Shanghai was built and prospered by the water. The “River and Creek” of Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek is of great significance to Shanghai. Following the opening of the 45-kilometer waterfront in the core section of Huangpu River at the end of 2017, the 42-kilometer waterfront of Suzhou Creek in the central city has also been basically unblocked at the end of 2020.

The unblocking of the “River and Creek” has transformed the dull industrial zones in the past into a colorful place for life and development today. From the unblocking of the “River and Creek,” we can see the tremendous changes that the concept of “building a people’s city” has brought to urban governance.

Highlight 1: The unblocking of the ”River and Creek” has unfolded a beautiful picture scroll of a people’s city

Rippling waters, clean and comfortable trails, small and beautiful “pocket gardens”… Residents of Sudi Chunxiao Community on the bank of Suzhou Creek in Putuo District have lived a good life of enjoying beautiful view at their doorstep this year. In the past, although the residents lived along the river but they always avoided the waterfront, they now enjoy having activities in the waterfront areas. The unblocking of the “River and Creek” has become a great footnote for the construction of a “people’s city.”

Water is the lifeblood of the city, and no river is so close to Shanghai as Suzhou Creek. However, the mother river in Shanghai was once polluted and smelly, so people can only stay away from it. Treating the pollution of Suzhou Creek and making Suzhou Creek clear has become the long-cherished wish of many Shanghai people.

Take the Hongkou section of Suzhou Creek, which is less than 1 kilometer, as an example. Once upon a time, parking lots, substations, and terminal office buildings were everywhere along the creek, and there were even some illegal buildings. The landscape and experience of the waterfront space were much worse back then. After clearing the obstacles, the waterfront has been built into a “most beautiful riverside living room,” where citizens can feel the charm of Suzhou Creek waterfront. Overlook of Suzhou Creek after the project by drone.

Throughout the waterfront of the “River and Creek,” all districts took actions based on their local conditions to create distinctive and high-quality waterfront public spaces: creating a belt to showcase the Shanghai style; creating waterfront balconies, fitness trails, and historical galleries; connecting with the parks and green spaces to realize the integration of the residential areas along the river and the waterfront public spaces.

Leaving the best waterfront resources to the citizens is the starting point of the “River and Creek” construction plan. According to a netizen, if Huangpu River is about the image of Shanghai, Suzhou Creek is about the livability. The well-built waterfront spaces of Suzhou Creek will make people living here feel full of happiness.

Highlight 2: The unblocking of the “River and Creek” has proved the feasibility of an innovative path for social governance.

Regarding the unblocking and opening of “River and Creek,” the key is to coordinate various interests of different groups.

At the beginning of the project, a total of 15.3 kilometers and 63 spots along the creek were blocked. Part of the public space along the creek has become an integral part of some communities. Needless to say, there were some residents who disagree with the project, thinking that the relevant part of the waterfront is privately owned by the community, and the project was to publicizing the private space, which would damage their interests.

Unblocking the “River and Creek” has never been a simple construction project, but a project in the public interest and about social governance. It requires the leadership of party building to do a good job of mass work in the new era. In the process of “giving the river back to the people,” Shanghai has actively encouraged units and community residents along the creek to actively participate and construct together, so that everyone can have a sense of gain. Under the guidance of the important concept of “a city built by the people and for the people,” all parties actively cooperated to free up spaces on the waterfront. Suzhou Creek has taken on an entirely new look. Overlook of Suzhou Creek after the project by drone.

It can be said that without continuous exploration in the field of social governance innovation, the unblocking of “River and Creek” would not be so smooth. 

The “River and Creek” is a miniature and a mirror. In the practice of building a people’s city in the new era, Shanghai has been insisting on being people-oriented, encouraging residents to fully participate in urban planning and management, sharing the fruits of urban development, focusing on social equity and community recognition, and continuously improving the new pattern of social governance featuring co-construction, co-governance, and sharing.

Highlight 3: The unblocking of the “River and Creek” has created conditions for building a world-class “urban living room.”

Facing the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, Shanghai put in place a new paradigm for urban planning and zoning, that is, promote central districts’ spillover effect; orient the Lin-gang Special Area, the demonstration zone for green and integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and Hongqiao Business District as hubs for opening up; develop five new towns; and transform Baoshan and Jinshan districts. How to promote central districts’ spillover effect? The “River and Creek” is an important part.

With the progress of the project, three major changes are taking place along the waterfront of the “River and Creek”: in terms of development form, from the dull urban zones during the shipping period to the “urban living room” that promotes comprehensive vitality; in terms of development pattern, from extensive “demolition and construction” to “urban renewal” focusing on quality and connotation; in terms of strategic magnitude, from “Made in Shanghai” to a higher-level “Created on the waterfront.”

A good ecological environment is not only the most universally beneficial welfare, but also the core competitiveness of a city. The North Bund of Shanghai, where Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek converge, is rising in an all-round way. Innovative economy, service economy, open economy, headquarters economy and flux economy...Nearly 40 key projects have been signed a few days ago, and a number of “super headquarters” and leading companies have settled in.

The Bund-Lujiazui-North Bund, World Expo-Qiantan-Xuhui Riverside, Yangpu Riverside, Suzhou Creek Waterfront Economic Development Zone–based on the “River and Creek,” Shanghai strives to create a world-class “urban living room” on the waterfront. Turning the beauty of the environment into economic value, the “River and Creek” is becoming the “source of running water” for Shanghai’s innovative development.