Three-year plan puts Qingdao on cutting edge of progress

Living up to its reputation as one of the nation's "happiest" cities, Qingdao in East China's Shandong province initiated a three-year urban renewal and construction plan in 2022, aiming at further enhancing residents' sense of satisfaction.

In accordance with the plan, the city has primarily focused on streamlining a number of travel congestion points and solving problems that made them a major concern for the residents. Local officials recognized that a smooth and convenient road network is the key to increasing the city's overall urban capacity and promoting the flow of people, innovation, industry and other elements of development.

A major component of the plan is construction of the east-west Liaoyang Road Elevated Expressway. Designed as an important downtown traffic artery, the elevated expressway represents the only composite traffic channel in the city integrating viaducts, tunnels and the subway system.

In June, the southern section of a tunnel on the Fuzhou-Haier thoroughfare, part of the elevated expressway, opened to traffic nearly two months ahead of schedule. Spanning 1,215 meters, it enables vehicles to enter the tunnel from the main bridge of the elevated expressway and connects with Hang'an Expressway and Huanwan Road.

The northern section of the tunnel is expected to be finished in June 2024.

The Fuzhou-Haier thoroughfare is 4.7 kilometers long and its six lanes on the main line make up the second part of the Liaoyang Road Elevated Expressway. The first part, which was completed in 2022, links Nanjing Road and Fuzhou Road.

To better alleviate traffic pressure and provide support for urban development, Qingdao has planned construction of 52 urban road projects this year, linking more than 30 unconnected road sections across the city.

The city is also pursuing its full commitment to "going green" by continuously enhancing old parks and constructing new ones.

On April 27, two new parks — Taiping Mountain Central Park and Fushan Mountain Forest Park — opened to the public. With a total area of 912 hectares, the Taiping and Fushan parks play an important role in ecological and environmental protection in Qingdao.

Completion of the 7.9-km Taiping Mountain Central Park greenway realized the connection of Zhongshan Park, Botanic Garden and Julin Park for the first time. Construction of the main body of Fushan Mountain Park's 13.5-km greenway has also been completed.

In Pingdu, a county-level city in Qingdao, the 2020 Park, covering an area of 100 hectares, has become an internet-famous site during holidays, attracting tens of thousands of visitors during peak times. By setting up special roadside areas for stalls, city management authorities have achieved harmonious co-existence between visitors and vendors.

"With a fixed location for my stall, I can earn up to 300 yuan ($42) per day," said Chen Juan, who works at a factory and earns extra income by selling small handicrafts at the park.

Pingdu has now built 41 pocket parks, which are small gardens and green areas located at street corners, industrial zones and between apartment complexes. It is also planning 32 infrastructure construction projects.

A panoramic view of Qingdao, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province. SONG ZHE/FOR CHINA DAILY

A woman takes a child to play on swings in Shuangzhu Park in the Qingdao West Coast New Area. CHINA DAILY

Picturesque scenery at Wusi Square, a landmark in Qingdao. XIU XIANGKE/FOR CHINA DAILY

Lucid waters and lush hills feature throughout Shuangzhu Park thanks to environmental improvements. CHINA DAILY