A massive new forest park will be completed in Pujiang Town by mid-2017, providing one of the closest green getaways to downtown Shanghai, according to the Minhang District authorities.

The first phase of the Pujiang Country Park will cover around 1.7 square kilometers, about 4.5 times the size of the Minhang Culture Park. It will be served by ample public transport.

The park will be divided into four parts: a coastal zone, a dense forest zone, an urban forest zone and an entertainment zone. The park will feature an interior lake and more than 600,000 trees. It is expected to improve the air quality in the surrounding large neighborhoods of Pujiang Town, Tanjiagang and Luhui.

Meanwhile, the Changshou Buddhism Temple in Pujiang, which dates back more than 100 years, will be relocated to the park. A new temple is being built there. Around the temple, thickets of bamboo will provide a quiet venue for meditation and zen study.

The best preserved old street in Minhang, Duhang Old Street, will also be included in the park. The street originated as a commercial center in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and remains vibrant today.

The park will also include a botanical garden, campsite and a training center.

The Shendu Highway Station of Metro Line 8 will be near the park, and a bus route will connect the park to downtown Shanghai. In the third phase of Metro Line 8, three more stations will provide easy access to the park. For motorists, there will be a parking area with capacity for 370 cars.