Changshou Park remodeled for wheelchair access

Changshou Park in downtown Putuo District reopened on February 14 after a 10-month makeover and is welcoming people of all ages.

A spiral slope, made for disabled people, now connects the entrance to the circular stone square.

Changshou Park at 260 Changshou Road is a haven in an otherwise highly populated neighborhood. Shaanxi Road N. circles the park in the east; Xikang Road in the west; Changshou Road in the south; and Aomen Road in the north.

Camphor, ginkgo, southern magnolia, and pine trees, as well as Chinese peony, azalea, camellia, and begonia, grow abundantly in the park. The trees and flowers sprout or blossom in turn, transforming the park into a colorful landscape throughout the seasons.

Previously, the park was located at the Big Chiming Clock Tower, also known as 大自鸣钟. It was a conventionalized toponym.

In the early 1900s, when clocks and watches were still uncommon in most metropolitan residences, people relied on public clock towers for correct times. Those who had a wristwatch or a pocket watch would tune the times on their timepieces at public clock towers, feeling very proud of their sense of time and punctuality.

Japanese merchants in Shanghai built the Big Chiming Clock Tower at Changshou Park in 1922 to honor Naigai Wata Cotton Mill Company director Kawamura Okada. Later, when commerce thrived and the population grew in the area, people referred to shopping here as "going to the big chiming clock tower."

The clock tower was demolished in 1959 to improve road conditions.

The park was built on a vacant lot in 1999 during urban renewal. It opened in 2001 and was named Changshou Park in 2002.

Certain modern sculptures, which have become synonymous with the park due to their visual attractiveness, have been kept and maintained.

Along the path leading to the Xikang Road entrance, there is a pair of sculptures featuring an elderly couple sitting on a circular bench surrounded by trees. Their calm facial expressions indicate a long-standing partnership. It's interesting to observe real-aged couples sitting next to the sculptures, while the false ones appear to be alive.

A group of musical instrument statues stands in front of the square. A massive golden violin unites some statues of females full of youthful vigor. They play Chinese flute, cello, and violin. An outdoor movie theater was once located behind them, but it has since been dismantled. During summer nights, the theater and its movies were a source of nostalgia for an entire generation.

A marble stone sculpture of a girl sitting on the ground and wearing a hat has been preserved in a wooded corner. Its silky white body and navy blue lace motifs on the skirt exemplify feminine softness. Wang Xiaohui, an internationally renowned artist who lives and works in both Shanghai and Munich, created the sculpture.

The approximately 3,000-square-meter fountain square shaped like a grand piano has been replaced by some children-friendly facilities: an enclosed arena where children can play football, a bubble-sprouting square, some fountains powered by people riding bicycles, slides, trampolines, rocking horses, and a climbing wall.

Aside from the children's sports area, the park includes four forest plots for those seeking rehabilitation or leisure. It has added 49 seats along its path. The park is open 24 hours a day, and boiled water is easily available.

A senior citizen surnamed Shen is overjoyed that the park has reopened, claiming she had to make do with another area of greenery nearby for the last 10 months.

A bartender, Xu Qiang, is teaching a trainee how to juggle bottles on a meadow.

"The job of a bartender is very competitive, and juggling bottles entertains clients," Xu said.

"Sometimes, the security guard at the park asks me to stop because I juggle so well that people crowd the area," he said.

If you go:

Address: 260 Changshou Rd, Putuo District

普陀区长寿路260号

Opening hours: Round-the-clock

Admission: Free

Suggested hours for touring: 1 hour

How to get there: Near Changshou Road Station of Metro Line 13