Livat Shanghai is with its total space exceeding 430,000 square meters. 

Bounded by Fuquan Road, Jinzhong Road, Xiehe Road and Beidi Road, the future megamall at 788 Jinzhong Road will set up around 300 fashion, catering and entertainment shops from around the world and home the fourth IKEA outlet in the city. It will have more than 2,700 parking spaces.

Functioning as a commercial hub, the complex will connect the south and north parts of the Linkong Industrial Zone as well as the Lingkong SOHO to the west. 

Apart from being a shopping mall, it will also house a service apartment, a hotel and office space. At present, business promotion is underway.

As the largest single investment project for Ingka Centers throughout the world, Livat Shanghai is in the Hongqiao Linkong Economic Demonstration Zone and the core area of the Hongqiao International Open Hub. 

Relying on the strong and dynamic development opportunities and strategic location of Changning, the project has access to multiple trunk roads such as the Outer Ring Road, Beidi Elevated Road, and Beiheng Passage. 

With a total investment of 8 billion yuan (US$1.1 billion), it will connect with the Hongqiao Business District, radiating over 3 million residents and high-density education and office clusters in the surrounding area. 

Ideal destination for Japanese investors

Part of the global show of Invest Shanghai, Changning was introduced to Japanese investors in Tokyo on May 27 as an ideal destination to develop next generation business. 

Changning is where around 10,000 Japanese people live and nearly 6,500 foreign-funded enterprises gather. In Changning, there are a total of 86 regional headquarters of multinational conglomerates, of which nearly 40 percent are from Japan.

Changning is the only downtown district included in the Hongqiao International Open Hub. A one-way flight between Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Tokyo Haneda International Airport is less than 3 hours.

Changning has continuously improved its layout of key industries, with prominent advantages in characteristic industries such as aviation services. Emerging industries such as artificial intelligence have continued to grow, and new tracks and future industrial layouts such as green and low-carbon, intelligent terminals, and digital trade have continued to advance, accelerating the formation of new quality productivity.

New building to upgrade aviation service

The accessory building to provide aviation extension services for the Terminal 1 of the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport will be completed in the third quarter of 2024 and aims to be put into operation within the year.

Located in the eastern area of the Terminal 1, it extends to Airport Road 8th in the east, Yingbin Road 1st in the south, the energy center of the Terminal 1 in the west, and landside road of the terminal in the north.

It has nine floors above ground and two basement floors. The west side is connected to the ticket hall of the terminal building, and the basement is connected to the transportation center. 

After completion, it will comprehensively improve the aviation service quality of Hongqiao airport.

Time to appreciate hydrangeas

In early summer, the hydrangeas in Changning have reached their best viewing period. The originally green flower buds have now bloomed in different colors such as purple, blue, pink, and white. These soft and cute hydrangeas tightly embrace each other in clusters, full of vitality.

Former children’s parks for the next generation

In the 1980s, the Tianshan Children’s Transportation Park and Huashan Children’s Park in Changning were among the “four major children’s parks” in Shanghai. 

Last year, both parks underwent renovations and upgrades. Let’s reminisce about the beauty of childhood and take our children to explore the renovated park.

Hongqiao Park

The predecessor of the Hongqiao Park was the children’s transportation park in the happy childhood memories of a generation of Shanghai people. Located at 101 Zunyi Road, the park was originally a Tianshan Orchard. 

It was rebuilt into a Tianshan Children’s Transportation Park in 1984. It was completed in May 1987 and opened to the public on the “June 1” Children’s Day in the same year. 

The children’s transportation park integrates gardens, simulated buildings, and transportation facilities, allowing children to learn traffic rules while playing.

In 2005, the Children’s Transportation Park was renovated into a 24-hour open park - Hongqiao Park.

In 2022, Hongqiao Park began an overall renovation, and the renovated park is not only suitable for fitness and leisure for all age groups, but also adds many child-friendly elements.

After the renovation, the visual focus of the park is the “Source of Hongqiao” kiosk, which simulates the changes in light perception of sunset and the sky through programming design, making the “night park” full of charm. The central lawn below the kiosk has become an outdoor stage, and the seats under the corridor are for the audience.

There is a white arched passage in the park, specifically designed for children, and its shape is quite similar to the “overpass” in the previous children’s transportation park. 

Children who used to play here now have reached the age to hold their children’s hands and revisit the old land.

Add a circular slow track in the park, with a streamlined shape of “Pac-Man” on it. Sports on this track are quite childlike.

The “S-shaped Art Bench” that can be sat, ridden, and climbed in the park allows for exploration of various interactive modes, and a variety of new activities and stories are happening in this brand new park

Huashan Children’s Park

Huashan Children’s Park is at 1575 Huashan Road, which is also quite historical and has undergone multiple renovations. In 1950, the Park Management Office of the Shanghai Municipal Public Works Bureau converted this area into a park. 

Construction began on June 12 of that year and it was opened to the public on May 1, 1952. When the park was first built, there was only one thatched pavilion in the garden architecture, with a construction area of no more than 60 square meters, including management rooms and toilets. 

Later, the park gradually added a small library and some children’s playground facilities.

In 1983, the reconstruction of Huashan Children’s Park was completed, and it was reopened on the Children’s Day of the year. The rebuilt children’s park covered an area of 1900 square meters, and the biggest feature of the park was its abundant greenery.

To the east of the garden, there were three 10 meter tall cedars, and to the northeast, there were seven camphor trees over 15 meters tall. The most eye-catching were 22 hanging trees over 20 meters tall. 

In addition to the tall trees, there were also flowers such as begonia and roses in the yard, which together created a fresh environment in the park and were loved by children.

The children’s playground was located on the north and south sides of the park. The southern site covered an area of approximately 140 square meters and featured metal guardrails for boating, panda slides, and seesaws. The northern site covered an area of approximately 90 square meters and was equipped with elephant slides and monkey climbing racks.

In 2023, Huashan Children’s Park, in collaboration with Children’s Publishing House, renovated the park with the theme of a series of popular science books, “100,000 Whys,” which had once influenced several generations, allowing children to immerse themselves in the ocean of knowledge while playing.

Now, the newly renovated Huashan Children’s Park takes the “question mark” logo of “100,000 Whys” as its overall core form, aiming to provide children with a unique educational experience from a child-friendly perspective. 

At the same time, the park’s form is like a gardener’s shower, symbolizing the watering of knowledge for children in this children’s playground.

Edited by Shanghai Daily