With the recent groundbreaking of Pudong's World Expo Water Ring, many citizens have become curious about Pudong's "Five Rings" project. What exactly are these "Five Rings"? This recently proposed waterfront space management concept actually refers to five water vein systems that Pudong is currently constructing. Among them, the Lujiazui Water Ring was completed and put into operation last year, the World Expo Water Ring has now broken ground, and together with the Zhangjiang Water Ring, Nanpu Water Ring, and Huamu Water Ring, they form the complete "Five Rings" system.
These five rings are more than just waterfront walkways - they connect several major urban districts, essentially "encircling" various urban populations and functional buildings like ribbons, serving as physical connections for urban functional circles. In the future, the "Five Rings" will not only achieve ecological functions such as biodiversity restoration and improved flood response capabilities, but the surrounding areas will also achieve complete community coverage with public service facilities accessible within 15 minutes at a rate of ≥95%.
Yesterday morning, near the new building of the Shanghai Stock Exchange along the Lujiazui Water Ring, the charm of the water ring system was evident. A young office worker explained that although there's a shorter route from Exit 2 of Xiangcheng Road subway station, she prefers the scenic route along Zhangjiabang via the water ring. "Walking this path lifts my spirits," she said.
This area was previously inaccessible. According to Du Jun, a second-level researcher at the Construction Management Division of Pudong New Area Bureau of Ecological Environment, the surrounding area was formerly occupied by temporary worker sheds leased by companies, essentially wasteland. The water ring's connectivity project started by transforming these spaces into pocket parks, returning green spaces to the people. Today, the entire Lujiazui Water Ring connects nine pocket parks. "Areas that were previously inaccessible are now wonderful places for strolling."
The water ring passes under more than 30 bridges, and these under-bridge spaces were previously "gray zones" - either blocked or poorly maintained. Now, all under-bridge spaces are connected, and those with sufficient space have been renovated with rest seating and fitness equipment. This means people can start from any point on the water ring and successfully complete the entire 12.5-kilometer circuit. When combined with the eastern riverside section that connects both ends of the water ring, it creates exactly a half-marathon distance. Office workers not only enjoy using this route for morning and evening commutes but also come here for lunchtime and evening walks or runs.
How popular is this area? The cleaning staff at nearby service stations have the best perspective. She explains that the entire water ring has nine service stations, each equipped with hot water, restrooms, and vending machines. She starts work at 5 AM and sometimes works until 9 PM. "There are so many morning runners. Around 10 AM, office workers pass through here, and at noon, many young people from the buildings come down to eat. I only get a break around 1 PM in the afternoon. After 5 PM, they're getting off work again, and later in the evening, people come for night runs. Whenever people pass by, they use these facilities, so we need to clean and disinfect promptly."
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