Shanghai People's Park

Shanghai People's Park

Shanghai People's Park

Located in the city's administrative and cultural center, the park was once part of an old horse racing track in Shanghai. After multiple renovations, it is no longer as large as it used to be, but it is still covered with shady trees and features a harmonious blend of water and stone, adding a splash of green to this urban concrete environment.

The Health Park is an oval-shaped stone pool. It is called a stone pool because it is densely paved with cobblestones. It is said that walking on the stones can massage the soles of the feet and benefit health. Next to this stone pool stands a unique rock, which is not just another errant stone, but it does have a certain “provenance”—it comes from the homeland of penguins, Antarctica. It was brought back by members of China’s Antarctic expedition team from George Island in Antarctica. Bi Cui Lake is a beautiful lotus pond, backed by West Hill, with dense reeds and greenery covering the entire area. In summer, pink flower buds emerge gracefully through the gaps. It truly captures the charm of “emerging from the mud unsoiled, and washing in clear ripples without being vulgar.”

The “May Thirtieth Movement Memorial Sculpture,” originally located within People's Park, has been relocated to the green belt on Nanjing West Road outside the park (adjacent to the exit of the People's Square Station on Line 2 of the Shanghai Metro) due to urban beautification efforts. As a masterpiece of Shanghai's urban sculpture art, the 16.65-meter-tall “May Thirtieth Movement Memorial Sculpture” boasts at least three distinctive features: First, it uses abstract and exaggerated forms combined with Chinese national characteristics to create a stylized version of the characters “May Thirtieth,” presenting a grand and imposing aura; second, it emphasizes harmony between the sculpture and its surroundings—each stroke of the “May Thirtieth” characters is a powerful and defiant individual, yet together they form a resolute and unified whole; third, the use of stainless steel material enhances the momentum of the May Thirtieth Movement. With its unique shape and innovative design, the sculpture is bright and dignified, embodying the unyielding spirit of revolutionary martyrs. It is simple yet refined, reflecting the thriving spirit of the new era and showcasing the fighting spirit of the people of Shanghai.

Dongshan Hill is located in the southeast of the park, standing 9.7 meters tall and covering an area of 2,300 square meters. At its summit stands an octagonal pavilion with double eaves and eight pillars, built with a mixed structure. It has a classic, elegant charm and is nestled within a ring of greenery. Nearby, the hillside is piled with yellow stones. At the foot of the hill lies a corridor with an area of 190 square meters.

Xishan Hill is situated in the southwest of the park, with a height of 11.8 meters and an area of 3,900 square meters. The artificial hill on the northern side is constructed with lake stones and yellow stones. At the summit stands an octagonal pavilion with a reinforced concrete structure, glazed tile spire, and upturned eaves. The area around the pavilion is planted with camphor trees, magnolia, and privet, interspersed with seasonal flowering shrubs, creating a lush and flowery shaded area. Visitors can rest here while enjoying panoramic views of the scenery both inside and outside the park.

The statue of Zhang Side is located on the east side of the central avenue, facing east and back west, standing 4 meters tall. The front of the statue faces a vast open lawn, and a grouped flower bed is placed near the statue, with flowers blooming all year round. Towering and upright cedar trees are planted on both sides, making the statue blend in with the verdant pines and cypresses. Behind the statue, clusters of crape myrtle, red maple, and red-leaf plum bushes are planted.

The Antarctic Stone is located in the central part of the park, to the east of the Fengguanglou Tea House. It was collected by China’s first Antarctic exploration team on February 21, 1982, on George Island in Antarctica, and erected in the park on February 21, 1985. The stone is blackish-brown, 1.7 meters tall, and elliptical in shape, with the three characters “Antarctic Stone” inscribed on it by Song Richang. Behind the stone, osmanthus bushes are clustered, while crape myrtle and gardenia are planted on the eastern side.

The Lotus Pond is situated in the central western part of the park and consists of two connected irregularly shaped pools, covering a total area of 3,300 square meters. The southern end of the eastern pool is densely planted with lotus flowers, while the western pool is home to goldfish. The pond is surrounded by weeping willows, and there is a metasequoia forest to the east of the pond. A waterside pavilion is built to the south of the pond. The pavilion is rectangular, flat-roofed, and covers an area of 65 square meters. In front of the pavilion is a reinforced concrete platform surrounded by water on three sides, with a guardrail along the edge, covering an area of 28 square meters. Inside the pavilion is a photography department, and the rooftop platform of the pavilion is enclosed by iron railings, allowing visitors to climb stairs to the top for photography. To the west of the pond is a square pavilion with a reinforced concrete structure, covering an area of 10.24 square meters, featuring a green glazed tile spire and upturned corners. Willow trees are planted in front of the pavilion, and nearby is a stone-paved area with stone tables and benches for visitors to rest. In the middle of the pond, a winding flat bridge connects the north and south banks, measuring 3 meters wide and 14 meters long, with wooden-like railings on both sides. To the northeast of the bridge is an octagonal bamboo pavilion with a thatched spire and upturned corners, featuring bamboo benches and backrests on three sides, covering an area of 19 square meters. At the southern end of the pond is a combination of a winding corridor and a green corridor, both with reinforced concrete structures. The corridor has two bends, a flat roof, a stone-paved floor, and stone benches on both sides, covering an area of 68 square meters. Five lifelike large oranges are hung under the corridor, hence it is also known as the Orange Corridor. Connected to the winding corridor is a three-bend wisteria corridor, covering an area of 65.5 square meters, with iron railings and stone benches on both sides. Scattered around the two corridors are lake stones, along with citrus trees, camphor trees, and magnolia.

Address: No. 231, Nanjing West Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Type: Urban Park

Recommended Visiting Time: About 2 hours

Phone: 021-63271333

Opening Hours:

6:00-18:00

Ticket Information:

Free admission.