Shanghai Daily News

Lingang City, a harbor city full of seaside parks and lakes, is emerging in the Southeast Shanghai's Nanhui District, which is a 50-minute drive from the city center.

A new comprehensive sub-city of Shanghai, Lingang City has been built to support the development the Yangshan Deep-Water Port and has easy transport access to Pudong International Airport.

However, Nanhui's charm stems from its social and economic development, environment, culture and so on. Above all else, Lingang City is a natural wonderland that's covered by trees and rivers.

The central living area is a coastal garden area. The inspiration for this special zone has come from a mixture of famous port cities around the world.

The area is recognized as a symbolic precinct of Lingang City, due to its coastal elements and the urban construction trend it represents for the new century.

Environmentally conscious, information-oriented and with a developed port industry, Lingang City boasts all the necessities that a future city should have.

The city was designed by GMP, an international design corporation from Germany. Their major concept for the city was based on a crystal bead falling from heaven that arouses ripples which form the major structure of the whole area.

Dishui Lake (also known as "Water Drop Lake") is round in shape with a roughly 2.5-kilometer diameter and is about 5 square kilometers large. The lake is located at the center of the city. Three peninsulas of different sizes, shapes and functions will add to the beauty of the lake.

Nanhui Sea View Park is one of those places where one can't go wrong once they get there.

It is agreeable to everyone because the trails are flat and wide enough to accommodate a bike or even a stroller.

People enjoy it because it's relaxing, stress-free and gorgeous.

Located on the Southeast edge of Shanghai, along the shores of the East Sea, the park offers a great vista of the sea and its surrounding shores.

Walking through the sea view park can feel like walking through a museum without walls, where the floor is grass and the ceiling is the sky.

The park contains monumental sculptures, which are made to exist in harmony with the landscape.

Within the 1.82-hectare park land, several contemporary urban sculptures are displayed.

This art initiates cultural awareness, enriches people's lives and encourages creative thinking by simultaneously engaging people in the experiences of sculpted art and nature.

One sculpture, which sparkles in the sunshine and points South serves as a compass.

The sculpture is 13 meters in height, 49 meters in length, 21.46 meters in width, and is made in the shape of a whale.

The sculpture is based on the fact that in 2003, a young whale became beached in the shore break and was found by local workers.

With the help of the police, workers and officials from the related departments, the whale was moved back into the water, and amazingly, it seemed reluctant to leave, turning his body towards his rescuers on the shore three times as a gesture of gratitude.

After that, some believe the construction of the harbor city has received the young whale's blessing.

The park is an extraordinary place that sets out to challenge, inspire and inform.

Eight pillars stand in the park, each of which carrying a brief description of harbor cities around the world and how far away they are.

Cities on display include Montreal, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Alexandra, Sydney, Yokohama, Marseille and Cape Town.

Park sites offer a variety of recreational activities, along with a chance to explore many significant cultural and natural attractions.

Off the West end of the park is an entertainment area featuring a coffee house, parking area and rest room facilities.

Right above the coffee house is the watch tower, open to anyone who desires to have a bird's-eye view of the East Sea and East Sea Bridge.

Although visitors and residents of the metropolitan area enjoy the many parks in Shanghai, there are also a wealth of parks set to open in the harbor city.

Whether you're looking to visit monuments or relax at one of the many recreational areas, there is something for everyone in Lingang City.

How to get there:

Take A20 Expressway, transfer to A2 Expressway, get off at the Shengang Avenue Exit and drive straight to the Lingang City Exhibition Center, where you can get a guide service to the park.

Tel: 6828-3823