New Jiangwan Town, an area belonging to Yangpu District, is located in northeast Shanghai and flanks the Huangpu River. Based on its existing strength as an educational and sports center, New Jiangwan is now making brand new efforts to redefine its image in the modern era.

New Jiangwan Town’s importance in location was initially mentioned in Dr Sun Yat-sen’s article “The International Development of China.” Starting in 1929, the area began construction in a layout of radiative roads, which later became the well-known Wujiaochang — meaning “the pentagon square.”

The area was at first set to embody city infrastructures mainly serving needs regarding education, culture and sports, until the Japanese invaders later transformed it into a military site to accommodate the air force.

The airport was used well until the end of last century. Later, the region saw its first community office center set up in 2003 after it was given the name “New Jiangwan Town” in 1996.

New Jiangwan Town was positioned by the district government as a typical high-quality living community in its 12th Five-Year Plan and was bound to become one of the five key functional zones in the district. The local community office center always sets out to improve the quality of life for the people. The latest document shows 39 welfare projects have been accomplished since 2008, including illness insurance, community shuttle bus and food supply.

International standard

New Jiangwan Town has always valued its ambition of building up a high-level business zone. The government has planned an area of 1.87 million square meters for further construction needs.

The investment from Tishman Speyer, a world-leading developer, operator and fund manager of Grade A real estate, has injected abundant vigor in the newly set business zone.

In June 2012, Tishman Speyer launched The Springs project, the company’s flagship development in Shanghai. Located at the gateway to New Jiangwan Town, The Springs is an integrated development comprising The Springs Residences — 877 exclusive apartments across a total area of 160,000 square meters — and The Springs Center — a 740,000-square-meter standard Grade A business space. The development also includes a shopping center, serviced apartments, retail stores, a hotel and recreational facilities.

Meanwhile, as the area is also home to Fudan University, Tongji University and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, the goal of becoming a world-class technological center is quite evident.

In March 2012, Shanghai had its third high-tech zone Bay Valley launched in New Jiangwan Town, after successfully operating two high-tech parks in Pudong New Area and Minhang District.

The total planned construction area of Bay Valley is 660,000 square meters with development by phase. The total construction area in Phase I is more than 400,000 square meters, consisting of the independent buildings of headquarters, R&D centers, the business centers and supporting leisure and business services.

The independent office building of headquarters in Phase II serves as the exclusive office area built particularly for enterprises. The hi-tech supporting facilities have complete functions which can meet various professional needs.

The international ideas of cutting-edge integrated architecture design in Bay Valley are introduced with combined office buildings and multiple areas and various options so as to realize the free division and individualized layout of functions.

Attracted by the thriving business and scientific activities in town, many well-known property companies have begun business in the area. The government is making efforts to prepare as many high-quality living communities as possible to suit the arrival of talents in the future.

Apart from building facilities for living, the government has also organized various sporting and cultural events to adorn people’s daily lives, such as concerts, running and cycling competitions.

Smart city

The planning and construction of the New Jiangwan Town has been planning in advance for public facilities. To accommodate increasing numbers of cultural and sporting activities, the town has seen several new large venues built up. The schools within the zone have also opened up their sporting facilities for people living nearby.

Educational resources are not limited to renowned universities. Parents have several high-quality options with the China Welfare Institute Kindergarten, the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Tongji Secondary School located within the area.

Since 2013, the government has been transforming some of the old food markets into larger modern places.

The area has adopted the Internet of Things technology to move toward the goal of a smart city. Public services regarding health care, education, ecology and digital management were all set to comply with international standards.

In 2012, the town received an investment of 400,000 yuan (US$64,000) for the construction of basic infrastructure and digital applications.

Networks for communications, logistics, transport and TV services have been set up to suit growing information needs and improve life convenience.

Greens up and down

Nowadays, people can pay their water, electricity and gas bills via computer and phone. The introduction of Internet Protocol Television has enabled the community dwellers to look up with ease information on news, maps, medical and educational support.

Currently an information-sharing platform is being researched that will provide unified public services in the future.

A very good example of the practices regarding smart city construction is the electric instruction boards related to bus stops in the area. The facilities, introduced with LED screens in April of 2012, can show the current position of all buses.

The town’s inspection team has also used the Internet of Things technology to develop an intelligent system to unify monitoring work and create more efficiency in the sharing of information.

Early in 2001, Shanghai city governors had said the future development of Jiangwan should follow an environmentally friendly path. Shanghai’s city planning body and the district government had long before released a specific plan for New Jiangwan Town’s future structure.

In the plan, it was emphasized that construction work should always come after careful environmental planning. Underground structure is also crucial before construction begins on the surface.

Based on the experience of other countries, New Jiangwan Town has aimed to develop its land with a balance among environment, economy and life. It had reserved beforehand enough space for the layout of a harmonious building structure.

The design of architecture conforms to the national green building standard with application of multiple new types of environmentally friendly building materials.

It is estimated that 20 percent of the town is reserved for public greenery. Counting the gardens and parks inside the communities, half of New Jiangwan Town is covered with trees and grass.

New Jiangwan Town has a 2.7-kilometer greenbelt in its east that helps improve the quality of air in the neighborhood and brings the natural tranquility of the environment to the people living and working nearby.

New Jiangwan is also home to a 70-year-old natural wetland and has a four-season evergreen landscape.

There are more than 50 kinds of water plants in rivers and lakes within the area. The waters in total cover an area of 39.9 hectares, equal to 8.7 percent of the town size.

Metro Line 10 is the main track transport in town and it reaches Shanghai’s lead Hongqiao transport hub which contains a major airport, bus station and railway station. Bus line 1201 provides a route that circles the whole town, making it easier for residents to travel to one another within the zone.

The living communities in new Jiangwan Town are also a key model of garbage classification in Shanghai. Every year, the government spends 20 million yuan to improve town management and environment.

The population in New Jiangwan Town has increased from 12,000 in 2013 to 40,000 in the present day because of its outstanding working and living conditions.