Zhongshan Park transforms into ‘Monet's Garden’ as spring blooms

As spring reaches its peak, Zhongshan Park is bursting with vibrant colors, drawing visitors into a landscape that locals have affectionately dubbed the district's own "Monet's Garden."

Entering from the Changning Road gate, visitors are greeted by a dazzling display of flowers in full bloom against the lawn, their hues blending with tulips at their peak to create a scene reminiscent of a flowing oil painting.

Unlike traditional gardens that keep visitors at a distance, the park's immersive design features winding pathways that lead deep into the flower beds, allowing for a 360-degree experience among the blossoms. The layered floral arrangements and carefully curated color palette create a dreamlike visual effect.

According to a manager from the Changning Park Management Company, the team optimized plant selection by choosing perennial species with longer blooming periods and used gradual color transitions and layered arrangements to extend the viewing season while maintaining a soft, enchanting aesthetic.

Near Gate 2, a flower bed known as the "Seed Pool" showcases vibrant violets alongside tulips, framed by a vintage white wooden gate and set against the backdrop of century-old buses passing by—a scene rich in artistic charm.

This spring, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the beauty of Zhongshan Park and experience the season at its most vibrant in Changning.

Experts discuss governance challenges in digital age at Changning forum

A themed dialogue on "Governance Challenges in the Digital Age" was held on March 23 at WYSH in Changning District, bringing together social science experts to explore pathways for responsible technological development.

The event, jointly organized by the Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations and the Publicity Department (Cyberspace Administration) of the CPC Changning District Committee, focused on governance frontiers in the era of artificial intelligence, convening experts to discuss how to steer technology toward the public good.

During the event, the District Procuratorate shared insights from judicial practice on new challenges brought by AI technology to the legal system. The District Administration for Market Regulation presented its innovative approaches to regulating livestream e-commerce. Representatives from internet companies offered frontline perspectives on AI model governance from the platform perspective. Together, these three dimensions—technological development, regulatory practice, and corporate governance—painted a comprehensive picture of digital era governance.

In keynote speeches, Professor Lu Chuanying, vice dean of the School of Political Science and International Relations at Tongji University, delivered a talk titled "5G, Cybersecurity and Geopolitical Rivalry," analyzing the underlying logic of technological competition and governance rivalry in the international landscape. Professor Li Xueyao from Shanghai Jiao Tong University's KoGuan School of Law discussed "Responsibility Allocation and Platform Compliance in the New Cybersecurity Law," exploring pathways to algorithmic transparency and supervision ability from legal and ethical perspectives.

Prior to the forum, participants took part in a "Shanghai Silicon Lane" tech-themed CityWalk, visiting Shanghai Hi-Dolphin Robotics Co Ltd and Fanshu's Wuyi Road City Bookstore to witness firsthand the innovative integration of artificial intelligence with urban cultural spaces.

Two major projects in East Hongqiao Area set for year-end completion

Two key projects in the East Hongqiao area of Changning District—Hongqiao Airport Commercial Plaza and Hongqiao Qihang Business Plaza—have entered the leasing phase and are scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

Hongqiao Airport Commercial Plaza is located west of Konggang No.1 Road and north of Yingbin No.1 Road, adjacent to and connected with Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1 and Hongqiao Terminal 1 Station on Metro Line 10.

With a total investment of about 2.5 billion yuan (US$362.32 million) and a gross floor area of about 93,000 square meters, the project adopts a new "station-city integration" model. A 100-meter underground passage and an 80-meter skybridge connect the metro station concourse, commercial complex, transportation center, and airport terminal, positioning the project as a core business and commercial platform serving the airport.

As a commercial space, the plaza features a naked-eye 3D screen, dedicated check-in and security facilities, as well as premium concierge services including airport VIP upgrades and escorted transport. As a high-standard office space, it is built to three-star green building standards, offering quality office spaces of around 2,600 square meters per floor, with insulated LOW-E glass curtain walls and top-tier mechanical and electrical equipment.

Hongqiao Qihang Business Plaza is bordered by Yingbin No.1 Road to the north, Yingbin No.6 Road to the south, Konggang No.1 Road to the west, and Hangyou Road (planned) to the east. The site is near Hongqiao Terminal 1 Station on Metro Line 10.

The project represents an investment of 1.54 billion yuan, with a gross floor area of 62,300 square meters. It comprises one office building for lease, four office buildings for sale, and supporting commercial facilities.

The East Hongqiao area is currently undergoing a comprehensive transformation, overcoming constraints in urban renewal. In recent years, the upgrade of Terminal 1 and its transportation center has been completed, while the garden-style high-end headquarters office park Yunqi Center and the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport have both started operations.

Changning charts new path for integrated development of ‘six sectors’

Changning District outlined its new roadmap for the integrated development of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, exhibitions, and green spaces at the 2026 Changning District Collaborative Development Exchange Meeting held on March 24.

The meeting reviewed the achievements made in 2025 in coordinating these sectors and highlighted key projects for cultural and tourism integration in 2026.

During the meeting, 12 new member enterprises joined the Hongqiao Culture and Tourism Alliance, a district-level industry collaboration platform, further expanding the sector's cooperation network. 

Since its establishment in December 2023, the platform has connected supply and demand channels for cultural and tourism services, covering six major sectors—hotel accommodations, travel services, cultural industries, cultural venues, key commercial districts, and cultural tourism resources. It has facilitated 25 collaborative projects involving over 40 enterprises, earning widespread recognition and trust from industry players.

In recent years, Changning's cultural and tourism sector has worked to build platforms for government-business communication, industry exchange, and resource sharing. This year alone, seven new enterprises spanning sectors such as short-form video production, trade, and technology have established operations in Changning. At the exchange meeting, companies planning to set up in the district engaged in face-to-face discussions with relevant district departments regarding their development needs.

In the future, Changning's cultural and tourism sector will continue to advance the deep integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, exhibitions, and green spaces, providing strong support for the district's goal of becoming an internationally renowned premium urban district.

Shanghai Zoo blooms into spring wonderland

While a hint of spring chill still lingers in the air, Shanghai Zoo has quietly transformed into a botanical wonderland, where vibrant blossoms and lively young animals create a scene of seasonal enchantment.

Lawns are awash with color—Chinese violet cress, tulips, and wild daffodils paint the grounds in brilliant hues, while cherry plum trees, crabapples burst into bloom along the paths. Walking through the zoo feels like being gently embraced by spring.

The Chinese violet cress is especially spectacular, spreading like a lavender mist across several animal enclosures, including the areas housing red pandas, Arctic wolves, and black-backed jackals. Where flowers meet wildlife, a wild, untamed beauty emerges.

Tulips offer a different kind of exuberance. Bright red blooms stand tall like festive goblets, appearing in corners near the bird section and in front of the Arctic wolf enclosure, mingling with February orchids and wild daffodils in a vivid display of color.

Spiraea thunbergii has also quietly come into flower, cascading like snow-white waterfalls. Visitors can spot these delicate blooms near the lion and tiger hills, the baboon mountain, the giant panda area, and the medium-sized carnivore zone.

With spring's arrival, the zoo's youngest residents are growing more playful. The Bengal tiger "Hongtang" has matured into a spirited adolescent, occasionally peeking out at visitors before retreating to nap in hiding. Brown bear "Meimei," younger sister of "Junjun," has grown from a cuddly cub into a playful youngster who loves tussling with her mother. Przewalski's horse "Zhuifeng" still carries a touch of youthful shyness, standing timidly in place—a sight that tugs at the heartstrings.