Shanghai Riverside Park

Shanghai Riverside Park

The former Chinese Park is now known as Riverside Park. It is located at No. 198 South Suzhou Road, on the east side of the south end of Sichuan Road Bridge, backed by the Suzhou River and facing south. The park covers an area of 4,135 square meters (including a 477-square-meter gas station), and its layout is concave in shape.

After the completion of Huangpu Park in 1868, the Municipal Council’s ban on Chinese entry provoked protests and resistance among the people of Shanghai. To ease public anger, in 1890 the council used a piece of reclaimed land on the south bank of the Suzhou River to build a new park, naming it “New Park,” which opened on December 18 of the same year. The following year, it was renamed “Chinese Park,” also known as “China Park,” and was exclusively for Chinese visitors with no admission fee. The park had simple facilities, including a central sundial pedestal, pavilions on both sides, and a plaque inscribed with “Global Friendship,” written by Shanghai Daotai Nie Qigui. In December 1941, after the outbreak of the Pacific War, Japanese forces occupied the concessions and removed many monuments in the area, dumping large granite bases of the monuments in Chinese Park. In 1986, the Shanghai Historical Relics Exhibition Hall discovered the pedestals of the statues of Hart and Harry Parkes here and moved them back to the museum for collection.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Park was renamed “Riverside Park.” In 1984, the Shanghai municipal government allocated funds for its renovation, which was completed in July of the following year. There are two entrances and exits along South Suzhou Road. The park features five steel-framed rest pavilions, patterned cement flooring, several square mosaic flower beds, and lush plantings.

Transportation

Address: No. 198 South Suzhou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai (between Zhapu Road Bridge and Sichuan Road Bridge)

Getting there: Accessible via buses 17, 21, 25, and 61