More Creek waterfront set to open

OVER 35 kilometers of waterfront along Suzhou Creek, 85 percent of its downtown section, will open to the public by the end of the year.

The 125km creek, which flows from Qingpu District to Waibaidu Bridge, is the Huangpu River’s biggest tributary.

According to a city government plan, 42km of the creek downtown, between the bridge and the city’s Outer Ring Road, will feature continuous sightseeing pathways that will be open to the public by 2020.

The riverside area will become a typical and iconic demonstration of Shanghai’s comfortable lifestyle, the city’s housing and urban-rural development commission said.

Four categories of facilities will occupy the public space along the creek — shopping and recreation, community and life, historical preservation and greenery.

On completion, the riverside region will feature sports facilities, art and music performances, restored historical buildings and industrial heritage, exhibitions and parks. Various activities will be held along the creek to meet the leisure and entertainment demands of city residents.

Tourists and visitors can learn about the history of Shanghai by walking along the creek, the commission said.

Many old structures with historic values or which record the city’s urban development will be restored. They include former factories, campuses, docks, houses and warehouses.

When other old buildings are demolished, some materials and fittings will be retained to feature in pavements, sculptures and other items.

About 5.4km of waterfront region will open to the public by the end of the year by removing 12 spots interrupted by infrastructure, companies or neighborhoods.

Some have already opened. A riverside section between Hami and Shuangliu roads in Changning District, for instance, has recently opened after the completion of a nearby construction for the Beiheng Passage.

New parks and greenbelts have also opened to guide visitors from the waterfront inland, the Changning government said yesterday.

People can now walk along the creek from Jiangsu Road N. Bridge to Jianhe Road on a continuous pathway, according to the district.

The 1.6km stretch between Xikang and Wuning roads in Putuo, which was interrupted by companies or neighborhoods, has been connected and opened to the public.