Although the paths are ready, the construction and operation of relevant facilities along the riverside is not easy. Nearby businesses are not only proactively investing in building a parent-child amusement park but are also responsible for its operation and management. These companies are thinking long-term. By improving the nearby transportation facilities, they aim to encourage people on the riverside to explore more in the hinterland, thereby enhancing the overall development of the area.

The enhancement of the riverside is a key project of the “Beautiful City” initiative and a step to achieve urban renewal and a better urban environment. It features the continuing and collaborative efforts of the government, the companies, and the community.

In recent years, the district government has aimed to build Baoshan in terms of beauty, convenience, culture and safety (BCCS). This year, Baoshan launched the “Better City for Better Life” initiative aimed at enhancing public satisfaction and experience through long-term mechanisms. Various parties are encouraged to take action for the development of the city, which is in line with the philosophy of “People’s City”. For now, 12 district-level and 12 sub-district-level projects have been included in Shanghai’s List of Projects for Building A Better City.

Baoshan is working hard to integrate the “Better City for Better Life” initiative with the cultural cause. This involves aligning the people-oriented, people-reliant, and people-benefiting principles with the principle of urban governance in which everyone participates, takes responsibility, contributes, and shares.

The philosophy of “People’s City” is reflected in building the city, which emphasizes “building the city for the people and building the city with the people”. It means that all parties contribute and share the benefits. It will foster consensus and mobilize all forces to enhance the overall level of civilization of the society.

In recent years, Baoshan has continuously taken special actions to address key public concerns through theme months, activity weeks, and action days. Since 2021, nearly 300 special actions have allowed the public to fully and effectively share in the achievements of the city building, thereby continuously enhancing the happiness index of the people.

Taking the Wenzaobang River, the mother river of Baoshan and the “river of science and innovation”, as an example, in 2020, at the beginning of Baoshan District’s “North Transformation”, 100 days of construction endowed the abandoned riverbank with a “new face”. The riverside walking paths have been built, and science and technology enterprises have chosen to take root around here. Subsequently, two riverside spaces, Sports Center No. 1 and Science and Technology Innovation Parlor No. 1, have been established along the riverside, benefiting 655 enterprises in three parks. 

In particular, the Sports Center No. 1 is the pioneer in Baoshan District that implements the green and low carbon concept. Its application scenario of solar photovoltaic power generation comes from Teach IT. Now in the Sports Center No. 1 opposite, Shanghai Huikai Electric Equipment Co., Ltd. opened a gym as an additional service for the public.

From a warm and nutritious breakfast to the night clinic in the community health service center, the 24-hour livelihood services are accessible now.

Ms. Xiao, who wanted to register the change of enterprise, rushed to the hall of the Baoshan District Government Service Center at 12 but favorably found that the center’s calling system was still running. “I did not expect to be able to handle business during the lunch break, and it helps me catch the train this afternoon.”, she said. In response to the condition of white-collar workers - “no time to handle during working hours and no place to handle during rest time”, the Baoshan District Government Service Center specially launched the “Lunchtime Service” initiative to ensure that the services are accessible during workdays.

Baoshan District Health Commission has also further optimized the outpatient hours of community health service institutions by opening a night clinic. The service time is 16:30 to 20. At present, 18 community health service centers in Baoshan have unified luminous signs, the lights for residents’ health.

It is just the tip of the iceberg of improving civilization efforts. The key is to identify the needs of the people, expand the coverage of the beneficiaries, improve the service quality and quantity, and address the community concerns in a better manner. 

To ensure the sense of gain, happiness and security of the public, Baoshan “Breakfast Project”, cultivates a competitive breakfast brand, “Xinli Shanghai Dim Sum”. With 15 stores, it covers most of the communities in Baoshan District, providing a variety of breakfast and dim sum options for the residents. Elderly people over 65 years old can enjoy a 40% to 15% discount with the Shanghai Elderly Card.

Baoshan invests in the cultural industry to build the “Human-centered City”.

Taking advantage of the Shanghai Cruise Culture and Tourism Festival, a cruise ticket for the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal or a ticket for the F1H2O World Championship Grand Prix of Shanghai, China 2024 can input vitality into 15 scenic spots and 46 hotels in Baoshan District. An official of Baoshan said that cultural activities are needed. Baoshan will host a series of themed events, such as port concerts and cruise tourism resort festivals, for business, culture, tourism, and sports development, which will accelerate the development of the Shanghai International Cruise Tourism Resort.

The “Star Project” is also under the culture development initiatives. This year, the public charitable market for artworks by children with special needs, known as the “Star Supermarket Project”, has expanded further, from 1 store at the district-level center to 12 branch stores across the 12 sub-districts.

As for safety, Baoshan has realized intelligent governance through the “vision-algorithm-event” mechanism. It has integrated the city transportation systems, with the operation process optimized by digitalization. As a result, the command and dispatch capabilities, early warning and forecasting capabilities and coordination capabilities of the district transportation center are significantly promoted.

“These actions promote both cultural development and life quality of the people, and also present a new mechanism for the urban development, releasing innovation vitality and the power of excellence in normal operation.”, an official of Baoshan said.