Description: People's Park is a continuation of People's Square and is part of the old race course that occupied the site until 1949. You can tell the area was a race course with its sweeping lanes that curve round corners. Shanghai is a hectic city with so many vehicles speeding about, casting out petrol fumes all over. It's no wonder the city seems always to be drifting underneath a cloud of pollution.
After visiting People's Square we found ourself strolling through the park. It was a nice feeling and I preferred the park to the square. Most of the people sat on benches and walls were elderly, probably retired and they seemed to be enjoying themselves chatting away. It's probably a place to meet up with old friends and relatives. The park is very green with plenty of trees giving shade as well as bamboo and ferns blowing gently in the wind. Ponds are filled with big fat, floating leaves belonging to lotus flowers that have pale pink petals overlapping, forming a symetrical pattern. We visited in June and the flowers were at their best and one of the highlights of the park. Many a photographer hovered over the ponds to take photographs. My photos didn't turn out to well probably because I couldn't get close enough for all the professionals that stood in my way.
Overlooked by Tomorrow Square, a multipurpose structure designed by John Portman and Associates in 2003. It's not your normal looking skyscraper and I shudder to think how many tons of concrete it took to build this tower. The base of the building is square and then as it rises the central section forms a more diagonal shape until it rises higher to form a slanted peak. It is an unusual design but forms a fantastic backdrop for the park and square.
People's Park has been used for Fashion shows, a good choice as the area around the park is a flashy platform for the Arts. It is also a place at weekends where parents meet other parents with the idea of finding a suitable marital partner for their children. Children aren't allowed to go along, they have to leave the matchmaking up to their parents and usually they take along a full CV.
Entrance to People's Park is free. There is a bar and restaurant, Barbarossa, located near to the big pond with lilies. It's an interesting place with a roof terrace. Drinks are half price from 5pm until 8pm. Food served is delicious but very expensive.
The park is open from 6am until 6pm. The entrance is on west Nanjing Road close to the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art.
Metro Stop: People's Square
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