Shanghai is now offering more thoughtful services and consumption experience to its residents and tourists, after strategically planning and transforming its old facilities into modern open commercial districts where visitors can better enjoy free time and have enhanced consumption experience.
Once the site of the largest cement plant in Asia, a commercial district in Shanghai is now attracting flocks of local residents and tourists with fashionable stores and splendid river views.
The block extents about 800 meters along the Huangpu River and is home to about 100 stores.
With chairs facing the river, customers can enjoy sunshine and beautiful cityscape here.
"The block is really comfortable. It is convenient for us to chat with friends while drinking a cup of tea, and also see some exhibitions here. We can really relax ourselves here in this block," said a resident surnamed Sun.
The block has also been built with pet-friendly facilities like amusement amenities and drinking bowls for pets of visitors who walk with their loved animals.
"Very relaxing, very comfortable to be here. And [there are] a lot of things you can do with your pet but also with your kids," said Knute, a Danish tourist.
Vegetable markets were also rebuilt into modern shopping malls where residents and tourists from other parts of the world can enjoy traditional foods of Shanghai and also snacks offered by new brands.
"I think this place is quite nice. And then there are so many stuffs that I can see and then there are so many snacks as well, so many like Chinese snacks," said an Indonesian tourist.
Transformed Shanghai blocks attract visitors with updated consumption experience
The 2024 Shanghai Tower Vertical Marathon, the world's tallest and largest vertical race, took place on Sunday, attracting more than 2,000 athletes from over 20 countries and regions.
The event was held in Shanghai Tower, China's tallest skyscraper. Participants in the full individual race had to climb 3,398 steps to reach the finish line at the 119th floor at a height of 552 meters.
Olympic cycling champion Zhong Tianshi led a group of front runners to start from the ground floor at 08:20, and then the individual full course runners set off in turn at 30-second intervals.
In the men's competition, Japan's Ryoji Watanabe emerged victorious, completing the climb in 18 minutes. The Women's Individual Championship was claimed by Croatia's Tea Faber, who conquered the stairs in 21 minutes and 26 seconds.
"[It's a] very very long race. The track is very long. I had to keep my mind calm to climb my way up," said Watanabe.
"This is my fourth time here, and I won two times. I like Shanghai," said Italian female mountain runner Valentina Belotti who took the second place in the race.
As a self-owned brand event created by Shanghai, the Shanghai Tower Vertical Marathon was founded in 2017 and is currently the top-level event with highest competition building in the world.
In order to motivate more Chinese runners and marathon enthusiasts to participate, the event also set up a special award for Chinese athletes and the shorter "fun race" for amateur runner, which took climbers to the 22nd floor.
"I kept climbing without a stop. It's really a self-challenge, giving me the strength to go higher," said Huang Jing, a participant.
Int'l elite vertical marathoners contest in China's tallest skyscraper
