Tianshan Park reopens after upgrade, integrating transit, fitness and community life

After a comprehensive renovation, Changning District's Tianshan Park has fully reopened to the public, offering open boundaries, 24-hour access, new multi-sport courts and a revamped children's playground as part of Shanghai's ongoing urban renewal drive.

One of the district's long-standing community parks, Tianshan Park has removed all enclosing walls to create transparent, connected green space. A new 300-meter tree-shaded pedestrian path extends through the former boundary area, shifting walkways away from busy road traffic and turning daily commuter routes into scenic, leisure green corridors.

The park's signature new landmark, the upcoming Triumphal Arch Bridge, is in its final construction phase. Once completed, the curved pedestrian skywalk will link Tianshan Park and adjacent Haisu Park while providing direct access to Yan'an Rd W. Metro Station. The design creates a continuous green mobility system that blends urban transit networks with open park landscapes.

Inside the park, landscaping and public spaces have been completely refreshed.

A spacious central lawn, ecological ponds and winding curved benches have become popular relaxation spots for residents and young visitors. A framed-view installation offers picture-like vistas of the lake scenery, presenting changing natural views in different seasons. Soft pink themed landscape tones complement dense green foliage, delivering a fresh and romantic atmosphere. New open entrances allow round-the-clock public access.

The renovation significantly upgrades public service facilities. An outdated badminton court has been rebuilt into a 740-square-meter multi-functional sports zone with three pickleball courts, two table tennis tables and movable basketball hoops. Flexible net enclosures allow the space to switch between professional training, casual fitness and parent-child activities, emerging as a new popular workout destination for young residents.

The children's recreation area has expanded from a single slide to 13 full sets of playground equipment, including swings, seesaws and interactive rotating facilities. Full soft pavement coverage ensures safe play for kids of all ages. A newly built seed garden features rolling lawns, small slopes, winding trails and artistic installations, creating a harmonious space where urban workers, residents and nature coexist.

Beyond physical upgrades, the project adopted community-centered governance throughout construction. Authorities collected hundreds of public questionnaires and suggestions regarding playground layouts, sports functions and pedestrian routes, incorporating resident feedback directly into design revisions. The public was also invited to submit names for children-friendly zones, ensuring the renovation aligned with local lifestyle demands.

Different from traditional full-site park closures during construction, the Tianshan Park project adopted a segmented renovation model. Workers renovated isolated zones section by section while keeping most park areas and community passages open daily. The approach minimized disruption to residents' daily walks, transit routines and outdoor activities.

Local officials said the transformation goes far beyond aesthetic improvements. The park has evolved from a walled green space to an open urban living room, from government-led construction to community co-governance, and from a simple resting site to an all-age vibrant public destination.

Foreign diplomats explore Shanghai's community governance, whole-process people's democracy

Diplomats from 20 countries visited Shanghai's Gubei Civic Center on September 8 to learn China's grassroots governance and community services.

The 30-member delegation includes envoys from Russia, Spain, Bangladesh, Cyprus and Namibia.

Located in Changning District, one of Shanghai's most internationalized urban areas, Gubei Community hosts residents from 50 countries and regions, with foreign residents accounting for 36 percent of its population.

Officials introduced the district's practice of whole-process people's democracy during the tour. As one of China's earliest grassroots legislative outreach offices, the Hongqiao Sub-district facility has collected public opinions on 125 draft laws since 2015, with 496 public suggestions adopted in national legislation.

Diplomats visited local legislative consultation platforms, community discussion halls and elderly public service facilities. They experienced traditional Chinese cultural activities including calligraphy and Kunqu Opera, and interacted with local residents.

Integrating government services, daily livelihood support, cultural exchanges and community co-governance, the civic center showcases Shanghai's people-centered urban governance model.

The upgraded diplomatic tour series aims to share China's urban governance practices and boost international exchanges and mutual learning.

Changning woos Turkish investment, builds global business ties in Istanbul roadshow

Changning District stepped up global investment cooperation at the "Invest Shanghai, Share the Future" overseas event held in Istanbul on September 11 local time, seeking new collaboration with Turkish enterprises in trade, culture and fashion consumption.

Hosted in the year marking the 55th anniversary of China-Turkey diplomatic relations, the roadshow leverages Changning's status as an international gateway district and home to the Turkish Consulate-General in Shanghai. The district invited Turkish businesses to establish operations in Changning as their preferred entry point into China's vast consumer market.

Officials highlighted Changning's cross-border connectivity, global fashion resources, mature digital ecosystem and complete supply chain advantages. The district aims to integrate Turkey's refined craftsmanship and unique design strengths with local industrial resources to deliver mutually beneficial growth.

Changning's investment promotion team introduced the district's core strengths in strategic development, industrial upgrading and optimized business environment. It showcased its trillion-yuan fashion consumption cluster and booming cross-border e-commerce sector.

A targeted roadshow focusing on grassroots business services outlined clear operational support for foreign enterprises, boosting Turkish firms' confidence to expand in China's fashion, cross-border e-commerce and headquarters economy sectors.

Following the forum, the Changning delegation visited Informa's Turkey office and held one-on-one investment talks with leading local manufacturers of home goods, gifts and household appliances. The exchanges unlock new cooperation potential, attracting more high-quality international projects to settle and expand in Changning.

Changning hosts international talent event to fuel AI innovation, global entrepreneurship

Changning District held its 7th 3E (Employment, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise) International Fair on September 12, focusing on AI-enabled technological innovation, global entrepreneurship and employment services.

Aligned with Shanghai's AI development initiative, the event launched the Hongqiao HaiChuang Bay Shanghai Silicon Alley Innovation and Entrepreneurship Platform, a one-stop hub offering incubation, policy support, industrial docking and living services for global innovators. It also kicked off the second phase of the Hongqiao International Talent Go-Global Empowerment Workshop, training entrepreneurs for overseas market expansion.

More than 10 local authorities and institutions provided free one-on-one consultations on entry-exit policies, tax benefits, medical services and international education for foreign and Chinese residents.

A job fair featured over 20 well-known domestic and multinational firms, including Spring Airlines, Michelin China and Bosch China, offering about 400 jobs with real-scenario interview simulations.

Running annually since 2020, the event has engaged over 350 enterprises and nearly 6,000 global talents.

Changning officials said the district will further optimize international talent services, integrate global human resources with local industrial growth, and bolster Shanghai's high-quality urban development.

Changning greenway blends wilderness beauty with urban aviation views

As temperatures cool following the White Dew solar term, Changning District's 6.25-kilometer Outer Ring Ecological Greenway has emerged as one of Shanghai's most scenic autumn retreats, offering peaceful walking and cycling experiences amid lush urban wilderness.

Dubbed "an emerald fairy tale in the city, a sky metropolis beside the airport," the linear green space balances vibrant natural scenery with unique aviation views, creating a one-of-a-kind urban leisure landscape.

Unlike the bold blooms of spring, the greenway's autumn scenery presents soft, layered beauty. Spider lilies with vivid red petals line the trails, paired with pale purple hibiscus, bright yellow cannas and stretches of purple grass blossoms. Pampas grass sways along the riverside while willow branches remain green. Water lilies float steadily on the water, and egrets frequently land and take flight across the wetlands, blending lingering summer greenery with fresh autumn hues.

Listed among China's top 100 premium cycling routes, the fully enclosed greenway meets international competition standards and serves as a segment of the Shanghai Women's Half Marathon course. It is divided into three distinctive sections.

The northern section features flat terrain, dense woodlands and lotus ponds, connected to the Suzhou Creek waterfront promenade, ideal for casual cycling. The middle section includes rolling terrain, cedar forests and artistic tunnels, bringing dynamic challenges and fun for sports enthusiasts. The southern area is famous for seasonal orchards, lawns and blooming flower fields, a popular spot for photography all year round.

Four pavilions are scattered along the route, equipped with vending machines, phone charging services and nursing rooms for public convenience. The well-preserved ecological corridor also acts as an urban wildlife sanctuary. Red-bellied tree squirrels, egrets and amphibians inhabit the area, while crested goshawks, a national second-class protected species, have been repeatedly spotted by local residents.

Located adjacent to Hongqiao Airport's flight path, the greenway offers a unique sensory experience. Low-flying passenger planes glide above the treetops throughout the day, mixing the rustle of wind in the leaves with gentle aircraft noise. The rare combination of dense urban greenery and real-time aviation scenery makes the Changning greenway a signature scenic spot in west Shanghai.