Qingdao, a coastal city in China's eastern Shandong province, is on track to become a park city. [Photo by Tang Jiajun/Qingdao Daily]

Qingdao, a coastal city in China's eastern Shandong province, is on track to become a park city, said the information office of the Qingdao municipal government during a press conference on Dec 13.

In 2022, Qingdao highlighted its efforts to become a park city in its three-year action plan for urban renewal and development.

According to the plan, Qingdao aims to build an urban greenway network, 200 parks or green spaces, 100 tree-lined corridors, and 300 three-dimensional green areas, and implement an ecological greening project by the end of 2024.

Qingdao boasts stunning natural scenery. [Photo/WeChat account: qd12301]

As of 2023, Qingdao has built 100.4 kilometers of urban greenways, six hilltop parks, 83 pocket parks, 51 tree-lined corridors, and 126 green areas. It has afforested 566 hectares of barren hills and increased forest quantity by 1,333 hectares, said the information office.

While the city has completed its development goals for pocket parks, tree-lined corridors, and ecological greening projects ahead of schedule, projects such as coastal greenways, community parks and ancient tree projection are also well under way, according to the plan.

Qingdao will continue to rely on its natural environmental resources as a city with mountains and sea to accelerate various renovation and transformation tasks, ensuring that goals are completed on schedule and provide benefits to citizens. 

Pocket parks in Jimo district, Qingdao, become popular destinations for sports and leisure among local residents. [Photo/Dazhong News]