TO improve the quality of life in one of the Shanghai's most heavily populated areas, Minhang District plans to build a major forest park along the Huangpu River and a batch of smaller parks by 2020, the district government said yesterday.

The first phase of the Pujiang Country Park, which will cover around 1.7 square kilometers, will be completed in Pujiang Town by mid-2017, providing one of the closest green getaways to downtown Shanghai.

"The average greenery land for each Minhang resident will be increased to 10 square meters from the current 9 square meters by 2020," said Zhang Guokun, deputy governor of the district.