The Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism has unveiled the city’s first batch of “Community Attractions,” highlighting 50 standout spots. Four of these are in Changning. let’s check them out!

Columbia Circle

Where History Meets Modern Life

Nestled in the Xinhua Road Historical and Cultural Block, Columbia Circle is an example of urban renewal which blends rich history with modern energy. Historic landmarks like Sunke Villa, Columbia Country Club, and the Navy Club (with its iconic swimming pool) stand alongside 11 repurposed industrial buildings, creating a distinctive urban landscape. It’s not only an open commercial park but also a living stage for ongoing cultural activity.

The area shapes its cultural programming around the unique character of each building. Mystery drama week, coffee and theatre festival, and immersive art experiences seamlessly blend theater, art, lifestyle, and historic spaces. Trendy exhibitions frequently pop up in the old buildings, while live music fills the converted factories, letting visitors feel the sparks that fly when history meets contemporary creativity. A stroll through the Columbia Circle offers both locals and tourists a chance to experience the open, inclusive, and innovative spirit of Shanghai’s haipai culture.

Golden Street

Where Local Life Meets Global Flair

Located in Changning’s Hongqiao Gubei International Community, Golden Street is a 670-meter pedestrian boulevard showcasing Shanghai’s international lifestyle. Each season brings its own charm, but December’s ginkgo trees are a highlight, forming a golden, romantic corridor perfect for a warm drink at a sidewalk café.

The charm goes far beyond its natural scenery. The street buzzes year-round with themed markets, community events, night fairs, and music performances, while boutiques, florists, and international restaurants blend cosmopolitan flair with neighborhood warmth. Golden Street captures the open, friendly, and vibrant spirit of modern Shanghai, offering a lively escape for locals and visitors alike.

Zhongshan Park Pier — Plane Tree Square

A Riverside Gathering Spot Along the Suzhou Creek

Zhongshan Park Pier – Plane Tree Square, along the Suzhou Creek, enjoys a prime location: adjacent to the century-old campus of East China University of Political Science and Law and Zhongshan Park, and just a 10-minute walk from the major Zhongshan Park transit hub, where three Metro lines intersect. Its opening has added a new public waterfront space and connected a key section of Changning’s Suzhou Creek pedestrian network, realizing the vision of “returning the water and riverbanks to the people.”

The site embodies the idea of urban integration. Anchored by the pier and square, it stretches west to the Changning Outer Ring Ecological Greenway and east to historic streets like Yuyuan Road and Wuyi Road, effectively linking natural, cultural, and commercial resources. Visitors can relax, enjoy the scenery, or use the square as a starting point for a micro-urban exploration, making it a new riverside destination that combines cultural experiences, leisure, and urban learning.

Changning Outer Ring Ecological Greenway

An Urban Breath of Nature

The Changning Outer Ring Ecological Greenway officially opened on New Year’s Day 2020 as one of the first high-standard demonstration sections of Shanghai’s ecological park belt. Designed with ecological principles in mind, it preserves existing trees, links waterways, and features scenic bridges, transforming a municipal greenbelt into an accessible recreational space. Multi-use paths accommodate walking, jogging, and cycling, creating a “six-in-one” active corridor.

Beyond recreation, the greenway plays a key social and educational role. In 2023, four service stations, including Cai Lu Ting, opened along the route to provide visitor rest stops. Officials also launched the “Little Changning Greenway Observers” program, turning the greenway into a living outdoor classroom. Regular activities encourage visitors, especially youth, to observe nature and explore ecology, blending visual appeal, environmental value, and community benefit into a vibrant urban space.