The Road Home (movie extract)

Beautiful GuZheng and flute ...

With Walk For You ... Plus GuanYinQiao pedestrian street ...

With Wei's Travel ... ShangHai can be considered a 'garden city' due to its extensive green spaces, parks, and efforts to integrate nature within its urban environment. Here are some key aspects that contribute to this : ### Extensive Green Spaces and Parks 1. **Large Urban Parks**: Shanghai is home to numerous large parks such as Century Park, Gongqing Forest Park, and Shanghai Botanical Garden. These parks provide significant green spaces within the city and offer residents and visitors places to relax and enjoy nature. 2. **Green Belt**: The city has developed green belts and corridors that integrate natural elements into the urban landscape, helping to connect different green spaces and providing continuous natural areas for walking, cycling, and leisure. ### Historical and Traditional Gardens 3. **Traditional Chinese Gardens**: Shanghai boasts several well-preserved traditional Chinese gardens, such as Yu Garden (YuYuan), which exemplify classical Chinese garden design with ponds, rockeries, pavilions, and intricate landscaping. These gardens reflect the city's historical commitment to integrating nature with urban living. ### Urban Greening Initiatives 4. **Street Landscaping**: Many of Shanghai's streets are lined with trees, flowers, and shrubs, contributing to a greener urban environment. The city has invested in extensive landscaping to enhance the aesthetic appeal and environmental quality of its streets and boulevards. 5. **Vertical Gardens and Green Roofs**: Shanghai has embraced innovative urban greening techniques such as vertical gardens and green roofs on buildings. These initiatives help to increase the amount of greenery in densely populated urban areas and contribute to better air quality and urban biodiversity. ### Green Urban Planning 6. **Sustainable Development**: Shanghai's urban planning policies emphasize sustainable development and the creation of eco-friendly urban spaces. This includes the development of eco-districts and the incorporation of green spaces into new residential and commercial developments. 7. **Waterfront Revitalization**: The revitalization of waterfront areas along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek has included the creation of green promenades, parks, and recreational areas that provide residents with access to nature and enhance the city's overall green infrastructure. ### Community and Public Engagement 8. **Public Involvement**: The city encourages public participation in maintaining and developing green spaces through community gardens and public involvement initiatives. This engagement helps to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for the city's natural environments. ### Environmental Conservation 9. **Biodiversity Conservation**: Efforts to preserve and enhance biodiversity within the city, such as the creation of urban wildlife habitats and conservation areas, contribute to Shanghai's identity as a garden city. ### Seasonal Flower Displays 10. **Flower Festivals and Displays**: Shanghai hosts various flower festivals and seasonal floral displays that enhance the city's visual appeal and celebrate its botanical diversity. These events attract tourists and residents alike, further emphasizing the city's green character. ### Conclusion Shanghai's commitment to integrating green spaces and nature into its urban environment through parks, traditional gardens, innovative greening techniques, and sustainable urban planning practices helps to position it as a 'garden city.' These efforts not only enhance the city's aesthetic appeal but also contribute to the well-being of its residents and the sustainability of its urban ecosystem.

HaiNan ('South Sea') island is the southern-most part of China.

Weather Summary for Selected Cities in China: Beijing: Spring: Daytime temperatures: 11°C to 24°C, Nighttime temperatures: 2°C to 13°C. Spring in Beijing is generally mild and dry, with occasional sandstorms in March and April. Summer: Daytime temperatures: 29°C to 31°C, Nighttime temperatures: 17°C to 24°C. Beijing summers are hot and humid, with frequent thunderstorms and occasional heatwaves. Autumn: Daytime temperatures: 18°C to 26°C, Nighttime temperatures: 7°C to 15°C. Autumn is considered the best time to visit Beijing, with clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and colorful foliage. Winter: Daytime temperatures: 2°C to 5°C, Nighttime temperatures: -9°C to -1°C. Beijing winters are cold and dry, with occasional snowfall and freezing temperatures. Shanghai: Spring: Daytime temperatures: 15°C to 24°C, Nighttime temperatures: 8°C to 16°C. Spring in Shanghai is mild and humid, with occasional rain showers and rapid temperature changes. Summer: Daytime temperatures: 26°C to 32°C, Nighttime temperatures: 20°C to 26°C. Shanghai summers are hot and humid, with frequent rainfall and occasional typhoons. Autumn: Daytime temperatures: 23°C to 28°C, Nighttime temperatures: 16°C to 22°C. Autumn is relatively comfortable in Shanghai, with mild temperatures and clear skies. Winter: Daytime temperatures: 8°C to 12°C, Nighttime temperatures: 1°C to 6°C. Shanghai winters are cool and damp, with occasional cold snaps and drizzly weather. Hong Kong: Spring: Daytime temperatures: 23°C to 28°C, Nighttime temperatures: 19°C to 23°C. Spring in Hong Kong is warm and humid, with occasional fog and showers. Summer: Daytime temperatures: 29°C to 32°C, Nighttime temperatures: 25°C to 28°C. Hong Kong summers are hot, humid, and rainy, with frequent thunderstorms and occasional typhoons. Autumn: Daytime temperatures: 27°C to 29°C, Nighttime temperatures: 23°C to 25°C. Autumn is considered the best time to visit Hong Kong, with comfortable temperatures and lower humidity levels. Winter: Daytime temperatures: 18°C to 20°C, Nighttime temperatures: 14°C to 18°C. Hong Kong winters are mild and dry, with occasional cold fronts bringing cooler temperatures. Chengdu: Spring: Daytime temperatures: 16°C to 22°C, Nighttime temperatures: 9°C to 15°C. Spring in Chengdu is mild and humid, with occasional rain showers and blooming flowers. Summer: Daytime temperatures: 26°C to 29°C, Nighttime temperatures: 18°C to 21°C. Chengdu summers are warm and humid, with frequent rainfall and occasional heatwaves. Autumn: Daytime temperatures: 19°C to 24°C, Nighttime temperatures: 12°C to 16°C. Autumn is considered the best time to visit Chengdu, with comfortable temperatures and clear skies. Winter: Daytime temperatures: 9°C to 12°C, Nighttime temperatures: 3°C to 6°C. Chengdu winters are cool and damp, with occasional fog and drizzle. Guilin: Spring: Daytime temperatures: 20°C to 26°C, Nighttime temperatures: 13°C to 18°C. Spring in Guilin is warm and humid, with occasional rain showers and blooming flowers. Summer: Daytime temperatures: 29°C to 33°C, Nighttime temperatures: 21°C to 24°C. Guilin summers are hot and humid, with frequent rainfall and occasional heatwaves. Autumn: Daytime temperatures: 24°C to 28°C, Nighttime temperatures: 17°C to 20°C. Autumn is relatively comfortable in Guilin, with mild temperatures and clear skies. Winter: Daytime temperatures: 11°C to 14°C, Nighttime temperatures: 6°C to 9°C. Guilin winters are cool and damp, with occasional fog and drizzle.

A very beautiful timelapse film by Jeffrey Poon ...

With Wei's Travel ...

Just north of the Birds Nest lies a huge park. Don't forget to visit here this coming summer ...