This year marks the 5th anniversary of the concept of people's city. As the place where it was first proposed, Yangpu is thriving with a flourishing digital economy and a dynamic, youthful spirit. Let's immerse ourselves in this city that is becoming increasingly "YOUNG" for the people...

Blue and white striped seats, distinctive roadside landscape spaces...Have you noticed that Zhengben Road has undergone a complete and refreshing transformation?

Zhengben Road, stretching approximately 1,040 meters from Zhongshan North Second Road in the south to Guoding Road in the north, stands as an urban branch road in Wujiaochang. The "Beautiful Neighborhood" construction project on Zhengben Road in Yangpu started in November 2023 after initial planning by the Yangpu Bureau of Greening and Urban Appearance Management.

The current "Beautiful Neighborhood" on Zhengben Road has undergone a significant transformation, returning like a butterfly from its cocoon. It has not only enhanced the city's overall appearance, but also enriched the lives of residents with a more comfortable and appealing living and travel experience.

With its unique neighborhood essence that combines an air force background with an educational atmosphere, the roadside space has the typical features of a collage city with diverse interfaces and a variety of urban functions, such as military industry, education, commerce, residence, public services and religion. The pedestrian zones along the route are in good conditions, yet they are confronted with a multitude of challenges that demand immediate enhancement, including poor pedestrian space friendliness, aging and indistinguishable street interfaces, sporadic greenery, inadequate amenities and severely damaged pavements.

Guided by the philosophy of "transforming from a mere road into a neighborhood with human-centered spaces", the "Beautiful Neighborhood" construction project involved the integrated renewal of Zhengben Road, to develop the road into a model neighborhood that offers both scenic relaxation and daily services. After more than eight months of renovation, Zhengben Road has been revitalized with a unique charm!

The public seating area in the neighborhood, with its blue and white stripes resembling piano keys, plays a tune of delightful melodies. It offers a place for pedestrians to leisurely walk and enjoy the scenery, as well as to sit and take a brief respite. With an identity deeply rooted in the legacy of the Air Force, the design, inspired by the motif of "flight", has forged a unique neighborhood identity for Zhengben Road, integrating it into various urban elements such as façades, cycle tracks, pavements, minor facilities and signs, enhancing the neighborhood's sense of belonging.

Beyond establishing a distinctive neighborhood identity, the renovation seamlessly integrates the neighborhood with its surrounding greenery and pedestrian spaces. It capitalizes on current roadside green areas, building peripheries and corner spaces, adorning the path with rest areas and amenities, thereby creating a tidy and aesthetically pleasing walking environment that boosts the neighborhood's vibrancy.

In shaping the neighborhood's ambiance, the existing red brick elements are highlighted, and the architectural style of the military property section is unified and extended to other public buildings, emphasizing the unity of the neighborhood's architectural features. Furthermore, by meticulously designing the architectural form, volume, scale, proportions, colors, materials and details, in response to the diverse architectural features of the temples, residences, primary schools, kindergartens and commercial spaces along the route, variety is introduced within unity, shaping a consistent yet varied ambiance along Zhengben Road.

To create diverse social and living spaces, the well-designed green spaces, gardens, street corners and micro spaces around entity entrances are tailored to the needs of the community. Elements like pergolas, decorative walls, and resting benches are seamlessly integrated with the greenery. Employing a range of landscape design techniques such as view framing, scene borrowing and landscape framing, the area offers a rich tapestry of spaces that are scenically appealing throughout the seasons and provide a comfortable and inviting environment for local residents to interact and live.

Full-process people's democracy was practiced throughout the construction of a "Beautiful Neighborhood" on Zhengben Road. Community planners, residents, entities along the route, neighborhood committees, property departments and business owners all took part in the planning and design process. Public opinions were solicited extensively. Over 30 feedback meetings and more than 100 opinion forms show the democratic and effective nature of public involvement in the construction of a "Beautiful Neighborhood".

The living environment is a key determinant of life's happiness index. For the local residents, the essence of "home" on Zhengben Road remains, and the transformation of the "Beautiful Neighborhood" has added the wings of dreams to their living space. A leisurely walk along this street is always filled with delightful discoveries and enriching experiences.