Shanghai city officials have announced plans to build a 120-kilometer greenway near the Outer Ring Road before 2020 for the benefit of city residents who want to enjoy casual walks or bike rides.
The planned greenway on the outer side of the road will be 500 meters wide, including a 400-meter-wide garden with trees and shrubs and a 100-meter-wide forest area, according to the Shanghai Greenery and Sanitation Administration Bureau.
"The forest belt surrounding the city can also serve as a barrier against air pollution," said bureau official Li Wei.
This is not the first time a greenway or a green belt has been built along the Outer Ring Road, also known as A20. Greenways have been built near the prominent road since 1995 when the government decided to improve the ecological environment of the city.
Around 35.6 square kilometers or about 98 kilometers of greenways and green belts have been built along the Outer Ring Road, said Li. These will be linked to the new greenway project.
The planned greenway will also include several large forest parks, totaling around 9 square kilometers. One of these will be near the Tianshan Road in Changning District.
The bureau is planning to plant camphor tree, magnolia, yew and privet that have been proven to be better at improving air quality compared to other trees, Li said.
About 44 relays are also set to be built along the greenway, including toilets and food stalls for residents to use while resting.
The bureau has also announced plans to build similar greenways within the city to link parks and green lands with one another.