Greenways connect 382 public spaces

With an average density of 1.2 kilometers per square kilometer, Shenzhen has built a total of around 2,448 kilometers of greenways and boasts the most densely distributed greenway network in Guangdong Pro-vince, the Shenzhen Economic Daily reported yesterday.

The greenway network has connected 382 public spaces in the city so far, with 12 greenway projects under way this year.

“Before the greenways were built, the wetlands and parks in Shenzhen were scattered. Now the greenways have connected them to form a perfect ecological network,” said Zhou Xuping, deputy director of the Greenway Network Construction & Management Office.

Shenzhen initiated the construction of greenways in 2010. Taking into account the city’s natural, historical and human resources, Shenzhen worked out a special plan to build a citywide greenway network, which to some extent has improved the city’s urban ecology.

Facilitated by such a convenient greenway network, residents can now reach a community greenway within a five-minute bike ride, an urban greenway in 15 minutes and a provincial greenway in 30 to 45 minutes.

In recent years, Shenzhen has also started building a hiking trail system based on the existing greenway network.

According to a staffer with the city’s urban management bureau, the main path of Shenzhen’s hiking trail is more than 300 kilometers long and will be connected to all country parks.

The four preliminarily designed hiking trails are in the east, west and central parts of the city and on Dapeng Peninsula. Upon completion, it will serve as urban infrastructure and provide well-equipped mountaineering and hiking venues for outdoor sports enthusiasts.

By 2020, more than three hiking trails will be completed in the city, further expanding the greenway network and connecting green spaces like country parks, forest parks, urban parks and community parks with greenbelts along the streets.