A city of various waterways, Shanghai features beautiful riverfront routes and greenlands. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

In January, the redevelopment plan reached a milestone when the riverfronts on both sides of the Huangpu were connected in a scenic 45-km trail that is open to the public. From its northern end at the Yangpu Bridge, the trail meanders through five districts to its southern end at Xupu Bridge.

"The connection of the two trails is great for runners," said Xie Chuntian, 66, a running enthusiast who lives near the west bank of the river in Xuhui district.

"There used to be many dead ends on the trail and I had to exit and run along the inner-side road or turn around when the trail ended. Now, I can run along the river all the time, free from traffic and always in sight of the terrific views."

Bian Shuowei, an urban designer at the Shanghai Urban Planning and Design Research Institute, said that the most challenging task was connecting all these dead ends.

"There were around 100 areas that were occupied by different owners, including many State-owned companies and factories. In order to link the separate trails, we had to negotiate with many parties, request that some companies be relocated and build many skywalks and bridges," he said.

Qian Xin, a professor at the institute who was involved in compiling the guidelines for the trail, told Xinmin Evening News that the objective was to preserve the unique features of the riverfront while creating a sense of unity in the route. Authorities had also solicited the opinions of the public for the project.

The route features three lanes dedicated to walking, jogging and cycling respectively and are almost always flanked by flora and fauna. Trail users can also find public restrooms installed within 500 to 1,000 meters of one another.