Qingdao in East China's Shandong province is set to become even greener in the future as the city shoots for over 1,000 parks by the end of 2025, the municipal government announced on Dec 11.

Qingdao currently boasts a total of 966 parks comprised of 330 urban parks, 622 pocket parks, and 14 forest parks. As of now, the city has organized 229 events of different types in the parks across the city for the benefit of over 18 million people. These activities cater to all age groups, gradually turning the city into a sight of gardens, playgrounds, and homesteads.

Since the beginning of this year, the city has completed the construction of 140 pocket parks, 18 comprehensive parks (community parks), 100 kilometers of urban greenways, 35 tree-lined corridors, and 86 vertical greening sites. They have created 194 long-term cost-saving flowerbeds covering a total area of 16,000 square meters and renovated 112 parks to suit all ages.

The park formats in Qingdao still continue to evolve. By utilizing existing buildings and management facilities, new formats such as bookstores, beverage shops, cultural and creative spaces, exhibitions, study tours, and entertainment have been introduced. This comprehensive approach has let the city shift from "beautiful ecological value" to "high-quality economic benefits".

Qingdao in East China's Shandong province is set to become even greener in the future as the city aims to have over 1,000 parks in total by the end of 2025. [Photo/Guanhai News]