The barrier-free Lujiazui Central Green is now open 24/7. [Photo/eastday.com]

All parks in Shanghai's Pudong New Area will be open 24/7, announced the district's ecology and environment bureau on April 15.

The district boasts 82 urban parks, 49 pocket parks, 21 rural parks, and 1 countryside park. With the exception of four parks, all others have been accessible to the public for 24 hours since Dec 1.

The four parks – Shanghai Binjiang Forest Park, Shanghai Wild Animal Park, Wishing Star Park, and Celebrity Garden – are undergoing renovation and will soon reopen around the clock.

This decision aligns with Shanghai's vision of becoming a park city, seeking to shift from "parks within the city" to "the city within parks".

As of the end of 2023, Shanghai established 832 parks and aims to increase this number to at least 1,000 by 2035. In addition to maximizing green spaces to create parks, the city is committed to maximizing public access to these areas. Across the city, more parks and university campuses have begun dismantling their enclosures, offering residents unrestricted access to enjoy the public spaces 24 hours a day.

Source: eastday.com