Major Hongqiao development plan approved

The Shanghai government has approved a plan to develop the downtown Hongqiao area and build Hongqiao's central business district into an international open hub that can lead the higher-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region, according to an official statement on Thursday.

The Hongqiao CBD will also become an efficient and green international transport hub, an open and leading international exhibition and trade zone, a world-class innovative and shared business district, and an ecologically livable downtown area, to help promote the city’s and the country’s high-quality development.

By 2035, Hongqiao's downtown area will have a population of about 450,000 people and a job market population of between 700,000 and 750,000. The planned construction land will cover no more than 72 square kilometers, with a total floor area of about 49.4 million square meters and an underground space of no less than 10 million square meters.

The area of ecological space will be at least 31.9 square kilometers, the per capita area of public green space no less than 17.7 square meters, and the per capita area of emergency shelter around 4 square meters.

The area will develop a special structure. The plan is to strengthen integration of ecological space and urban space, thus forming an ecological and cultural network covering Hongqiao’s downtown area. 

Six major zones — the core area, the airport area, West Hongqiao, South Hongqiao, North Hongqiao and East Hongqiao — will focus on promoting their featured functions. 

Meanwhile, Hongqiao will build a multi-center public activity system with a sub-center of the downtown area, three regional centers and 12 community centers, in order to meet the needs of different levels of public activities and public services.

Also by 2035, the Hongqiao transport hub will see over 60 percent of cities above county level in the Yangtze River Delta easily connected to the Hongqiao area within an hour’s ride by public transport such as high-speed rail. Meanwhile, the Hongqiao hub will be promoted to form a two-hour transport circle with major cities in the delta region.

A park system will be established comprising one country park, six city parks, 10 district parks, and several community and pocket parks. 

The Hongqiao CBD also plans to improve housing for both rental and purchase. Rental housing will account for a third of new housing.