The waterfront of the Huangpu River is indispensable precious resources for the future development of Shanghai, as well as an important spatial carrier for improving the core function and soft strength of the city.

The Huangpu River is the mother river of Shanghai, and its waterfront is indispensable precious resources for the future development of Shanghai, as well as an important spatial carrier for improving the core function and soft strength of the city, Li Qiang, Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, said during surveying the areas along the river on the afternoon of July 9. We should earnestly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech during his visit to Shanghai and the important concept of "people's city", advance the planning and construction of the waterfront in accordance with higher standards and with a broader horizon, strengthen plan guidance with focus on the future, step up green development with ecology as priority, and improve functional quality with humans as orientation, so as to accelerate the building of a globally influential world-class waterfront.

The area across the Huangpu River is an important development axis and symbolic space of Shanghai. In recent years, with the opening of the public space of the Huang River and the Suzhou River as an opportunity, Shanghai has pressed ahead with the ecological protection of the Huangpu River and the development of the areas along the river. In 2019, Shanghai released the Plan for the Development of Areas along the Huangpu River (2018-2035). The planned scope, from Minpu Second Bridge to Wusongkou, stretches 61 kilometers and covers an area of some 201 square kilometers. Binjiang was proposed to develop into a globally influential area with the functions of finance & trade, cultural creation, innovation and R&D, an urban public parlor with rich cultural connotation, as well as a high-level urban ecological promenade.

The municipal leaders sailed from Jinhuigang next to Pujiang First Bay, passing districts like Fengxian, Minhang, Pudong, Xuhui, Huangpu, Hongkou, Yangpu and Baoshan. Li inspected the current situation of the production and space eco-space across Binjiang, listened to a report on the construction progress as he viewed the plan, inquired about the functional layout, renovation and opening of shorelines as well as the progress of infrastructural construction, and studied the problems to be addressed at the next stage for regional shoreline adjustment, industrial transformation, the return of the river to the people and the development of more life belts. Construction is underway in key areas like South Bund, Xuhui Binjiang, Qiantan and Sanlin, new-round construction will start in the Bund-Lujiazui-North Bund Core Functional Zone and World Expo Area, and the public space of Binjiang will further open and extend upwards and downwards for integrated development with the waterfront.

As the only closed inland island on the Huangpu River, Fuxing Island in the lower reaches of the Huangpu River is promising with rich historical heritage, unique location and quality waterfront resources. Li headed for the island to find out the overall spatial layout of the island and the progress of island planning, and visited Binjiang Party-Mass Service Station in Fuxing Island Park to find out the situation of grass-roots Party building, public services and historical building activation and utilization.

Fuxing Island is an important spatial carrier for the future development of Shanghai, Li said. We should firmly establish the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", take the "reserved empty land" at present as the basis of "infinite possibility" in the future, go all out to promote ecological development, accelerate industrial and functional adjustments, and make great efforts to develop open, shared, colorful and accessible high-quality ecological space. We should maintain focus, settle to study, focus on the long-range goal of urban development, and integrate plans in all aspects based on the requirements of the overall planning of areas along the Huangpu River, so as to leave the space to future generations and promote the harmony of man and nature.

In Wusongkou where the Yangtze River and the Huangpu River meet, a 1,000-meter jetty extended from land to the river surface here. Wusongkou Lighthouse on the outer side of the jetty is an important navigational aid to Chinese and foreign ships entering and leaving the Huangpu River, as well as a landmark at the gateway of Shanghai Port. The municipal leaders looked into the distance from the ship, inquiring about the planning and construction of Wusongkou Binjiang. With development as priority, people as orientation, ecology as foundation and culture as soul, the waterfront of the Huangpu River should be planned from a high starting point, constructed in accordance with high standards and managed at a higher level, , Li said. The areas along the river, differing in development stages, resource endowment, strengths and features, should find right penetrating points based on their positions, and enhance their vitality in shoreline adjustment and function upgrading. We should step up infrastructural construction and public service support, to create an eco-friendly promenade, a beautiful life belt and a livable and commerce-friendly space.

Shanghai Binjiang Forest Park to the east of Wusongkou, renowned for its wonderful views, opened for free from July 1, 2021. After disembarking from the ship, Li listened to an introduction to the planning, design and construction of the park, ascending a platform to view the shoreline and inquired about the progress of Phase II of the park. Phase II under construction will feature the style of gardens in Jiangnan (regions south of the Yangtze River) and expand the flower growing area to improve landscape, shoreline and function. With the construction of an around-city eco-park belt and the implementation of the "1,000 Parks" Program as an opportunity, we should improve the layout of ecological space, make up deficiencies in service facilities, open public space wider, achieve better ecological effects, make cultural features more prominent and create more agreeable landscape. The park should leverage the superior location of overlooking Fort Hill in Wusongkou, tell historical, geographical, ecological and cultural stories, keep views fresh and flowers blooming all year round, and display its charm to tourists, so as to become an ecological landmark enchanting tourists and better show the soft strength of the city.

Municipal leaders Weng Zuliang and Zhuge Yujie participated in the survey.